We Grieve the Loss and We Celebrate His Life
Charles "Charlie" James Kirk (1993-2025)
Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist who co-founded Turning Point USA and built a large national following among right-leaning students and voters, died September 10, 2025, after being shot while speaking to a crowd at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. He was 31. (Hansen Mortuaries in Phoenix, Arizona is in charge of local arrangements.)
Born Charles James Kirk on October 14, 1993, in Arlington Heights, Illinois, he attended Wheeling High School and later studied at Harper College before leaving to pursue activism.
Kirk co-founded Turning Point USA in 2012 at the age of 18, launching the conservative advocacy group as a shoestring campus effort and building it into a well-funded national organization. He later spun it off into affiliated groups, including Turning Point Action and Turning Point Faith.
As Kirk's profile rose, he became a widely known media figure. He hosted "The Charlie Kirk Show" on talk radio, appeared regularly on conservative outlets, and addressed such major political conferences as the 2024 Republican National Convention and the 2022 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). His books include "Campus Battlefield" (2018), "The MAGA Doctrine" (2020), and "Right Wing Revolution" (2024).
A prominent ally of President Donald Trump, Kirk focused on campus activism, youth engagement, and faith-based organizing. He credited early mentorship from the late Bill Montgomery, who helped him launch Turning Point USA.
Kirk married Erika Frantzve in 2021. He is survived by his wife and their two children.