Conservative powerhouse and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk has passed away at the age of 31 after being shot during a campus speaking event at Utah Valley University.
President Donald Trump confirmed Kirk’s death Wednesday afternoon, calling him “a great and even legendary” American patriot whose voice inspired a generation.
“The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “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.”
The tragic attack occurred while Kirk was speaking at one of his signature “Prove Me Wrong” events, where he frequently engaged directly with students to defend conservative ideas and challenge progressive orthodoxy. Witnesses said Kirk was answering a question about religion when a single gunshot rang out from a nearby building, striking him in the neck.
Graphic footage shows a closer angle of the attempted assassination of Charlie Kirk during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. pic.twitter.com/E8EP645hQU
— Resist Times (@resistupdates) September 10, 2025
Security and students rushed to his aid as blood poured from the wound. Kirk was carried from the scene and rushed to the hospital, but despite doctors’ efforts, he succumbed to his injuries.
Early reports indicated that police had a suspect in custody, but officials later clarified the shooter was still at large. The City of Orem announced that local, state, and federal agencies are involved in the manhunt. “There is still a suspect at large,” the city stated, urging the public to remain alert and report suspicious activity.
In an email to staff, Turning Point USA leadership confirmed the devastating news.
“It is with a heavy heart that we, the Turning Point USA leadership team, write to notify you that earlier this afternoon Charlie went to his eternal reward with Jesus Christ in Heaven,” the message read.
The statement reflected Kirk’s deep Christian faith, a core part of his personal and professional mission. For years, Kirk emphasized that America could not be saved without a moral and spiritual revival rooted in biblical principles.
Charlie Kirk was not only a conservative activist but one of the most dynamic young leaders in American politics. At just 18 years old, he founded Turning Point USA in 2012 with the goal of empowering conservative students and pushing back against the dominance of left-wing ideology on campuses.
What began as a small student-led movement grew into a national powerhouse with conferences drawing tens of thousands of young conservatives every year, including America Fest, the Young Women’s Leadership Summit, and the Student Action Summit.
In 2019, Kirk launched Turning Point Action, a grassroots organization that played a significant role in supporting President Trump’s 2024 re-election campaign. His organizations became essential hubs for conservative youth engagement, voter registration drives, and leadership training.
Kirk was named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 in Law & Policy in 2018 and received an honorary doctorate from Liberty University for his contributions to faith and politics.
Throughout his career, Kirk was a fierce defender of President Trump and a loyal ally of the administration. He often said the America First movement gave conservatives the courage to fight back against globalism, political correctness, and cultural decay. Trump frequently praised Kirk’s work in mobilizing young voters, describing him as “a fighter with a great heart for this country.”
Behind the national spotlight, Kirk was a devoted husband and father. He married Erika Frantzve, an entrepreneur and fellow Christian, in 2021. Together, they had two children: a daughter born in 2022 and a son in 2024.
Kirk often spoke about the importance of family, faith, and raising the next generation of Americans with strong values. Friends say he cherished his role as a father even more than his public activism.
Across the political spectrum, leaders expressed shock and grief over Kirk’s death. Allies called him a fearless warrior for truth, while even opponents acknowledged his outsized influence on America’s political landscape.
But for conservatives, the tragedy hits especially hard. Many see Kirk’s murder as the culmination of a climate of increasing hostility toward right-wing voices, fueled by years of vilification from academia, the media, and radical activists.
Vice President JD Vance called Kirk “a good man, a good father, and a true patriot whose voice will not be silenced.”
Utah Governor Spencer Cox condemned the shooting, urging unity: “Americans of every political persuasion must unite in condemning this act.”
Even California Governor Gavin Newsom, a frequent sparring partner of Kirk’s, called the attack “disgusting, vile, and reprehensible.”
Charlie Kirk’s life was short, but his impact will resonate for decades. Through Turning Point USA and Turning Point Action, he built an enduring movement of young conservatives who will carry his mission forward.
For millions, Kirk will be remembered as a man who gave everything he had—his passion, his voice, and ultimately his life—for his country and his faith.