THE NEOCON TROJAN HORSE: WHAT THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO KNOW

The GOP is at a critical juncture, with Hollyhand's rise indicating a potential shift back to interventionist foreign policy and strong support for Israel, diverging from the America First ideals that resonate with many young conservatives. As noted by +972 Magazine, "Israel’s iron grip on the American right is slipping away" due to generational changes and reactions to Gaza atrocities. A Substack post highlighted that "Authenticity is politics' new currency," suggesting that for Gen Z, prioritizing America First over pro-Israel commitments may shape the party's future direction.

In the wake of conservative activist Charlie Kirk's shocking murder last month, a 19-year-old rising star has emerged as the GOP's fresh face for Generation Z, but critics allege his pro-Israel zeal is alienating young conservatives from the right wing.

"He's the most obvious industry plant you'll ever see," one Reddit user posted on Sept. 30, 2025, in a thread decrying Brilyn Hollyhand's rapid ascent.

"Least obvious right wing industry plant," mocked political commentator ettingermentum on X, formerly Twitter, on Sept. 27, 2025, sharing a photo of Hollyhand with conservative pundit Ben Shapiro.

Hollyhand, a freshman political science student at Auburn University, has catapulted into the spotlight as a self-proclaimed voice for young conservatives, but online skeptics and commentators claim he's a manufactured figure designed to reintroduce neoconservative ideals—such as interventionist foreign policy and staunch support for Israel—into the mainstream of Gen Z politics, a demographic increasingly embracing isolationist, America First populism under former President Donald Trump.

This narrative, amplified across social media and commentary platforms in the weeks following Kirk's death on Aug. 23, 2025, in Orem, Utah, suggests Hollyhand is less a grassroots prodigy and more a product of GOP establishment engineering aimed at countering the youth shift toward prioritizing domestic issues over foreign entanglements. Critics point to his polished persona, high-profile endorsements and unwavering pro-Israel stance to argue he's being positioned to revive elements of the Bush-era Republican Party, potentially driving away youth wary of endless wars and U.S. aid abroad.

The allegations matter because Gen Z, born between 1997 and 2012, represents a pivotal voting bloc in a post-Trump GOP scrambling to retain youth momentum. Polls showed 47% of 18- to 29-year-olds backed Trump in 2024, an 11-point swing from 2020, driven by economic frustrations and distrust in institutions. But recent surveys reveal a stark generational rift: In the last three years, the share of Republicans under 50 years old who have negative views of Israel jumped from 35 percent to 50 percent, according to a Politico analysis published Sept. 29, 2025. If Hollyhand's pro-Israel advocacy is indeed part of a broader neoconservative push, it could fracture party unity by clashing with the America First ethos that resonates with young conservatives focused on domestic priorities like affordability and border security, rather than subsidizing foreign conflicts.

The emergence of Brilyn Hollyhand as a "conservative" voice for Generation Z has sparked intense debate about the future of the right-wing movement. Critics argue that his staunch support for Israel and neoconservative ideals—such as interventionist foreign policy—detaches him from the America First principles that have drawn many young conservatives to the GOP. "You cannot be pro Israel AND America First," declared X user @GenZPatriotz on Aug. 24, 2025, echoing a sentiment gaining traction among youth.

Hollyhand's backstory reads like a conservative fairy tale. Born June 16, 2006, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to housing developer Brian Hollyhand and florist Leigh Hollyhand, he attended Tuscaloosa Academy, a private school with roots as a segregation academy. At age 11, he launched "The Truth Gazette," a conservative newsletter that grew to over 400,000 subscribers. By 2019, he started "The Brilyn Hollyhand Show" podcast, interviewing figures like Kirk, former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Sen. Ted Cruz. In 2022, Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill honored him with a youth leadership award.

His big break came in May 2023, when then-RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel appointed him co-chair of the party's Youth Advisory Council alongside CJ Pearson. He held the role until September 2025, interviewing 2024 presidential hopefuls like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Vivek Ramaswamy. In July 2024, he released his bestselling book, "One Generation Away: Why Now Is the Time to Restore American Freedom," based on those conversations.

But Kirk's murder thrust Hollyhand into overdrive. On Sept. 19, 2025, he appeared on CBS 42 Morning News to discuss Kirk's legacy, calling him a "leader" for their generation. He quickly launched the "One Conversation at a Time Tour," a 10-stop campus series he initially claimed was in partnership with Turning Point USA. TPUSA COO Tyler Bowyer disputed this, accusing Hollyhand of deception. The tour drew crowds, but also backlash. At an Oct. 6, 2025, event at Auburn, Hollyhand rallied students, but online, users like @mymanbpostin on X quipped on Sept. 28, 2025: "Wouldn't want 'killed by mossad, cucked by Trump, and replaced with an industry plant named 'Brilyn Hollyhand'' to happen to my worst enemy."

The "industry plant" label exploded post-Kirk, tying into broader critiques of his pro-Israel views. A Sept. 30, 2025, YouTube video titled "The Rise and Fall of Brilyn Hollyhand" explored his ascent. An Instagram reel from Sept. 27, 2025, asked: "Is @brilynhollyhand a conservative plant? Charlie Kirk replacement?" labeling him a "GOP industry plant." On X, @Zvbear posted Sept. 27, 2025: "This is not even an Industry Plant This is an Industry Fruit."

Critics link this to neoconservatism through Hollyhand's positions. Though he correctly opposes DEI and affirmative action, saying, "I am a white, straight male, and I'm [at the] bottom of the [totem pole]." But his Israel stance draws ire: He calls anti-Israel conservatives a "fringe that has gotten really loud," adding, "the Bible [says] that those that bless Israel, the Lord will bless them," and vows to "forever and always" support the Jewish state. This aligns with neoconservative priorities, detractors argue, but alienates youth. "It seems that for the under-30-year-old MAGA base, Israel has almost no support," former Trump adviser Stephen K. Bannon told Politico on July 31, 2025.

The controversy highlights the tension between America First populism and neoconservative priorities, particularly regarding Israel. Hollyhand's vow to "forever and always" support Israel, citing biblical mandates, may alienate young conservatives drawn to isolationist policies. "The Republican Party is staring down a generational revolt and it’s over U.S. support for Israel," wrote Brian Allen on X on Aug. 5, 2025. A Jewish Insider poll from Sept. 17, 2025, found 20-25% of Gen Z conservatives express anti-Israel views, while broader support wanes amid Gaza's ongoing conflict.

Hollyhand critiques past GOP neocons like John McCain and Mitt Romney for failing youth, yet praises Trump's "populist revival" while blending interventionist elements. "After George W. Bush's presidency, the GOP became what Hollyhand likened to 'an old Southern church congregation,'" Newsweek reported Aug. 20, 2025, quoting him: "The neoconservative policies... had not attracted new members."

Defenders push back. A Oct. 1, 2025, YouTube video titled "Let's debunk these lies about @BrilynHollyhand" argued claims lack "credible evidence," calling the internet "cruel." Hollyhand dismissed critics in a Sept. 26, 2025, Instagram reel: "You know, Ben, what man meant for evil, the lord is not using for good."

Family ties fuel suspicion. Replies to ettingermentum's post noted Hollyhand's father as a "section 8 slumlord and massive GOP donor," with Hollyhand "sporting a Rolex and flying in private jets." An X user on Sept. 28, 2025, called him a "CIA AI clone industry plant psyop propagandist."

As Hollyhand tours campuses—drawing boomers more than students, per a Yahoo News report—he insists Gen Z isn't lost. On Oct. 4, 2025, he posted on Facebook after a Virginia event: "The Left wants you to believe Gen Z is a lost cause! I just walked off stage in Richmond, VA to a room full of young people ready to fight for this country."

The narrative suggests the GOP is at a crossroads, with Hollyhand's ascension potentially signaling a desire to return to interventionist foreign policy and staunch support for Israel, rather than the America First principles that have energized many young conservatives. "Israel’s iron grip on the American right is slipping away," reported +972 Magazine on Aug. 24, 2025, citing generational shifts and horror at Gaza atrocities. As one Substack post on Oct. 3, 2025, noted: "Authenticity is politics' new currency." For Gen Z, prioritizing America First over pro-Israel commitments could define the party's future.