Charlie Kirk has died at age 31 after being shot in the neck during an appearance at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.
Kirk’s accomplishments in the political arena – both at Turning Point USA and through his radio show - are legendary, but his larger focus in life was being a husband and father to be his most important roles in life. He and his wife, Erika, were married in 2021 and have two children; a three-year-old daughter and a 16-month-old son.
Just a few weeks ago, the Fox News cameras caught Kirk's daughter excitedly shouting, "Daddy!" and running up to him on the set after he appeared on "Fox and Friends."
Kirk founded Turning Point USA right out of high school and built it into a major force in American politics; it's not an exaggeration to say that his efforts and the efforts of TPUSA helped Donald Trump to the presidency both in 2016 and 2024 and were the key to critical congressional victories for the GOP. TPUSA's conferences, especially its annual America Fest, have become the most widely-attended and influential conservative grassroots conferences in the country.
Charlie Kirk was born on October 14, 1993, and grew up in Prospect Heights, Illinois, the son of an architect and a mental health counselor. He was an Eagle Scout who was already volunteering on U.S. Senate campaigns in high school and had already appeared on Fox Business, talking about liberal bias in school textbooks, before he graduated. He was still in high school when he met Bill Montgomery, the man who would eventually become his Turning Point USA co-founder:
The first time Bill Montgomery met Charlie Kirk, then 18 years old, he gave him advice a fresh high school grad rarely hears.
"You can't go to college!" Montgomery, then in retirement after a career in marketing, recalled telling him.
Montgomery was at Benedictine University, in the western Chicago suburb of Lisle, Illinois, for the college's Youth Government Day in May 2012. The slate of speakers "put the kids"—a few hundred high school students—”to sleep," he told National Journal. But when Kirk took the floor, the energy in the room completely changed. The kids weren't sleeping anymore. And their attention was rapt—on Kirk.
Inspired, Montgomery went up to him after his speech and told him, as only a man 50 years senior can say, that he needed to delay college to pursue a higher calling. "I don't know you," he recalled saying, "but you need to start an organization to reach out to young people with your message."
A few months later, at the 2012 Republican National Convention, Kirk met Foster Friess, a prominent GOP donor, and persuaded him to finance the launch of Turning Point. Kirk and Friess remained close until Friess' death in May 2021.
Charlie believed in having respectful conversations and dialogue with those he disagreed with, inviting spirited debate on college campuses as a way of hopefully finding some common ground and dispelling liberal myths. In a terrible irony, he was doing that when he died.
Through his nationally-syndicated Salem Media Group radio show, Kirk brought his debate and persuasion skills to the country three hours a day. Salem Media Group, of which RedState is a part, issued the following statement:
Salem Media Group, Inc., announces with profound sorrow that it mourns the assassination of Charlie Kirk, who was taken from us today in a vile attack at Utah Valley University. This was a cowardly and vile act of violence, carried out to silence one of America’s boldest Christian conservative voices.
Our hearts are shattered for Charlie’s wife, family, friends, colleagues, and the countless people whose lives he touched through his words, his work, and his unwavering commitment to faith and country.
. . .
Charlie’s partnership with Salem Media was defined by his uncompromising defense of biblical values, liberty, and truth. Through his nationally syndicated show and podcast, he reached millions who relied on his voice to cut through lies, honor truth, and give courage to those fighting for faith and freedom.
Salem Media extends its most heartfelt condolences to the Kirk family, Charlie’s friends, and the millions of Americans and people across the world who are grieving this senseless loss.
In this painful hour, we urge believers everywhere to join us in prayer—asking God to comfort Charlie’s family, strengthen those who grieve, and give us the resolve to continue the mission he so boldly carried.
Salem CEO David Santrella said:
“Charlie was more than a broadcaster—he was a fearless defender of truth and a faithful servant of God. This assassination was not just an attack on Charlie, it was an attack on free speech and on the values Charlie championed every day. His absence leaves a tremendous void, but his legacy of faith, courage, and conviction will continue to inspire generations.”
Bradley Parscale, Chief Strategy Officer, said:
“I have had the privilege of working with Charlie for nearly a decade. He was part of the Salem family. His voice was fearless, unyielding, and relentless in the defense of faith and freedom. This heinous act of evil was meant to silence him, but as Christians, we know darkness cannot overcome the light. Charlie’s influence cannot and will not be silenced.”
On a personal note, I was honored to call Charlie Kirk friend. I first met him in December 2019 at the Thousand Oaks Republican Women's Federated holiday party, where he presented me with an award on behalf of the group in thanks for my series that led to the resignation of Katie Hill. I'd met him briefly at that 2012 RNC and at CPAC a few times, but otherwise didn't really know him, so it was quite the honor. But I was able to get to know him and Turning Point better over the years, and knew that if I ever had a big story, I was welcome to discuss it on his show or even break it on the show.
In the case of my exposés on Ronna McDaniel's RNC expenditures, Kirk immediately had me on his show in person, live from America Fest, to break down my first piece. Despite the intense blowback from the RNC establishment, Charlie stood his ground and had my back - then he continued to work to hold her accountable.
In late January 2024, a day or two before publishing the piece that would eventually lead to McDaniel's resignation, I sent an overview of my results to Charlie and his producers. They immediately asked me to head to Las Vegas, where TPUSA Action was holding a training for county GOP chairs preceding the RNC Winter Meeting, so I could go on Charlie's show to go over the numbers and how they compared to what the Democrats were spending on similar items. When I got to Vegas I told them I wasn't done composing the actual story yet, but they wanted me to come on the show right away anyway. That's not usually how Charlie does things, so I wasn't sure why he and his team insisted I go public anyway - and I soon found out. McDaniel's people tried everything they could over the next 24 hours to keep the story from going to print, but since the information was already out there, there was only so much they could do.
The next day I said to Charlie, "Wow, it's a good thing I went on your show first, instead of waiting to publish the story." He replied, with a small grin, "I know, right?" McDaniel was gone within a month, and a team capable of leading Trump to victory in 2024 was put in place - in large part due to Charlie Kirk's dedication.
There are so many thoughts going through my mind about this situation, and I'm sure I'm not alone in that. Looking at the television, seeing a chyron reading, "Charlie Kirk Dead, Shot on UVU Campus" is surreal. But the thought that keeps coming back to my mind is that we must do all we can to ease the burden on Charlie's parents, his wife, and his children, and to ensure that the important work he started with Turning Point USA, Turning Point Action, and Turning Point Faith continues.
Rest in peace, friend.