On September 10, 2025, Charlie Kirk was shot and killed at Utah Valley University campus. This was an incredibly outspoken media personality and political activist whose life was ended as he sought to share and debate his beliefs with the masses on the ground.
Who was he to rouse such violence against him, its repercussions now rippling across the world?
Charles James Kirk was born in a family of stalwart Republicans on October 14, 1993. Later in life, he attributed his political awakening from reading books by economist Milton Friedman when he was in middle school. His essay for Breitbart News, alleging liberal bias in high-school textbooks, led to his first media appearance on Fox Business at age 17.
He would meet Bill Montgomery – himself a businessman and activist, though retired – at Benedictine University at a speaking engagement for the institution’s “Youth Empowerment Day”, who would spur him to full-time political activism. The duo went on to co-found Turning Point USA (TPUSA), a, quote, “grass-roots organization to rival liberal groups such as MoveOn.org”. Kirk would be the CEO, chief fundraiser and public face of TPUSA up till his death.
As with many outspoken personalities, Charlie Kirk and his beliefs attracted both support and derision. He spoke out over the COVID-19 pandemic, calling it a hoax and questioned the efficacy of vaccines. He decried LGBTQ-related policies, believing any leeway given to those self-identifying with LGBTQ terms would eventually lead to children getting corrupted with questionable values. He would be one of Donald Trump’s greatest allies, his voice further amplifying the now sitting President’s views: an exemplary ‘right-wing’ Conservative.
Similar to other greatly admired figures in history, his death has led people to wonder the circumstances that led up to it. Was it a radical ‘leftist’ looking to incite further violence in society, because otherwise, why would they be celebrating the death of such a prominent person? Or is there something much more to it?
Some believe Israel was Charlie Kirk’s turning point. Previously known to be an ardent supporter of the nation, he had begun questioning the Israeli government of late. He let his uncomfortable, difficult questions sit with his sizeable audience. He even refused US$20 million in Israeli funding for TPUSA. Earlier still, he had opposed a bill meant to punish the boycott of Israel, saying it would “play into growing narratives that Israel is running the U.S. government”. In the lead up to his death, he expressed concerns for his safety, because of these beliefs.
At time of writing, the alleged shooter has been taken into custody. From what has been told thus far, it paints a picture of a youth radicalised by the left into taking affirmative, needlessly violent action. All that to turn Charlie Kirk into a martyred figurehead for all those who share his views – that he was silenced for being right. The world will mourn together as we wait for justice to be served.
To that end, we are all Charlie Kirk.
Main image credit: Tess Crowley/The Deseret News via AP
