Charlie Kirk, a young founder of campus-focused conservative group Turning Point USA, was shot dead at a Wednesday event at Utah Valley University in Orem.
Kirk, 31, has left a wife and two children. He made his debut in 2012 after creating a turning point and talking about the need to reform higher education. In recent years, he has become a close ally of Donald Trump.
Kirk died of what he knew and caused protests: visiting the university campus and sharing his right-wing views. He launched Turning Point’s The American Recback Tour in Utah Valley, Utah Valley, which is scheduled to have at least 10 stops on university campuses across the country. Some urged the university to cancel his appearance. Utah officials said more than 3,000 people participated in the event.
Kirk wore a “free” white shirt and distributed red to make America stand out again, then sat under his signature “Prove Me Wrong” tent in the yard in the middle of the campus to attract audience issues. according to Deseret NewsKirk once said there were “too many” mass shooters who were transgender and then asked another question about the issue when he was shot.
“I want to be very clear that this is a political assassination,” Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said in a press conference Wednesday night.
Matthew Boedy is the author of the forthcoming Kirk book and the director of the Georgia State Conference of the American Association of University Professors. [attempt] About President Trump. Assassination attempts – You would think they would unite us, but as we have seen, they make us more divided. ”
Kirk’s group has inspired conservative action nationwide and exacerbated criticisms of senior Ed, which are now shared by the White House and Republicans who control Congress. With Senior Ed himself a national political issue, Kirk went from campus to national conservative figures, speaking at the 2020 and 2024 Republican National Convention, the Conservative Political Action Conference and other major stages. He has over 5.4 million followers on X, where the correctly tilted profile is prominent.
Turning Point’s website claims that “there are more than 250,000 student members on more than 3,500 high school and college campuses nationwide, as well as more than 450 full-time and part-time staff across the country.” The organization’s own event attracted national politicians: Donald Trump Jr., Tucker Carlson, Steve Bannon, Talsey Gabbard, Christie Nome and others to attend the July Student Action Summit, Higher Education Report. Kirk said at an event in Tampa, Florida that foreigners should not be allowed to own a house or find a job in front of U.S. citizens.
“This is the largest generational reorganization since Woodstock,” Kirk said. “We have never seen this generation so quickly, so quickly, and you’re confusing all liberals.”
Kirk expands his perspective in several books, including Campus Battlefield: How Conservatives Win Battle on Campus and Why It Is Important and University Scam: How American universities go bankrupt and brainwash the future of American youth.
In a statement on Wednesday, the turning point confirmed his death and said: “May he be the weapon of mercy by our loving savior, who suffered from Charlie’s suffering and death.” Leading Republicans and Democrats made statements mourning his death, and President Trump declared his own society of truth.
“The great and even legendary Charlie Kirk is dead,” Trump wrote. “No one understands or possesses the hearts of American youth better than Charlie.
Trump ordered our flag to be lowered to half a man.
“We don’t know what motives drive and kill Charlie Kirk’s people, but this mean violence has no place in our democracy. Michelle and I will pray for Charlie’s family tonight, especially his wife Erika and two young children.”
Education Secretary Linda McMahon called Kirk “a friend and valuable consultant” in a social media post.
“He loves every part of America,” she added. “My heart is saddened by his family and his friends and the millions of young Americans he inspired.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a potential Democratic presidential candidate, posted Kirk on his podcast earlier this year, posting: “The attack on Charlie Kirk is disgusting, evil and worthy of popularity. In the United States of America, we must reject political violence in all forms.”
Local, state and federal law enforcement are investigating the shooting.
Utah Valley closed campuses and canceled classes until September 14.
University spokesman Ellen Treanor said Kirk was shot at around 12:15 p.m. Wednesday and police believe the shooting was from Losee Center about 200 yards away.
Treanor said Kirk’s personal security guard took him to the hospital immediately and he underwent surgery.
College police quickly arrested a person, and later released when the police determined that they were not a shooter.Another university spokesperson, Cott Trotter. Trotter said the Utah Governor’s Office, the FBI and other agencies are investigating with the University Police Department. (Utah law allows individuals to carry guns on campus.)
UVU officials said in a statement that they were “shocked and sad” at Kirk’s death.
“We firmly believe that UVU is a place to share ideas and debate openly and respectfully,” the statement said. “Any attempt to violate these rights has no place here.”
UVU Police Chief Jeff Long said in a press conference Wednesday that what happened was a “cop chief’s nightmare.” Six officers attended the event with Kirk’s security team.
“You tried to cover the base, and unfortunately today, we didn’t,” he said. “So, this tragic event happened to us.”
Charlie Kirk started his “America Comeback Tour” at Uthah Valley University.
Photos of Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune/Getty Images
The turning point based in Phoenix has been the center of several controversy over the years. It launched its surveillance list about a decade ago, which led scholars to be targeted by sulfuric acid and threats. Last year, two turning point workers admitted to filing allegations from an incident in October 2023, where they filmed a queer Arizona State coach on campus, one of whom eventually pushed the coach face to face to concrete.
Body said Wednesday that Kirk is the most influential person not working in the White House.
“He has turned the dot into an essential conservative organization,” he said. “He has become the new face of Christian nationalism, which is a growing trend in the United States. Of course, what I want to say is that he has changed the university campus.”
Campus events such as Wednesday were his “bread and butter”, he added.
“He’s smart,” he said. “He was one of the pioneers of the ‘prove my fault’ spell.”
