Charlie Kirk, the well-known Trump ally and founder of Turning Point USA who was shot to death Wednesday, was a conservative icon for young conservatives.
Mr. Kirk, 31, co-founded Turning Point USA in 2012 with tea party activist William Montgomery. He was just 18 at the time of the founding, leading a youth conservative groundswell that soon aligned with President Trump’s political movement.
After Mr. Kirk’s assassination at an Utah campus, Mr. Trump said of him, “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!”
The president, who called Mr. Kirk “legendary,” ordered flags flown at half-staff and canceled a dinner at the White House Rose Garden.
Mr. Kirk met former Miss Arizona USA pageant winner Erika Frantzve in 2019. They married in May 2021. They have two children, ages 3 and 1. His family was with him at the event Wednesday, Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma said on X.
He began his movement fostering youth conservatism and countered the tradition of college campuses being bastions of liberalism where conservatives were shunned or even silenced. Mr. Kirk grew Turning Point USA into an influential operation with more than 800 college chapters and 48 field directors, encouraging young conservatives to speak out and get involved.
SEE ALSO: Conservative activist Charlie Kirk killed by gunman at college event
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Mr. Kirk’s “commitment to America’s future generations and sense of patriotism will resonate for decades to come.”
Fox News personality Greg Gutfeld spoke with tears in his eyes about the loss of Mr. Kirk.
“Charlie’s power just got released in all of us,” Mr. Gutfeld told viewers. “He’s going to be bigger now than he ever was in this chaotic planet. Remember that he would want you to get stronger and not back down.”
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick called his death a “monumental loss for everyone” who knew him.
“Charlie’s influence in making the presidential transition the most successful in history speaks volumes to his commitment to this country. He never took credit for the assistance he provided,” Mr. Lutnick said. “He was always a great friend of mine. I pray for peace and comfort for his wife and two beautiful children.”
Turning Point USA’s mission is to “identify, educate, train, and organize students to promote the principles of fiscal responsibility, free markets, and limited government,” according to its website.
Mr. Kirk also founded Turning Point Action in 2019, the grassroots political advocacy arm of TPUSA to help conservatives get elected, and Turning Point Faith in 2021, which calls on Christians across the country to “boldly stand for truth, liberty, and The Kingdom.”
He often hosted events at schools across the country, like “The American Comeback Tour” that he was currently on. He was known for sitting at a “Prove Me Wrong” table and inviting people to debate political topics like transgender issues, abortion and family values, among others.
He hosted a daily three-hour talk radio show called “The Charlie Kirk Show” on the Salem News Channel.
He was an outspoken supporter of Mr. Trump and was close with the president’s sons Don Jr. and Eric Trump.
“I love you brother. You gave so many people the courage to speak up and we will not ever be silenced,” Donald Trump Jr. wrote.
Mr. Kirk was raised in a Chicago suburb with an architect father and mother who is a mental health counselor. He engaged in politics throughout high school, and attended Harper College in Illinois briefly.
