Charlie Kirk, one of the most influential conservative commentators in America, was shot and killed at Utah Valley University on Wednesday afternoon. Kirk, 31, who was Christian, founded Turning Point USA in 2012, a nonprofit that aims to promote a conservative agenda on campuses. It is believed he was shot from a distance and withstood injuries in the neck.
Kirk drew the attention of many of America’s youth by going to colleges with a sign “Prove Me Wrong.” In many videos he can be seen debunking false conspiracy theories against Israel and telling people not to blame Jews/Israel for all of their problems.
The nature of his work allows students to get close to him and the crowds are mostly college students.
Jason Chaffetz, a former Utah congressman who was at the noon event, told Fox News that one person asked a question about religion and a second person asked a question about trans shooters at around 12:20. It was at that point Kirk was shot, Chaffetz said.
“I could see Charlie immediately fall back and to his left and the crowd hit the ground and started screaming, and then people started running,” Chaffetz said on air. “My focus turned to my family, making sure they were okay, but it was obvious Charlie wasn’t. The crowds gathered and now we’re in prayer, hoping some miracle will happen…” Chaffetz’s comments came before it was confirmed that Kirk was dead.
With seven million followers on Instagram, 7.4 million followers on TikTok and five million followers on X, Kirk gained a following for his debating and willingness to speak to anyone. Pundits cite his work as one of several factors that enabled President Donald Trump to win a second term, as Kirk promoted gaining voters through podcasts as opposed to legacy media.
Prime Minister Netanyahu tweeted, “Charlie Kirk was murdered for speaking truth and defending freedom. A lion-hearted friend of Israel, he fought the lies and stood tall for Judeo-Christian civilization. I spoke to him only two weeks ago and invited him to Israel. Sadly, that visit will not take place. We lost an incredible human being. His boundless pride in America and his valiant belief in free speech will leave a lasting impact. Rest in peace, Charlie Kirk.”
As of 5 p.m. on Wednesday, no shooter is yet in custody, and a motive is not known. His pro-Israel stance was among many others, which included being anti-abortion. Kirk spoke at the Republican national convention in 2024.
“To all the Gen Z’ers watching this convention on TikTok right now, I have a message just for you,” he said at the convention. “You don’t have to stay poor. You don’t have to accept being worse off than your parents. You don’t have to feel aimless and unhappy. You don’t have to support leaders who lied to you and took advantage of you for your vote.”
At one of his college debates, Kirk asked one college student, “Was the Holocaust objectively evil,” to which the student was booed when he did not answer that it was.
Kirk often encouraged people to debate with facts rather than emotional appeals.
More than 31 million viewed a YouTube video of Kirk from Jubilee, in which one person is surrounded by others with opposing views. The format was suitable for Kirk, who encouraged dialogue, especially with those who disagreed with him.
Dov Hikind, longtime Democratic congressman and founder of Americans Against Antisemitism, told The Jewish Press that Kirk was a special guy and he prayed for him at the Kotel to recover before learning he’d died.
“What can you say?” Hikind said. “What have we come to?”
A husband with two children, he encouraged people to get married. Kirk wrote a number of books, including The College Scam.
“Charlie Kirk was a great man, a personal friend and an ally who loved Israel and the Jewish people,” said ZOA National President Morton Klein in a statement. “I had the pleasure of walking all over Jerusalem with him and sitting for an incredible interview with him on his radio show where for over an hour, Charlie asked great questions to better understand the Arab-Islamist war against Israel, the Jewish people and the West.
“When I asked him several weeks ago to speak at the Zionist Organization of America’s national gala [this coming November], he was thrilled and was excitedly looking forward to addressing our strong Zionist audience.
“Charlie was extremely smart, knowledgeable, well read and an authoritative yet genuine voice who could speak on virtually every subject, capable of responding to those debating and critiquing him.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Charlie’s family during this time,” he concluded
“There’s somebody out there who is evil,” Chaffetz said on Fox News Channel, in reference to the shooter.