Nic Antaya/NYT Photographer
Charlie Kirk at the 2024 at the Turning Point Action conference.
On September 10, 2025, right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed during a speaking engagement at Utah Valley University. He was 31 years old.
Kirk, who in 2012 founded conservative organization Turning Point USA, was a controversial figure in politics, often appearing on shows and college campuses to debate with others on issues such as abortion, gun control, and LGBTQ+ rights. He is credited with attracting young voters to President Trump’s causes, and he popularized mixing politics and religion.
After a 33-hour statewide manhunt that involved local law enforcement and the FBI, Kirk’s alleged shooter, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, was taken into custody after turning himself in. Robinson is currently facing aggravated murder charges and is being held in a Utah jail without bail.
Robinson, who had a 4.0 GPA in high school and received a merit scholarship to Utah State University, dropped out of college in 2021 after just one semester. At the time of Kirk’s shooting, Robinson attended Dixie Technical College. Robinson voted for President Trump in the 2020 election, but he was registered as unaffiliated with a political party and did not vote in the 2024 presidential election.
Inscribed on bullet casings recovered from the scene of Kirk’s assassination were various references to fascism and online memes. One read: “Oh bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao ciao,” which is an Italian anti-fascist song popularized by TikTok. Another one read: “If you read this, you are gay LMAO.”
At Kirk’s September 21 memorial service in Glendale, Arizona, President Trump hailed Kirk as a martyr but criticized his opinion of his opponents. Trump said: “[Kirk] was a missionary with a noble spirit and a great, great purpose. He did not hate his opponents. He wanted the best for them. That’s where I disagreed with Charlie. I hate my opponent, and I don’t want the best for them.”
President Trump’s speech stood in stark contrast to the remarks given by Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk’s widow at the memorial service. She emphasized the importance of not spreading hate and division: “The answer to hate is not hate. The answer we know from the gospel is love, and always love. Love for our enemies and love for those who persecute us.”
Chadwick student Matthew Rosenbaum ’26 said, “Frankly, it’s horrifying that a man so dedicated to trying to bridge the gap and debate in good faith was the one targeted by political violence. It really speaks to the level of polarization and radicalization that’s occurred in our country as of late, and it’s something that needs to be put to an end immediately.”
As Kirk’s death–and other recent examples of political violence–have rattled both sides of the political spectrum, it leaves Americans to wonder what is next.