DeSantis teams with TPUSA to launch ‘Club America’ chapters in Florida high schools

"We are also today announcing a partnership with Turning Point. We want to make sure that all high schools in Florida, anybody in a high school that wants to start a state Club America chapter will be able to do so. There shouldn’t be any impediments to that, and certainly no discrimination. We’re not going to allow that."

Club America is described as the "leading youth movement for freedom-loving American values. We empower bold student leaders to promote free thinking, engage in grassroots activism, and bring their beliefs to life—both on and off campus."

During the press conference, DeSantis also announced that the award for the winner of the 2026 speech and debate challenge in the state will be named in honor of the late Charlie Kirk, who founded Turning Point USA. The winner of the Kirk prize will receive a $50,000 scholarship, semi-finalists will receive $15,000, and quarterfinalists will receive $10,000.

This comes over a month after Kirk was assassinated at a Utah campus event. In the wake of his killing, it was revealed that as of the beginning of October, there were 2,700 Club America chapters across the US, up 1,500 from before Kirk's death.

Kirk was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Trump, who lauded his efforts to get young Americans involved. "He forged a personal bond with countless young conservatives. He fought for free speech, religious liberty, strong borders, and a very strong and proud America. In everything he did, he put America first. He really put America first. And ultimately, Charlie became more than a leader of an important organization, he became the leader of historic movements all over the country."