MAGA divided by this 'distinctly swagless' pundit with the 'vibe of a missionary': analyst
A Charlie Kirk-esque influencer is making waves in MAGA circles for all the wrong reasons, according to one analyst.
Will Sommer, writer at large for The Bulwark, wrote in a recent newsletter that Brilyn Hollyhand, who Sommer described as being "distinctly swagless," is causing a rift within the MAGA movement because he is positioning himself as an heir apparent to Kirk's audience, many of whom are around Hollyhand's age.
"In an era when young Republicans are more likely to find inspiration in obese toad memes and beef-tallow recipes, the earnest Hollyhand gives off the vibe of a Latter-day Saints missionary venturing into the depths of the Amazon," Sommer wrote.
Hollyhand made a splash recently by posting a video of himself flying in a private plane, telling his audience that he is touring college campuses, hoping to have conversations similar to how Kirk traveled for his organization, Turning Point USA. The video has attracted criticism from Republicans and MAGA politicians alike, Sommer noted.
For instance, TPUSA chief operating officer Tyler Bowyer said Hollyhand "let us all down" when he supported former RNC chief Ronna McDaniel.
Mike Adams, a nutrition-supplement pusher and conspiracy theorist associated with Alex Jones, has also referred to Hollyhand as a "goober."
However, that attention may not be enough to keep Hollyhand out of the MAGA spotlight, Sommer continued.
"Of course, Kirk himself was ridiculed for years—on the right and far beyond—for embodying what a rich Republican would imagine a young Republican to be," Sommer wrote. "And, like Hollyhand, he relied on the largesse of wealthy benefactors. If Hollyhand has learned anything from Kirk, it should be that the memes about his fancy trappings and rich backers can actually help him achieve the crossover social-media ubiquity that Kirk enjoyed."