The assassination of Charlie Kirk is a generational moment on the level of the 1968 assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy. Charlie was a senior contributor to Human Events, a friend to many at the outlet, and an inspiration to all of us as well. We admired Charlie, we watched his show, we reveled in his success, and we loved going to his events. Everything about him will be so terribly missed.
In honor of the man, the American legend, we at Human Events have gathered tributes from staff and columnists. This is the only column we are running today—as President Trump declared that flags across the nation will be flown at half mast, we too are flying at half mast today.
Charlie was not only a visionary and revolutionary, but also an individual deserving of recognition for the ways America has shifted in favor of common-sense conservatism. Throughout his young career, Kirk has not only facilitated the most impactful young conservative movement that has inspired students across our nation, but has also helped create a generation of conservatives that would not have been formed without him. In the inception of the Make America Great Again movement, Charlie has generated a coalition of young conservatives that will likely never be replicated. His work with the organization he founded, Turning Point USA, has led to the development of clubs in all fifty states at colleges, elementary schools, and high schools.
Kirk's media presence encompasses not only speaking for young people but also speaking to them. Instead of talking over their heads and treating them like they were stupid college kids, Kirk would visit campuses to meet young people where they are in an attempt to understand their perspective, where they got their viewpoints, and engage in needed debate at destinations that are ripe with progressive indoctrination.
All of us here are speaking from the heart.
Jack Posobiec
Charlie was always thinking. Charlie was more of a chess player than people realize. He could see angles and he could think three moves ahead, four moves ahead, knew how to take that bank shot, boom, boom, boom, triple rail, bank shot, and he was going to make it.
If something was in his way, he was either going to take it down or he was going to get around it, because he would see these things coming. And there's so just so many stories behind the scenes that people don't even know, things that Charlie never talked about publicly, things that he's been involved in, conversations, decisions, plans, beyond Turning Point.
The amount of lives that he touched, even beyond politics, the amount that he did just as a good person, for people, is unlistable. It's innumerable. And the fact that they would take someone like that away, the fact that they would take someone like that away from this world—
Coming from Philadelphia, I'm reminded of the age of the founders, the men of the founding generation. These were guys in their 20s and 30s. It was young men who founded this nation who stepped up—the age of Jefferson, when he writes the Declaration.
We're coming up on the 250th in just a couple of months here. And you look at that age, and there's something about that age where you're just hitting your stride, you're in your prime, you're on the top of the world. You've got your health.
Charlie Kirk was a biohacking, MAHA-loving, health nut, cold plunge every day kind of guy. He didn't drink caffeine. That Starbucks cup: that's tea, that's not coffee. He was really focused on what goes into his body, and really focused on health and nutrition. We would talk about that just as much as we would talk about politics or argue theology, or debate back and forth, all of these various things.
They took my friend away.
I was at the Museum of the Bible earlier this week with President Trump who said, "America needs to pray again." But he also talked about this horrific situation with the young Ukrainian girl down in Charlotte. And he said, "sometimes you have to do horrible things to stop horrible things."
And we are now living through the era of horrible things.
Kenny Cody
I am as utterly devastated today as I have ever been. Charlie was not only dedicated to the conservative movement here and now, but also wanted to ensure its survival as the America First movement has become for the futures of his beautiful children and future grandchildren. Charlie was the face of our movement.
He embodied the conservative movement that he has helped build and shape as a key component of America's future renewal. If you talk to a young person, they know who Charlie Kirk is beyond a shadow of a doubt. However, if you speak to a young conservative, they will cite him as the reason they are conservative at all.
I am in deep prayer for Charlie’s family and the millions of people he had such a huge impact on. He will forever be a guiding light for Human Events and conservatives all over the world. He is resting with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ tonight, but we will miss you here in this life, my dearly departed friend.
We love you Charlie.
Libby Emmons
The first time I met Charlie Kirk was on the set of his show in Phoenix, set up at the edges of Turning Point USA's America Fest. I'd never been to a Turning Point Event and I was blown away by the energy of it, the people, the community, everyone feeling open enough to speak their minds.
It was 2021, Biden was president, and Charlie's producer Andrew Kolvet brought me on the show. I was intimidated, I was excited, and I was nervous. I knew immediately I met someone formidable, a bright spot in the universe.
I sat across from Charlie and we talked about a remark Biden had made, that "no right is absolute." We talked about the implications of that, the horror of it, and walked through some of the key rights, like the right to be free from illegal search and seizure, free speech, free press. These rights given to us not by man but by God.
The interview was over far too fast—I could have chatted all day.
I got the chance to speak to him a handful of times, and I was so honored every time. Charlie loved our country and his countrymen so much he thought none of us was lost and that each one was redeemable. I share that conviction even now.
The world doesn't get over losses like these.
Andy Ngo
I only had the chance to meet Charlie Kirk twice, but both encounters left a lasting impression.
In 2019, just weeks after I suffered a brain hemorrhage from the Antifa assault, he invited me to a Turning Point USA conference in Washington, D.C. I was too shy to speak, but he brought me briefly on stage to be recognized for my reporting. That act of kindness stuck with me.
Three years later, in December 2022, I was invited to speak at TPUSA’s “AmericaFest” in Phoenix, Ariz. I was not a typical speaker for the event, which featured big names in Republican politics, and mega-popular conservative YouTubers and influencers. Many of the speakers traveled with security, an entourage and had fans who wanted to meet them. Charlie was busier than anyone, yet when I slipped quietly into a crowded backstage area, he noticed me in the dark. In the middle of all the commotion, he paused, made eye contact, smiled, and waved.
That gesture captured who he was — gracious and grounded. It is my last memory with him.
Katie Daviscourt
Charlie Kirk was a man of conviction, whose passion for truth and unwavering faith left an indelible mark on countless lives, including mine. He was one of the first to see something in me, and played a pivotal role in shaping the career I have today. From working for him at the amazing company he founded, Turning Point USA, to later becoming a media colleague, Charlie had a rare gift for lifting people up, inspiring them to step boldly into their purpose.
Beyond his public presence as a fearless leader, Charlie was a devoted family man who lived his life for Jesus Christ. He is someone who truly can’t be replaced. May he rest in peace.
Roberto Wakerell-Cruz
To Charlie: Thank you for all of your work, your tireless dedication, and—most of all—what I’ve always admired: your attitude when voicing your views without fear. Countless people will miss you for many reasons, and for me personally, something I’ve always admired was the way you could keep composed in debates before dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of people. Millions, including myself, take comfort knowing you’ve been greeted by God and are at peace in the arms of our saviour, Jesus Christ. We will not forget you.
Hannah Nightingale
Charlie Kirk was an icon for the conservative movement as a whole, but especially for the younger generations who have grown up in an increasingly hectic world. It’s those same young Americans who I’m sure will pick up the torch left by him and continue his legacy of fighting for what’s right while fostering dialogue and debate. Prayers for his family, friends, and loved ones.
Thomas Stevenson
I attended my first Turning Point USA event at 21 thanks to the vision and dedication of Charlie Kirk to create an organization where people of common cause could gather together at college.
My career, friendships, and family have been directly impacted by what role he played in leading so many young people to a life of meaning and purpose. I would not be where I am without his impact on my life and his vast impact on the country.
I pray for Charlie’s wife Erika, their children, and those who were closest to him. A life can be ended, however his words, ideas, and spirit cannot. Charlie’s voice and legacy will always remain.
Shea Bradley-Farrell
Charlie Kirk's energy, dedication and intellect is an inspiration--not just to young people but to all Americans still fighting for the truth and our constitutional republic. God bless Charlie Kirk!
Ari Hoffman
My first time broadcasting from TPUSA's Amfest, I was fortunate enough to interview Charlie. He saw my kippah (Jewish beanie) and immediately started talking about his last trip to Israel. Then he found out my son was in yeshiva in Jerusalem, and the whole conversation pivoted to religion. We had a wonderful conversation discussing our religions and Judeo-Christian values. It wasn't the political interview I had planned. It was so much better.
Anyone who spoke to him walked away feeling like they were his best friend, as if they had known him for a lifetime. After Oct 7, he was one of the staunchest supporters of Jews and Israel, so much so that my kids told me how much it meant to them that Charlie was on our side when so many others weren't.
His voice is irreplaceable and he will be missed not just by everyone who knew him but by the millions he had an impact on. Baruch Dayan Emet- Blessed is the one true judge. May his wife and children be comforted among the mourners of Zion and may Hashem avenge his blood.
Allen Mashburn
Charlie Kirk stands as a towering figure in America's fight for freedom, truth, and moral clarity. As the founder of Turning Point USA, he has ignited a movement that empowers young people to embrace conservative values, reject radical ideologies, and reclaim the nation's founding principles. Through tireless campus tours, viral podcasts, and bold public speaking, Kirk has exposed the dangers of leftist indoctrination in schools, fostering a generation unafraid to defend liberty, limited government, and the sanctity of life.
His work has fortified communities, supported free enterprise, and promoted patriotism, making him an indispensable voice in restoring America's soul.
One of Kirk's most profound impacts has been mobilizing millions to the polls. Turning Point Action, his grassroots arm, has registered countless voters, especially among youth disillusioned by mainstream narratives. In pivotal elections, from 2016 to recent cycles, Kirk's rallies and get-out-the-vote drives have surged participation, flipping battlegrounds and amplifying conservative wins. He doesn't just talk politics; he inspires action, turning passive observers into engaged citizens who vote for faith, family, and freedom. This mobilization has reshaped electoral landscapes, ensuring voices for truth echo in halls of power.
Beyond politics, Kirk has profoundly affected the world by championing truth and Christ. His unapologetic advocacy for biblical principles—opposing abortion, affirming traditional marriage, and calling out cultural decay—has spread globally through social media and international events. Kirk's faith-driven message counters secular relativism, offering hope and moral grounding to a divided world. He reminds us that true justice flows from God's word, influencing leaders and everyday believers to stand firm.
Today, our hearts break over the horrendous attack on Charlie at Utah Valley University, where he was shot while sharing his vision. We extend our sincere prayers to his wife Erika and young family, asking for God's comfort and strength.
Rod Thomson
Charlie Kirk was a constant light in the darkness, going anywhere to talk about truth, beginning with the truth of the Gospel of Christ. He answered all comers, taking questions on so many topics, Biblical and conservative, and changed individual lives and the trajectory of young people more than anyone of his generation. He was a combination of Billy Graham and William F. Buckley, with a dash of Donald Trump.
He was unique not only because of his intellect, but his boldness to go into the lion’s den. In this, he more than once made me think of the Apostle Paul at Mars Hill in Athens. He went where he was called and proclaimed the truth. Paul always knew he would one day be killed. Charlie did the exact same and untold thousands were positively impacted by his short life.
Human Events contributor
Charlie Kirk transformed lives, including my own. For many of us, he was the reason we found our conservative convictions, the reason we came to Christ, and the reason we stand boldly in the fight for America today. His words on stage at TPUSA conferences and on campuses across the globe were never mere speeches. They were a call to awaken, to know why you believe what you believe, to challenge those who do not, and to live with courage.
Charlie fought to expose the darkness in a culture determined to consume a generation. Many of us, myself included, turned away from destructive paths because of his example and leadership. He gave us clarity, conviction, and hope.
As we grieve, our prayers are with Erika, their children, his parents, and the entire TPUSA family. Even for those who now celebrate his passing with vile words, we pray for them too, because Charlie would have wanted it that way.
Though his earthly body is gone, his soul is alive in Christ, and his mission lives on in us. This was not just a loss. It was the assassination of one of the greatest voices of our generation.
Emina Melonic
Complete and utter shock was what I felt when the news that Charlie Kirk had been shot reached me. Messages and social media responses lit up like a street full of neon signs. As expected, confusion ensued: is he alive? Is he in the hospital? Who did this terrible thing? Then came the final news: Charlie Kirk has died.Mainstream media responded as it was to be expected: with hate and indifference, some even suggesting it was Charlie Kirk’s fault. But this disgusting display of indecency and hate was actually overshadowed by an endless stream of prayers and affirmations of Charlie’s goodness.
I didn’t know Charlie personally but that hardly matters. He galvanized (especially!) young people to seek routes of debates and conversation rather than reliance on ideology. You didn’t have to agree with him. In fact, that was one of things he invited: open disagreements in order to have some kind of dialogue among different opinions.
But what happened yesterday was a clear and unequivocal rejection of words, critical arguments, and dialogue. The perpetrator chose violence. This wasn’t “gun violence.” This was assassination. Right now, I am overwhelmed with uneasiness and alienation.
America’s light is being overshadowed by forces of deep darkness. To paraphrase Dostoyevsky, without God, everything is permitted. It is ideology and godlessness that have brought us to this point. This has gone too far. Enough! Enough of disorder and lawlessness.
Enough of hatred! Enough of rejection of ordered life as it was intended by our Creator! Before healing comes, we must repair this world. Before repair, we must seek justice. Without God, everything is permitted, and but with God, all things of goodness are possible. My words are all I have to offer right now. It seems not enough. May Charlie’s memory serve as a turn toward God and goodness that we are called to act upon.
Soad Tabrizi
I am in the privileged position to help lead and support a group of Conservative mental health professionals. Every day I am reminded of how important it is to keep our values strong and rooted in truth – for the sanity of our nation depends on it.
Charlie Kirk was a champion in that fight. He was steadfast in his devotion to the Conservative cause, unapologetic in his defense of Christianity, family, and country. For me personally, he was often the voice I turned to when I needed encouragement – the same encouragement I strive to give my peers. His reliance on Scripture and his clarity of conviction were a steady guide.
His death leaves a void, but grief cannot be where we stop. Charlie would not have wanted that. The way to honor him is by carrying forward the mission he lived for: raising a generation committed to truth, to God, to family, and to country. His passion was never meant to end with him – it was meant to embolden us.
As Conservatives, our task is clear. We must be the foundation for those who look to us in confusion and despair. We must keep pushing forward with bravery, standing firm against the lies of this age, and offering hope grounded in truth. Charlie Kirk embodied that mission with courage at just 31 years old. Now we must carry the flame in his honor and for the sake of generations to come.
Make no mistake – we are in a spiritual battle. Charlie knew it well. His reminders, often drawn straight from Scripture, pointed us to the source of true strength. He was unashamed of his convictions and values, and that must be our posture too.
My heart grieves for Erika and their two young children. I pray they know that a nation stands behind them in gratitude for so generously sharing their husband and father with us. Life will not look as they envisioned, but the legacy Charlie left will stand as a testament to God’s truth, conviction, and sacrifice.
God bless Charlie Kirk. Until we meet in Heaven.
Pamela Garfield-Jaeger
As a TPUSA ambassador, I am devastated to hear about Charlie Kirk. He has done so much for this country and for me personally, as a former Democrat who walked away in 2020. I have so much to thank him for. He taught me about conservative ideas and to better understand how our government should work. His Turning Point events have given me incredible networking opportunities and a chance for my voice to be heard. I’m one of countless others who can say the same.
Charlie is a one of a kind leader. He empowered an entire generation of young conservatives to stand up for what they believe in and never back down. He was still relatively young, yet he had more tenacity and integrity than most people twice his age. Not only did Charlie model conservative values through his speeches, podcasts, books, and events, he also built a beautiful family and set a positive example to other young men by showing them how wonderful it is to be a father and a provider.
Charlie Kirk built an unprecedented movement that has never been seen before. He inspired millions of young people to get involved in their communities, and speak up. Young conservatives never had such a voice until Charlie Kirk built his empire, the empire America needed to fight evil communist ideas and bring back our freedom.
Charlie's perseverance has always shined through, even in the darkest of times. For example, when the other talking heads were defeated after the shenanigans of the 2020 election and the aftermath of January 6th 2021, Charlie kept his head up and pressed on. Very few people have had an impact like Charlie Kirk has.
I imagine our founding fathers are looking down and would say the same. Charlie is exactly what our country needs, at exactly the right time, and we still need him. Thank you Charlie for all of the work you have done, and I, along with millions of others, are praying for your family.
Joshua Lisec
The whole world gathered around screens. All eye contact was avoided. Collective gasps of horror. Everywhere. Tears. Heads in hands. Phone calls to family, to friends, to those we hadn't spoken with in too long but now was the time. What do you know? Who's behind it? Did they get them yet? Oh my God I just can't . . .
That's the world I witnessed on September 11th, 2001. And again on September 10th, 2025.
Charlie Kirk was the greatest of his generation. He united nations. He galvanized patriots. He brought us hope. He towered over us all like a landmark. A great American landmark. The world he was born into no longer existed, and he was damn sure going to bring it back — a "great American comeback." It was under this very banner that Charlie lived his last.
I've not witnessed anything like 9/11 until the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Everything changes now. Except for Charlie. His legacy of unity of the Right, the organizations he built from nothing, the torch of liberty that was the light of his life . . . we shall remain united, Turning Point will thrive, and the fire will burn in our hearts forever.
Charlie was a good man — good to me, personally, when he didn't need to be. He promoted and platformed those others wouldn't have. He spoke with civility with anyone who could manage the same. He brought courage to every college campus in America where conservatives had previously been cowed by communists. Charlie was the face of free speech.
"Bad reviews from bad people are good reviews," I've long said. Charlie is thus the best among us all.
It is my prayer that what follows is no carving up of his kingdom, but the protecting and prospering of everything he sacrificed for. Charlie, as President Trump said in his memorial address honoring him the evening of September 10th, was a patriot. Let us all be now.
David Krayden
Charlie Kirk was not just a conservative activist; he was a freedom fighter who told the youth of America— and the world—that they didn't have to settle for monotony and slavery of collectivism. They had the power to think, to embrace liberty and to question the left-wing assumptions that have dominated universities for decades.
He told the Left that it could no longer control the minds of young people and he challenged that control by encouraging and spearheading the sort of open debate in academia that inevitably exposes the sham conclusions and fear-mongering of the neo-Marxists who continue to insist people exist to serve the state, when in reality, we all enjoy the precious gift of freedom as an act of God.
We mourn Charlie's death; we honor his legacy; we pray for his wife and children; we insist that the criminal who committed this atrocity will be punished. We resolve that this terrorism against conservative voices be stopped.
Kirk's political assassination represents the Left's attempt to sabotage his political outreach and massive success with the young people who comprise America's future. Even in death, the left-wing media could not embrace a moment of silence to honor Kirk's accomplishments and love for his country. Instead, they wondered how President Donald Trump would use this event to bolster his power and persecute his enemies, revealing just how bankrupt is their reporting and how bereft of compassion is their attitude and how toxic is their philosophy.
But the song of freedom is never silenced, even if its chief troubadours are murdered. Charlie's work has not ended with his horrible murder; the hundreds of thousands, the millions of youth he inspired and motivated are already coming forward to take up the torch of liberty.
Charlie's message will continue to reverberate and resonate at campuses around the world and in future elections where young people ensure the longevity and hegemony of freedom. And we who were deeply moved by his love of freedom and country will push back with an even greater degree of intensity against those who would dare murder to advance their hideous political agenda. They shall not pass.
Daniel Hayworth
There really is no one like Charlie Kirk. From the on-campus debates where he would invite all of the scrutiny a person could take, to the speeches, to the building of the largest conservative organization in the country, Charlie has changed the face of the nation. Without Charlie, it’s doubtful that we would have won in 2024. But even more than that, without Charlie, millions of young people would still be bought into the Godless, leftist views that are destroying their lives.
Charlie has changed more lives than it is possible to count. Mine is no exception. In 2021, God called me to start a Christian school. At the time, I was a young Army Lieutenant with no experience and no idea where to start. That same year, Charlie decided to launch TP Academy (Now TP Education). He had a big vision, to change the next generation forever.
Unlike everyone else, Charlie put his money where his mouth was and started a large-scale operation to reform education across the country. Because he chose to do that, my life was forever changed. He provided curriculum, resources, a blueprint, and a team of people that answered my every call, text, and email. Without his boldness and vision, Vintage Christian Academy might not exist.
But now, hundreds of kids get to hear about Jesus. When my father-in-law Ken Paxton was being slandered and accused during a sham impeachment trial, Charlie stood by him, supported him, and never once gave into the lies being told. He had a gift to be able to look at things, know what was true and what was false, and choose to do the right thing.
Over and over again, Charlie has stood on what is true, done the right thing, and pushed the culture to do what’s right. There are certain men that history remembers as unique in their time. Voices that moved entire nations, stirred hearts, and opened eyes. Some are politicians, some pastors, some theologians or philosophers. Charlie is a bit of each. His voice, the organization he has built, the movement he has galvanized, all are one great testimony to his courage.
Charlie is a historic figure. What he has done for this country has helped keep the flame of liberty alive. Whatever victories we have seen in the last decade, we owe at least in part to Charlie. At the root of Charlie’s great, great courage, is great, great faith. Charlie held his faith in Jesus close. He routinely credited Christ with being His Lord, savior, and driving purpose behind his work.
Charlie is what the Bible calls a good and faithful servant, shining his light before men. Today, I pray to that same savior for grace and rest for Charlie’s soul, protection and peace for his family, and for the same Spirit that lived in him to be revived in our nation. That is Charlie’s mission, and we should not soon forget it.
In conclusion
Today is one of the darkest days in the history of our publication, and frankly, one of the most somber days in the history of our nation. Charlie was our Senior Contributor at Human Events, the founder of Turning Point USA, and was the voice of the young conservative movement. More importantly: Charlie Kirk was our friend. He was a loving husband, father, son, and young man who was destined to be president one day. This world was better off when Charlie Kirk was in it, but we know that he is getting his deserved reward in Heaven right now.
Charlie, we are sorry this world failed you, but we will ensure your memory is never forgotten. Human Events mourns Charlie’s passing, and all of our thoughts and prayers are with his family. You will never be forgotten Charlie Kirk. Rest in peace, and God bless you.
