Charles James Kirk. A name that has been taking over the headlines the past two weeks following his assassination at a rally at Utah Valley University on Wednesday, September 10, 2025. Charlie Kirk, 31, was a political and Christian activist as well as founder of Turning Point USA who was most prominently known for his viral videos of his rallies on college campuses debating students on various issues.
Kirk was born on October 14, 1993, in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights, Illinois. He graduated from Wheeling High School before attending Harper College to study political science. After just one semester at Harper, however, Kirk decided to pursue a career in political activism. At the age of 18, Kirk co-founded Turning Point USA, an organization designed to identify, educate, train, and organize students to promote the principles of fiscal responsibility, free markets, and limited government.
Kirk was also well known for his deep-rooted Christian beliefs. He passionately wanted to reach and save the young men who feel like they have no direction, no purpose, no faith, and no reason to live on. He urged young men not just to vote but to pray, to revive the American family—get married and build a family anchored in the gospel. Not only that, but he openly urged young men to give their hearts to Christ. When asked in an interview with Jack Shelby, host of the “The Iced Coffee Hour” podcast, how Kirk wanted to be remembered, Kirk replied,“I want to be remembered for courage for my faith. That would be the most important thing; the most important thing is my faith.”
Charlie Kirk becoming Trump and MAGA ally
Charlie Kirk was especially known for being a close ally of President Trump. In 2019, Kirk launched Turning Point Action, an affiliate advocacy organization with the purpose of campaigning for conservative candidates, including President Trump. Kirk and President Trump quickly became friends and had mutual respect for each other after Trump was elected to the Presidency in 2016. Kirk attended Trump’s inauguration in 2016 and was a frequent visitor at the White House. In Our Journey Together, Trump calls Kirk “a great young conservative dynamo who loves our country!” Kirk stayed loyal to Trump after the 2020 elections and continued to campaign for him again in 2024. Kirk attended President Trump’s second inauguration in January 2025; according to the New York Times, he had played golf with the president just two days before.
Charlie Kirk’s devotion to his faith
Charlie Kirk was also very well known for his devotion to his faith. Kirk was a Christian from childhood and was raised by Christian parents. He truly began to embrace his faith after founding Turning Point USA in 2012. In an interview with CBS News, when asked about his faith, Kirk said, “I started to come in a much closer relationship with Jesus Christ and reading my Bible more and becoming more essentially unapologetic about my Christianity because I was given a choice. I could try to descend more into this kind of secular world or reaffirm my faith, and that’s exactly what I did.” Kirk was very vocal about his faith not only on social media but also at college rallies, and on the public stage. When at a college rally at Illinois State University, a person dressed in a goat mask and a red robe decorated with Satanist symbols approached the microphone and began to chant phrases, Charlie Kirk responded “In the name of Jesus, I repudiate this unclean spirit.” On September 6, 2025, just 3 days before his assassination, Charlie Kirk posted on X, “Jesus defeated death so you can live.”
Responses to his death
The assassination of Charlie Kirk has not only sparked a national response but also a response globally. President Trump posted on Truth Social, “The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!”
Vice President JD Vance made a long post on X explaining how he met Charlie Kirk and talking about Kirk’s deep dedication to Christ. At Kirk’s funeral, JD Vance remarked, “For every hateful voice celebrating his murder, there are a thousand people mourning it and fighting his legacy every single day.” Vance also remarked, “For Charlie, we will rebuild this United States of America to greatness”
Barack Obama posted on X, “We don’t yet know what motivated the person who shot and killed Charlie Kirk, but this kind of despicable violence has no place in our democracy. Michelle and I will be praying for Charlie’s family tonight, especially his wife Erika and their two young children.”
Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel posted on X, “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.” Netanyahu also revealed that Kirk was planning to make a visit to Israel in the coming months that will unfortunately not happen now.
Kirk’s memorial on Saturday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona had over 90,000 attendees. Speakers included President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert Kennedy Jr., Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Tucker Carlson, Benny Johnson, Dr. Ben Carson, Erika Kirk and many others.
Charlie’s assassin thought that he would silence Charlie Kirk by killing him, but he did not do that. He ignited a flame in young American men to stand up for what we believe in; faith, family, and freedom.
One of my favorite Bible verses, which I find relevant about Charlie Kirk, is Matthew 25:23:
“His master said to him, ‘Well done good and faithful servant; you have been faithful for over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.’”
Thank you for everything that you have pointed out to us, Charlie, and thank you for encouraging young people like me to get involved in our country. Rest in peace.
Works Cited
- About (Turning Point USA)
- Charlie Kirk credited with helping Trump gain significant ground with young voters (Fox News)
- Charlie Kirk’s true legacy isn’t his politics. It’s his Christian faith (Premier Christianity)
- What to Know About Charlie Kirk (BBC)
- Trump, Donald, et al. Our Journey Together. Winning Team Publishing, 2021.
- Who Was Charlie Kirk? (Yahoo! Canada)