Charlie Kirk will forever be remembered as a polarizing figure. To some, he was a political icon who inspired millions to challenge their preconceived beliefs. Others saw him as an extremist. But for the moment, we ask that you remember one truth: Charlie Kirk was a human being, nothing more, nothing less. And as fellow human beings, we hope you all agree that it is a travesty when children grow up without a father. Political differences, however passionate, pale in comparison to this fundamental reality.
On Wednesday, September 10, Charlie Kirk was fatally shot during his “Prove Me Wrong” event at Utah Valley University. He was 31 years old and left behind his wife, Erika, and two young children. The event, which had 3,000 attendees, was designed to foster open dialogue across political divides, but it quickly turned tragic. Kirk was rushed to the hospital following the shooting, but died from his injuries.
Despite passing at the young age of 31, Kirk made a major impact on the world. He briefly attended Harper College before dropping out to pursue political activism full-time. According to the BBC, “In 2012, at the age of 18, he co-founded Turning Point USA (TPUSA), a student organization that aims to spread conservative ideals at liberal-leaning US colleges.” His goal was to give university students the opportunity to defend their views while also providing a safe space for open discourse. Kirk approached these debates with genuine curiosity and showed respect to those who had the courage to stand and converse. There was no hostility. He focused on presenting his points clearly and explaining why he believed the opposing viewpoints were wrong, while still valuing the exchange of ideas.
What began as a small youth activist program has expanded into large-scale events. As stated in Turning Point USA, the organization now has “a presence on over 3,000 high school and college campuses nationwide, over 650,000 lifetime student members, and 450 full- and part-time staff all across the country.” The organization’s website emphasizes its mission to restore core American values, including “patriotism, respect for life, liberty, family, and fiscal responsibility,” all of which Kirk strived to inform college students through active debate. Such debates were proposed to empower the younger generation of activists and mobilize young people to make a difference in the country.
Alongside more debates, Kirk further grew his name by hosting his podcast, “The Charlie Kirk Show,” where he discussed his conservative values on various topics concerning America. His bold and blatant commentary often made him the center of attention and controversy on many occasions, yet to the younger generations, his voice became both inspiring and alluring. Kirk, being a Christian, also spoke openly about his faith. He even met and debated with Stuart Knechtle, an internet-famous pastor who also speaks and preaches frequently at college campuses. Through all this, Kirk grew a massive social media footprint, with 7 million followers on Instagram, 5 million on X, and 3.8 million subscribers on YouTube. In addition, he also had written several books. His most prominent book is The MAGA Doctrine: The Only Ideas that Will Win the Future, which promotes ideas highlighting President Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement. One of his most famous lines written in this book is, “Never give up, never surrender, and always go for the win.”
President Donald Trump, who Kirk staunchly supported, was the first to publicly announce Kirk’s death following the shooting. “The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or held 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!” Trump wrote across all his social media accounts. Former President Joe Biden also commented on Kirk’s death, stating, “There is no place in our country for this kind of violence. It must end now.” Alongside Trump and Biden, countless politicians spoke out in unity to mourn Kirk’s death.
Shockingly, the public’s reaction has been mixed, with some even making pitiless and contemptuous remarks like “good riddance” and “taken too late.” According to The Wall Street Journal, when Rep. Lauren Boebert asked Congress for a verbal prayer for Kirk and his family, the assembly members began shouting at each other, and the entire situation quickly devolved into chaos.
Kirk’s death should not be treated as something to celebrate. Yet as we scroll through TikTok and other social media platforms, we see people cheering for his passing, turning tragedy into entertainment. Beyond politics or opinions, he was a husband and a father. Now his two children will grow up without their dad. Imagine them asking their mother why their father never came home; there is no explanation that can take away that kind of pain. He was a human being, just like us. The difference was that he had the courage to go out and speak his mind. For that, his life was taken. Since when has violence ever been the right answer to disagreement?
Say what you want about Charlie Kirk, but he was a man who loved his family and his faith, and America has lost one of its staunchest supporters. He was the voice of a generation, and the courage he showed and the hope he instilled will always be remembered. We send prayers to Kirk and his family.
