Brilyn Hollyhand

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Brilyn Hollyhand
Brilyn Hollyhand (cropped).jpg
Hollyhand in 2020
Former chair of the Republican National Committee Youth Advisory Council
In office
May 2023 –September 2025
Website brilynhollyhand.com

Brilyn Hollyhand (born June 16, 2006) is an American right-wing political activist and former co-chair of the Republican National Committee's Youth Advisory Council. [1] He has been described by The Daily Telegraph as "Charlie Kirk's heir apparent". [2]

Contents

Early life and education

Brilyn Hollyhand was born in Tuscaloosa in 2006. [3] He is the son of Brian Hollyhand, a housing developer, and Leigh Hollyhand, a florist. Hollyhand attended Tuscaloosa Academy, a private school and former segregation academy in Alabama. [4]

In 2017, he began publishing The Truth Gazette, a conservative online newsletter. [5] [6]

In 2019, Hollyhand interviewed right-wing activist Charlie Kirk on his newly created podcast, The Brilyn Hollyhand Show. [7] He has since interviewed a number of prominent U.S. politicians including former House speaker Kevin McCarthy and Senator Ted Cruz. [6]

Alabama secretary of state John Merrill awarded Hollyhand a John Lewis Youth Leadership Award in 2022, on behalf of the National Association of Secretaries of State, for his conservative activism. [6] Hollyhand is currently a freshman at Auburn University, where he is studying political science. [8]

Political career and activism

In January 2023, Ronna McDaniel appointed Hollyhand and CJ Pearson to represent Generation Z as co-chairs of the Republican National Committee's newly created Youth Advisory Council. [7] [9]

Leading up to the 2024 presidential election, Hollyhand interviewed a number of high-profile candidates on his podcast, The Brilyn Hollyhand Show, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Vivek Ramaswamy. [10]

In July 2024, Hollyhand published his first book, drawn from his interviews with conservative political figures. [7] In September 2025, following the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Orem, Utah, Hollyhand launched a campaign to seek the firing of college and university employees who made inappropriate comments about Kirk or his murder. [11]

Hollyhand announced that he was launching his “One Conversation at a Time” college campus tour in September 2025, while being interviewed by conservative media personality Sid Rosenberg. [8] After claiming that the tour was being held "in partnership with Turning Point USA", Hollyhand was accused of deception by Tyler Bowyer, the group's COO, who insisted that they had no affiliation. [12]

Political views

Affirmative action

Hollyhand opposes affirmative action and DEI programs. In a 2023 interview with KUOW-FM, he expressed concern that affirmative action would hurt his chances of getting into the best colleges, claiming "I am a white, straight male, and I'm [at the] bottom of the totem pole." [13]

Foreign affairs

Israel and Palestine

Hollyhand strongly supports Israel. [14] When asked about anti-Israel conservatives in the United States, he said they were a "fringe that has gotten really loud" and that "the Bible [says] that those that bless Israel, the Lord will bless them." [14]

Following the October 7 attacks by Hamas, Hollyhand reiterated his support for Israel and said that he will "forever and always" support the Jewish state. [14]

Publications

References

  1. ↑ https://nypost.com/2025/09/22/us-news/meet-brilyn-hollyhand-the-teen-conservative-hailed-as-charlie-kirks-protege/
  2. ↑ Stringer, Connor (September 21, 2025). "Brilyn Hollyhand: The teenager hailed as Charlie Kirk's heir apparent". The Telegraph.
  3. ↑ Flowers, Steve. "Tuscaloosa has a young political prodigy named Brilyn Hollyhand | INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE". USA TODAY.
  4. ↑ Hollie, Jasmine (August 9, 2024). "Tuscaloosa's Brilyn Hollyhand aims to reach next generation of voters with new book". The Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  5. ↑ Taylor, Drew. "Who is Brilyn Hollyhand? Alabama teen's political rise has been a decade in the making". CBS42. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 Smith, Dylan (May 9, 2022). "15-year-old media personality Brilyn Hollyhand receives John Lewis Youth Leadership Award". Yellowhammer News.
  7. 1 2 3 "'Time to get louder, bolder': Who is Brilyn Hollyhand, teen conservative hailed as Charlie Kirk's protege?". Firstpost. September 23, 2025.
  8. 1 2 "Brilyn Hollyhand announces campus tour with Turning Point USA - The Auburn Plainsman". www.theplainsman.com.
  9. ↑ Cai, Sophia; Sentner, Irie; Johansen, Ben (September 11, 2025). "Kirk's interview with a kid with 7 subscribers". POLITICO.
  10. ↑ "Brilyn Hollyhand Podcast Archives". The Brilyn Hollyhand Show.
  11. ↑ Serven Smith, Ruth (September 18, 2025). "Alabama colleges are firing staff over Charlie Kirk comments. It's not enough, students say". ALDotCom.
  12. ↑ "Teen hailed as Charlie Kirk 'protégé' is ripped by MAGA crowd after private jet video". The Independent. September 30, 2025.
  13. ↑ McCammon, Sarah (August 30, 2023). "These young Republicans want the GOP to do more to recruit young voters". www.kuow.org.
  14. 1 2 3 "Far-Right Influencers Turn on Israel, but Is MAGA Truly Divided?". CBN. August 13, 2025.
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