U.S. right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk was part of a constellation of influencers who helped amplify Republican President Donald Trump’s agenda, galvanizing conservative youth and rising to international prominence with often inflammatory rhetoric focused on such issues as race, gender and immigration.
Kirk, an Illinois native who co-founded the conservative student group Turning Point USA at the age of 18 and went on to become a rising star in the Republican Party under Trump, had just returned to the United States from an overseas speaking tour when he was shot to death on Wednesday. He was 31 years old.
The shooting came as Kirk, the president of Turning Point, was addressing a large outdoor crowd on the Utah Valley University campus in Orem, Utah.
On Sunday, he headlined an event in Tokyo organized by the far-right Sanseito party, which made big gains in Japan’s upper house election in July. He also recently spoke in South Korea.
Kirk had 5.3 million followers on his X account and drew an audience of more than 500,000 monthly listeners to podcasts of his radio program, “The Charlie Kirk Show.” He also authored or contributed to several books, including “Time for a Turning Point” and “The College Scam.
INFLUENCE BUILT ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES
In addition to founding Turning Point USA in 2012 with conservative activist Bill Montgomery, Kirk launched Turning Point Action in 2019 as a non-profit advocacy group backing conservative candidates for office.
Turning Point USA, an organization dedicated to advancing conservative causes on college campuses, was instrumental in driving youth support for Trump in the November 2024 election.
Kirk’s Turning Point events were raucous, a mix of a political rally, tent revival, rock concert and a professional wrestling match. Speakers would take the stage backed by ear-splitting anthems and bright pyrotechnics before often high-spirited crowds of thousands.
“No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie,” Trump wrote on his online platform Truth Social in announcing Kirk’s death. “He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us.”
