Charlie Kirk was a leading voice for all conservatives. He fought for free speech, faith, family, and the American way. His assassination has left a Grand Canyon-sized hole within our movement that will only be filled by the millions of new voices that are now inspired to no longer stay silent. There is only one Charlie Kirk; you don’t get another one. His legacy will continue. His global impact will only swell as time passes—he will truly never be forgotten.
As a father, his assassination has gutted me to no end. It’s nearly all I can think about. I’ve never felt this way, it has hit me so deeply. Charlie, his wife Erika, and his two children have been robbed. Robbed of each other and robbed of their future together. I’m certain Charlie Kirk dreamed of the day he’d be a dad. From all accounts I’ve seen, being a husband and father was easily his favorite job. Charlie led a massive free speech movement, started Turning Point USA, and was a political juggernaut at 31—but I’m sure nothing could make him smile larger than when his daughter met him on the famous Fox and Friends couch. Charlie was robbed of coming home to his kids yelling, screaming, smiling, and laughing after a long day at the office or a work trip.
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My 7-year-old son couldn’t tell behind my sunglasses, but as we threw the baseball in the yard the other day, I was steadily weeping. Weeping as I thought about Charlie’s sweet son and how he’ll never throw a baseball with his dad. How they’ll never go to a Major League Baseball game together. But more than that, how he’ll never get to train his son in both sports and life—something that is so special for all parents. Charlie was a man of character who would raise his son to be a man of character. The principles he taught from the stage, the importance of faith and family, would be drilled into his son over a lifetime.
A son was robbed of having his father in the stands. To lift him up after a big game and say, “You did it, buddy, all your hard work paid off.” To teach him what a day of hard work looks like and how success comes to those who work hard.
A daughter was robbed of having a father who would look her in the eyes every day and tell her that she is beautiful and loved. That she is fierce and strong, a force to be reckoned with. That she can accomplish anything that she puts her mind to. That no matter where she ends up in life, she can always come home. And of course, walk her down the aisle and give her away.
Erika was robbed of her soulmate. The man she prayed for and waited decades to find. The person she committed her heart and life to. The person who would be with her every day, regardless of what happens in life. The man who would lead her household spiritually and help set the tone for their life together.
The examples are endless.
With the grace of God and the love of their community, the Kirk family is going to get through this unspeakable evil. Like many of you, I’ve made a personal commitment in my life to be more like Charlie. To love deeply, to be more understanding, and to speak when it’s easier to remain silent.
Let's follow Charlie’s lead. Let’s commit to being better husbands and fathers. Better wives and mothers. To love others as Christ loves us. To stand against evil and never back down.