On Wednesday afternoon, Charlie Kirk, 31, the Illinois native who led the conservative student movement Turning Point USA, was fatally shot while speaking at an outdoor event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.
He had just returned from an overseas speaking tour—headlining a recent event in Tokyo organized by Japan's far-right Sanseito party and visiting Seoul—when he took the stage on campus.
From Op-Ed to Campus Network
Kirk first rose to national attention after a 2012 op-ed for Breitbart led to Fox News appearances and a speech at Benedictine University, where he teamed up with Tea Party activist Bill Montgomery to launch Turning Point USA. Since then, he expanded the group to colleges across the U.S. and founded the non-profit Turning Point Action to back conservative candidates.
The Shooting and the Suspect
Local authorities have not yet released a motive or confirmed whether a suspect is in custody. Utah's governor described the killing as a political assassination as investigators sift through witness accounts and surveillance footage.
Global Reactions
Leaders worldwide condemned the violence: Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney decried any form of political violence; UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned it threatens democracy; Italy's Giorgia Meloni called it a deep wound for freedom; Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu praised Kirk's defense of Judeo-Christian values; and Hungary's Viktor Orban blamed progressive-liberal rhetoric for fuelling hatred.
Legacy and Impact
With 5.3 million X followers and over 500,000 monthly podcast listeners, Kirk built a digital empire that amplified conservative youth voices. He authored books like Time for a Turning Point and The College Scam. He is survived by his wife, Erika, and their two children. His death reignites debates over political discourse, campus safety and the role of young voices in shaping democracy.
Reference(s):
Who was Charlie Kirk? What we know about the shooting and the suspect
cgtn.com
