Charlie Kirk was killed today during a speech at the Utah Valley University. Videos from the scene showed the 31-year-old conservative influencer collapsing in his chair after being fatally shot in the neck by a sniper. Authorities said they were still searching for the suspect.
Kirk, known for his fiery campus debates, founded Turning Point USA in 2012 at age 18. Over the past decade, it grew into one of the largest conservative youth movements in the United States.
Charlie Kirk was killed in Utah
The news was first announced by President Donald Trump on his social network Truth Social. “The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. 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. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!” Trump wrote.
Earlier in the day, before Kirk’s death was confirmed, Trump had called him a “great guy” and urged: “We must all pray for Charlie Kirk. God bless him.”
Charlie Kirk was married and a father of two.
Related: Suspect Tyler Robinson Arrested in Charlie Kirk Murder Case
A prominent conservative influencer and Trump ally
Charlie Kirk was a prominent American conservative political activist, author, and media personality, best known as the co-founder and CEO of Turning Point USA (TPUSA), an influential right-wing organization that mobilizes young people around conservative causes.
Born in 1993 in suburban Chicago, Kirk began his political engagement while still in high school and later left college to pursue activism full-time. With the backing of major Republican donors, he established TPUSA in 2012, quickly building a massive national network focused on college campuses and later expanding into initiatives such as Turning Point Action and Turning Point Faith.
Kirk’s activism is tightly aligned with the Republican Party and Donald Trump, whom he has supported since his first term. Through The Charlie Kirk Show, a daily talk show and podcast, he has gained a large following among conservatives, especially younger generations. Kirk’s rhetoric and activities have often sparked controversy due to his criticism of progressive policies, opposition to the scientific consensus on climate change, and his prominent role in promoting unsubstantiated claims about election fraud.