The Daily Populous Friday August 22nd, 2025 morning edition
Authored by english.elpais.com and submitted by Buchi77

The boy is 13 years old and he has an Instagram account with more than 94,000 followers. His name is Tristan Ryan Perkins, although on social media he simply goes as Tristan. He presents himself as a reel creator, a presidential hopeful, a woke, and a political strategist. Just a very young one. His posts are full of direct, unfiltered political criticism and a rhetorical agility that is as disconcerting as it is dazzling. His account, managed by his parents, is a mix of adolescent indignation and argumentative precision.

In his most recent video—filled with supportive and admiring comments—Tristan accuses President Donald Trump of cutting funding for cancer research and diverting $200 million to his followers. He then draws a direct line between Trump, Jeffrey Epstein and Virginia Giuffre, highlighting the abuse she suffered as a minor. His tone is accusatory and deeply pained.

But Tristan doesn’t stop there. Then he raises his voice. He talks about Lawrence Taylor—the former football player accused of sexual assault—and how Trump wants to reinstate the physical fitness test for children in schools. A few seconds later, he issues a warning to those who still support the former president: “If you’re still supporting Trump in August, look in the mirror.”

The question he leaves hanging in the air isn’t whether he’s right, but rather how a 13-year-old boy came to understand his country’s current political, cultural, and social situation with such stark clarity. In other videos, he unhesitatingly addresses topics such as human rights violations, the LGBTQ+ community, the bilateral relationship between Mexico and the United States, and police violence. He says all this in short videos, with rhythm, irony, and a sarcasm that doesn’t prevent him from being brutally clear.

Because in his own words: “Anyone who thinks children shouldn’t talk about politics is completely wrong. Trump isn’t just trying to ruin my generation’s present, he wants to destroy our future.”

Tristan talks about Mexico and defends it

The young man is very clear about the role Mexico plays today in relation to the United States. In one of his most viral videos, he criticizes his country’s treatment of Mexico: “It’s incredible how much Mexico helps us, considering how much we screw them over.” He recalls Trump’s threats to invade the neighboring country and his promise to build a $60 billion wall to curb migration—which Mexico was supposed to pay for—as well as the imposition of unjustified tariffs.

He also doesn’t forget history: “We stole a lot of territory from them. Don’t say we conquered it. We stole it. And don’t tell me I don’t love my country. I love it enough to hold it to account.” He asserts that, despite everything, Mexico has been there when it was most needed: “Who was the first to help during the floods in Texas? It wasn’t Kristi Noem, it wasn’t Trump, it wasn’t FEMA. It was Mexico.”

Nearly 100,000 people listen to him. Some call him a “political genius,” others accuse him of being manipulated by his parents. But what they can’t deny is that his eloquent, direct, and simple way of expressing his thoughts has shaken up social media.

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sugarlessdeathbear on August 21st, 2025 at 21:35 UTC »

> The question he leaves hanging in the air isn’t whether he’s right, but rather how a 13-year-old boy came to understand his country’s current political, cultural, and social situation with such stark clarity.

The answer is that it's blatantly obvious with no attempts to really mask what is happening. "Out of the mouths of babes" obvious.

No_Celery_5373 on August 21st, 2025 at 21:06 UTC »

This lad has already become more of a man than any pedo worshipping loser like Joe Rogan will ever be. 13 years old and already knows how to actually stand up for what he believes in for real. Not bad.

btviv on August 21st, 2025 at 21:01 UTC »

This kid makes me realize what an idiot I was when I was 13.