Charlie Kirk, a leading conservative activist and co-founder of Turning Point USA, has died after being shot at Utah Valley University during a campus event. He was 31.
US President Donald Trump confirmed Kirk’s death on his Truth Social account, calling him one of the most influential voices of America’s youth.
“No one understood the heart of young Americans better than Charlie,” Trump wrote. “He was loved and admired by all, especially me, and now, he is no onger with us.”
The shooting happened Wednesday night as Kirk launched his 14-city American Comeback Tour. Witnesses said he was engaging with the audience when gunfire erupted.
Former Republican congressman Jason Chaffetz, who attended with his family, said he saw Kirk collapse immediately after shots were fired.
The shocking incident has sparked nationwide outrage and renewed calls to end political violence in America.
Leaders from both parties expressed condolences and condemned the growing wave of attacks targeting public figures.
In recent months, political violence has escalated. In 2024, a gunman attempted to assassinate Trump during a rally in Pennsylvania.
Earlier this year, a man was arrested for arson at the home of Pennsylvania’s governor while his family slept inside.
In June, a Minnesota lawmaker and her husband were killed in their home.
Kirk rose to prominence after co-founding Turning Point USA in 2012 at just 18 years old.
He quickly became one of the most recognizable young faces of the conservative movement, known for fiery debates on college campuses and viral confrontations with liberal students.
His “Prove Me Wrong” campus events often drew large crowds and online attention.
He was a vocal supporter of Trump and credited with helping mobilize young voters for the former president.
Kirk argued strongly for traditional values, gun rights, and Trump’s immigration policies, often framing political debates as cultural and spiritual battles.
He spoke at the last three Republican conventions and maintained close ties with Trump, frequently visiting the White House.
Despite being a college dropout, Kirk became a bestselling author, media personality, and daily radio host.
He was married to Erika Frantzve, with whom he shared two young children. Colleagues described him as intense, analytical, and deeply influential within the “Make America Great Again” movement.
Political allies had floated the idea of Kirk eventually seeking elected office, particularly in Arizona, where Turning Point focused on mobilizing conservative voters.
His sudden death has left a major void in the Republican grassroots movement.
Vice President JD Vance called Kirk’s events a rare platform for open debate between conservatives and liberals.
“If you actually watch Charlie’s events not the fake summaries they were one of the few places with honest dialogue between left and right,” Vance wrote on X.
Kirk’s death adds to a disturbing pattern of escalating political violence in the US, underscoring fears for the safety of public figures ahead of the 2026 midterms and the 2028 presidential race.
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