Charlie Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA and one of the most prominent voices of conservative youth politics in the United States, was killed in Utah after being shot during a public appearance. His death, confirmed Wednesday evening by the Associated Press, came as he was delivering a speech at Utah Valley University. Kirk, 31, was struck in the neck about 20 minutes into his remarks, collapsing in front of a large audience.
Did you want to be further radicalized? Charlie Kirk was just shot on stage in Utah. Pray now! https://t.co/rG4bMt2hlu
— Sam Costner (@samuel_costner) September 10, 2025
President Donald Trump paid tribute to him shortly after the incident, writing on his social media platform that Kirk was “the Great, and even Legendary” champion of America’s youth. “No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now he is no longer with us,” Trump wrote, extending condolences to Kirk’s wife, Erika, and their family.
The shooting was swiftly condemned by political figures across the spectrum, with leaders warning against the deepening climate of political violence. Video footage circulating online showed Kirk suddenly lurching backward as blood poured from his neck, moments after he had been speaking about the epidemic of mass shootings in the U.S.
Kirk began Turning Point USA in 2012 at just 18 years old, launching the project from his parents’ garage in Illinois. With relentless energy and sharp communication skills, he transformed it into a nationwide student movement with more than 1,000 chapters on high school and college campuses. The group became a flagship organization for pro-Trump conservatism, advocating free-market principles, limited government, and engaging in combative cultural battles over race, gender, and identity.
Under Kirk’s leadership, Turning Point embraced digital-first activism. Its campaigns leaned heavily on provocative messaging, viral videos, and large-scale conferences designed to energize younger conservatives. The approach drew fierce criticism from opponents, who accused the group of stoking division, while supporters praised Kirk for giving conservative students a voice in often liberal-leaning academic environments.
His rapid rise soon caught the attention of Fox News and other conservative outlets, where he became a frequent commentator defending Trump’s populist policies. In 2019, he launched The Charlie Kirk Show, a podcast and radio program that quickly rose to the top of Apple’s political charts. The show amplified his reach, bringing him into dialogue with lawmakers, media personalities, and influential figures within the Republican movement. His 2020 book, The MAGA Doctrine, further cemented his role as an interpreter of Trump’s message for younger voters.
Kirk embodied a new generation of conservative activism that operated outside traditional political structures. He and his team leveraged social media platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok to create viral debates and content that resonated with millions. At the same time, he increasingly integrated into conservative mainstream circles, eventually hosting on Salem Radio Network and appearing as a guest host on Fox & Friends.
His strategies, blending grassroots organizing with digital virality, foreshadowed the media landscape of Trump’s 2024 reelection campaign, which relied heavily on podcasters and content creators rather than conventional media outlets.
Charlie Kirk is survived by his wife, Erika Frantza Kirk, a businesswoman, podcaster, and former Miss Arizona USA, along with their two young children. His death marks the loss of a figure who had become both one of the most polarizing and influential voices shaping America’s political youth culture.
