Charlie Kirk, a conservative political activist and Turning Point USA co-founder, was shot and died at a Utah Valley University event on Wednesday, according to President Donald Trump’s Truth Social platform.
The 31-year-old Kirk epitomized the Republican Party’s newfound populist conservatism in the age of social media as Trump reinvented it. Trump has credited Kirk with rallying and mobilizing the youth vote for him.
“No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie,” the president wrote. “He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us.”
Kirk, a college dropout, was popular among college students and young voters, not just helping to propel Trump to the presidency but also inspiring a new wave of conservative activists. His interest began after the Tea Party movement and intensified with Trump’s rise.
Kirk, who co-founded Turning Point in 2012 at the age of 18, was a notable Trump supporter who courted young people and leveraged his nonprofit network to mobilize votes on campuses and in churches in 2024.
His routinely visited college campuses, speaking and answering audience questions in engagements that often resulted in viral recordings. Kirk’s performance at Utah Valley University on Wednesday marked the beginning of a 14-city fall “American Comeback Tour.”
Kirk was responding to a question during the event when a single pop was heard. Attendees captured video of the crowd yelling as Kirk recoiled in his seat and looked to reach for his neck.
Former Utah Republican Congressman Jason Chaffetz was among those who attended. He told Fox News he attended the ceremony with his wife, daughter, and son-in-law. He stated that Kirk “came out; he was throwing hats, riling up the crowd,” and then began fielding questions before the shot rang out.
“I was watching Charlie. I can’t say that I saw blood. I can’t say that I saw him get hit, but I did see him fall immediately backwards into his left,” he said.
The American Comeback Tour featured Kirk’s distinctive “Prove Me Wrong Table,” in which he challenged individuals who disagreed with him to discuss a topic.
He was accompanied by a private security team, a Turning Point USA aide on the trip told CNN, whether he was speaking at major rallies like the one in Orem, Utah, or smaller gatherings.
He most recently visited the Oval Office in May to attend Judge Jeanine Pirro’s swearing-in ceremony.
