The Turning Point USA founder built a following by courting controversy on abortion, Christianity and Islam. His sudden death in Utah leaves a movement reeling.

By James Harcourt
Sun 14 Sep 2025

A rising force on the American right
Charlie Kirk (born Charles James Kirk in October 1993; died 10 September 2025) was a leading figure in the American conservative movement, especially among younger audiences, and a polarising presence in debates about politics, religion, culture and morality.

He co-founded Turning Point USA in 2012, aged just 18, with the stated aim of mobilising conservative students and pushing back against what he and his allies described as “woke” culture in universities. From there he built a formidable platform: podcasts, radio shows, social media streams, campus speaking tours and a reputation as a sharp-elbowed provocateur.

Kirk’s appeal lay in his blend of youthful energy, polished media instincts and alignment with a rising populist conservatism. He became known as a “youth whisperer” for the right – able to channel grievances on campuses, among Christian conservatives and others who felt ignored by mainstream politics.

Controversy as a calling card
Kirk rarely shied away from confrontation.

On abortion, he was uncompromisingly pro-life, framing the issue in explicitly Christian moral terms and attacking any expansion of abortion rights as evidence of cultural decline.

On Christianity, he increasingly fused his political message with religious identity. He spoke frequently of Christian nationalism, the defence of “biblical values” and the dangers of secularism, striking chords that resonated deeply with evangelical audiences.

On Islam, Kirk became embroiled in repeated disputes. He contrasted Islam unfavourably with Christianity, questioned Islamic practices and was accused by opponents of fostering Islamophobia.

His style – direct, combative, and often theatrical – won admiration from supporters who saw him as fearless. Critics accused him of sowing division, over-simplifying complex issues and indulging in rhetoric that blurred into disinformation.

A shooting that stunned America
On 10 September 2025, Kirk was addressing around 3,000 people at Utah Valley University as part of his “American Comeback Tour”. Twenty minutes into a question-and-answer session, he was shot in the neck by a gunman firing from a nearby rooftop.

He was rushed to Timpanogos Regional Hospital but died later the same day. He was 31.

Despite a substantial security presence – six campus police officers and Kirk’s own private guards – the attacker exploited an elevated vantage point that proved impossible to secure fully.

Two days later police arrested Tyler Robinson, 22, on suspicion of carrying out the attack. Investigators say Robinson changed clothes, accessed the rooftop, opened fire and fled. His motive remains under investigation, though officials are examining possible ideological factors.

“He only wanted to talk”
Even those who clashed bitterly with Kirk acknowledge that his preferred battleground was the stage or the lecture hall. He prided himself on engaging opponents with argument rather than force, insisting that logic and persuasion should prevail over intimidation.

Supporters have described him as “one of the good guys” – someone who courted controversy but fundamentally believed in the power of debate. His violent death has provoked horror across the political spectrum and prompted fresh concerns that political violence in the United States is becoming normalised.

Whether admired or reviled, Kirk’s end has raised profound questions: about the fragility of public discourse, the risks faced by public figures, and the limits of how democratic societies can debate, dissent and disagree.