Right-Wing Activist Charlie Kirk Dead at 31

Charlie Kirk, the salient right-wing activistic and podcast host, was fatally changeable while speaking astatine Utah Valley University connected Wednesday. He was 31.

Originally from nan suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, Kirk went connected to go 1 of nan astir polarizing figures of his generation. In 2012, erstwhile Kirk was conscionable 18, he cofounded nan influential blimpish younker organizing group Turning Point USA. Kirk specialized successful integer and grassroots organizing, harnessing societal media to scope young voters. He yet became a cardinal state and advisor to President Donald Trump.

Trump announced Kirk’s passing on Truth Social Wednesday afternoon. “The Great, and moreover Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No 1 understood aliases had nan Heart of nan Youth successful nan United States of America amended than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, particularly me, and now, he is nary longer pinch us. Melania and my Sympathies spell retired to his beautiful woman Erika, and family. Charlie, we emotion you!”

Kirk was killed astatine an arena TPUSA was hosting astatine UVU successful Orem, Utah, arsenic portion of his organization’s American Comeback Tour, a nationwide field circuit aimed astatine “equipping students pinch nan devices to push backmost against left-wing indoctrination successful academia,” according to a February press release announcing nan series. There are over 800 TPUSA chapters astatine schools crossed nan country.

Kirk’s Turning Point played an instrumental domiciled successful nan right’s efforts to predominate nan integer governmental sphere. Over nan past fewer years, nan statement has scouted and developed right-wing talent, providing societal media creators pinch platforms and backing to dispersed blimpish ideology crossed nan internet. Kirk was known arsenic a powerful fundraiser, helping TPUSA raise much than $85 cardinal successful 2024 alone, according to taxation records.

Some of nan right’s astir celebrated creators, from Benny Johnson to Jack Posobiec, person had stints arsenic Turning Point contributors, often helming unrecorded shows and podcasts for illustration Culture Apothecary by Alex Clark. Kirk besides hosted his ain regular existent events podcast called The Charlie Kirk Show, which regularly topped download charts.

“For truthful galore blimpish influencers and contented creators, Charlie Kirk represented nan blueprint. When I was conscionable 12 years aged and Charlie was hardly 18, he was nan first personification to scope retired to maine successful this movement,” CJ Pearson, a salient GOP creator, tells WIRED. “His bequest will strengthen because of nan concerted effort he made to incubate nan adjacent procreation of blimpish leaders.”

Kirk championed galore right-wing causes and was often condemned by critics for his incendiary rhetoric. He was a fixture connected assemblage campuses crossed nan country, giving speeches imploring young group to clasp Trump and conservatism writ large, and decrying nan fame of what he described arsenic gender ideology and Marxism. He echoed akin ideas successful his books, including nan 2020 bestseller The MAGA Doctrine. He often based on that nan United States is simply a fundamentally Christian country, borrowing from Christian nationalist rhetoric and characterizing nan right’s guidance of progressive authorities arsenic a belief battle.

His power grew moreover larger successful 2020, erstwhile Kirk many times dispersed misinformation astir Covid-19. He fiercely opposed nationalist wellness measures to extremity nan dispersed of nan virus, specified arsenic disguise mandates and schoolhouse closures, and mocked nan World Health Organization. Kirk besides led a Stop nan Steal rally successful Arizona soon aft Trump mislaid nan 2020 election, spreading conspiracy theories astir President Joe Biden’s win.

“Charlie Kirk is now a martyr,” Johnson said successful an X post connected Wednesday. “The world will alteration everlastingly now, a motion of really ascendant and powerful Charlie’s activity was.”

On Truth Social, Trump called for flags to beryllium lowered to half-mast until Sunday evening to grant Kirk.

Turning Point USA spokesperson Andrew Kolvet did not respond to aggregate requests for comment. Turning Point Action main operating serviceman Tyler Bowyer did not respond to a abstracted petition from WIRED.