Turning Point USA said on Thursday it is “crushed and devastated” by the death of its founder and chief, Charlie Kirk, using his official X account to post a lengthy tribute.
Posthumously posting under Kirk’s handle, the conservative organisation described him as “a leader, a mentor, and a friend,” while urging prayers for his wife, Erika, and their two children.
Charlie Kirk was fatally shot at an event at a Utah college. Kirk was a top podcaster, culture warrior and ally of President Donald Trump. He led an effort to remake the GOP’s get-out-the-vote effort in the 2024 election based on the theory there were thousands of Trump supporters who rarely vote but could be persuaded to vote.
pic.twitter.com/jJBRMehU9U— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) September 11, 2025
“Every one of us at Turning Point USA is crushed and devastated by the hateful murder of our founder and guiding light, Charlie Kirk,” the statement read. “Charlie was the ideal husband and the perfect father. Above all else, we ask you to pray for the Kirks after the incomprehensible loss they have suffered.”
The group emphasized Kirk’s devotion to free speech and his willingness to endure personal risk in order to reach young audiences. “He received thousands (of threats) throughout his life. But he always prioritised reaching as many young Americans as possible over his own personal safety. Now, Charlie has become America’s greatest martyr to the freedom of speech he so adored,” the post wrote.
The post also reflected on his short but eventful life. Kirk, 31, founded Turning Point from his parents’ garage at 18 with “no money, no name recognition, only a dream.” The group hailed his “energy and drive” as “awe-inspiring, without equal and deeply infectious.”
“Charlie refused to squander a single day of his life,” the tribute said. “He was a natural builder and problem solver, who loved a challenge and saw every setback as a chance to learn, grow, pray, and try again.”
Turning Point closed by calling Kirk’s values “timeless American ones: honesty, forthrightness, duty, loyalty, and fair play.”
The organisation’s post was accompanied by a black-and-white photo of Kirk walking onto a stage during one of its signature pyrotechnic-filled events.
Kirk’s final X message had been several hours before he was shot on Wednesday, concerning the stabbing death of a young Ukrainian refugee on a Charlotte, North Carolina, commuter train last month.
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