West Haven Student Joins President Trump On Stage

WEST HAVEN, CT — A West Haven student joined President Donald Trump on stage at the Turning Point USA’s Teen Student Action Summit this week in Washington. Dan Gallipoli got a shout out from Trump while he was talking about an incident that occurred at West Haven High School this past May and was later invited on stage. Gallipoli is president of the Turning Point USA chapter at West Haven High.

"In May, faculty at West Haven High School in Connecticut tried to ban the local chapter of Turning Point USA because students hung up a sign that read ‘America is the best country in world,’ " Trump said. “Can you believe that? It is the best country in the world. One board member viciously smeared the students as racists, sexist bullies who are brainwashed by their Republican parents. But the attacks have only strengthened the group’s resolve and membership has skyrocketed since then. We are winning.”

Trump was referring to an incident in May in which state Republican Chairman J.R. Romano met with students at West Haven High after they said they were barred from putting up signs saying socialism and big government “suck” and that “America is the best country in world,” according to the Hartford Courant.

The Courant reports that the board member Trump referred to wasn’t from West Haven and wrote in a since-deleted post on Twitter: “Absolutely pathetic to attack teachers for standing up to these racist, sexist, bullies who are brainwashed by their Republican parents.” She told the Courant she was defending teachers with the tweet.

Trump thanked Gallipoli for “that fight” and invited him on stage.

“It’s so great to be here,” Gallipoli said. “It’s such an honor. Thank you Turning Point USA for all your support and your helping us with the fight for free speech on campus.

“No matter the teacher, no matter the student, no matter the faculty, we will stand up for what we believe in,” Gallipoli said.

Trump said, “Whoa. That’s fantastic Dan. Now I see why he’s president of his chapter. Who wants to fight him? Thank you, Dan. Great job.”

Read more about the incident in May at the Hartford Courant here.