Time Names Multiple Conservatives To Magazine’s Top 100 ‘Rising Stars’

Time magazine’s recent “100 Most Influential Rising Stars” list shone a spotlight on several conservative leaders now shaping the future of the Republican movement. Among those selected were Erika Kirk, Karoline Leavitt, Alex Bruesewitz, and Rep. Byron Donalds — each recognized for bold messaging, media savvy, and influence within MAGA and the broader conservative base.

Erika Kirk: Leading Through Grace

Erika Kirk, now the widow of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, earned praise from Time for her dignified response to tragedy. In the aftermath of her husband’s assassination, the magazine observed that:

“Few would have faulted Erika Kirk if she had stood before tens of thousands at her husband’s memorial and demanded retribution. Instead, 11 days after Charlie Kirk was assassinated … his 36-year-old widow offered something rare in today’s politics: forgiveness.”

Time argued that her approach might “frame the future of the organization her husband launched” and that she has “emerged as an influential voice” to younger conservatives. Her resilience and grace, in the eyes of the magazine, set a tone for responsible leadership in a time of national division.

Karoline Leavitt: The Voice at the Helm

Time also honored White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, applauding her role as one of the administration’s most public communicators. According to the magazine:

“In Leavitt, MAGA conservatives see a standard bearer for the movement’s future.”

“She commands the most visible communications perch in government … charged with defending the Trump agenda to the world.”

Leavitt, known for pushing back hard in the briefing room and in media appearances, is depicted as a key bridge between the administration and conservative voters.

Alex Bruesewitz and Byron Donalds: The Strategists and Legislators

Another selection was Alex Bruesewitz, who Time credited with helping to engineer Trump’s podcast and content strategy:

He is lauded as an “unlikely architect of Donald Trump’s political revival,” designed to help the president “capture the attention of disaffected young men” critical to his 2024 coalitions.

Meanwhile, Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) also made the cut. Time noted:

Donalds “made his mark in a hurry” after entering Congress in 2020, and quickly became one of Trump’s “favorite members of Congress.”

For conservatives, their inclusion signals that both movement operatives and elected officials are being recognized as part of the next generation of leadership.

While the 2025 list draws attention now, conservative voices have also made Time’s rising-star lists in earlier years. For example:

• Lara Trump was named to Time’s 2024 TIME100 Next list, with the magazine pointing to her fundraising acumen and role as the Republican National Committee co-chair as evidence that she was becoming an “heir” to the MAGA movement.
• Other Republicans and conservative influencers have occasionally appeared in past Next Generation Leaders or TIME-related rising lists, although not always under the explicit “rising star” banner.
• The inclusion of domestic political figures like Lara Trump underscores that Time (and similar outlets) are increasingly recognizing conservatives not just for activism but for institutional influence within the GOP.

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