Charlie Kirk was a significant figure in American politics, known for his strong link with young conservatives, which many believe played a crucial role in Donald Trump’s election to the presidency, not just once, but twice.

The 31-year-old radio host was tragically shot in front of an audience at Utah Valley University during his ‘The American Comeback Tour’ on Wednesday.

Kirk, a father of two, was in the middle of his famous ‘prove me wrong’ segment, allowing audience members to discuss various topics with him, when he was shot from a distance of 200 yards.

His event at the Utah university had sparked backlash before it happened, with 6,000 students signing a petition to keep him off the campus. 

Charlie Kirk leaves behind his wife, Erika, as well as a three-year-old daughter and a son who is 16 months old. The couple had marked their fourth wedding anniversary in May.

Once featured on the Forbes 30 under 30 list, Kirk was the youngest speaker at the 2016 Republican National Convention and also opened the 2020 RNC.

He co-founded the non-profit organization Turning Point USA in 2012 at the age of 18, promoting it as a ‘national student movement,’ and had amassed millions of followers across social media.

Its mission is to ‘identify, educate, train and organize students to promote the principles of fiscal responsibility, free markets, and limited government.’ 

Turning Point and Kirk have played a starring role in Republican politics ever since he enthusiastically backed Donald Trump in 2016.

Kirk served as a personal aide to Donald Trump Jr during a general election campaign, and then in 2024, the non-profit increased their staff from 400 to 1,000 to ‘chase the vote’ in swing states. 

Kirk was also one of the earliest advocates for Vice President JD Vance, then a junior senator for Ohio, to serve as Trump’s running mate. 

‘I’m going to put my power behind JD for whatever I can,’ Kirk said.

‘That is a very good chapter two to the MAGA story that we’re writing.’

The non-profit also strove to encourage the restoration of ‘traditional American values like patriotism, respect for life, liberty, family, and fiscal responsibility.’

Kirk garnered much of his online notoriety for his ‘prove me wrong’ table, and in 2024 alone saw 15 billion views across multiple social media platforms. 

In the last year, dedicated around 200 hours at more than 60 colleges for his ‘prove me wrong’ events. 

He was well known among young voters for his ‘populist nationalist’ worldviews on issues such as immigration, gender and politics. 

In his efforts to educate his young base saw Kirk found the Turning Point Academy, which provides a ‘pro-American’ education to more than 250 partners. 

He even turned to faith and began Turning Point Faith, which collaborates with more than 3,700 congregations encouraging ‘biblical citizenship,’ the outlet reported. 

His work was heavily involved with students at colleges and university’s across the country, as Turning Point supports student body president races and recruits precinct leadership teams. 

‘With 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, Turning Point USA is the largest and fastest-growing conservative youth activist organization in the country,’ according to Turning Point’s website. 

In 2026, the non-profit had goals to renew or begin 1,000 college chapters and 1,650 high school chapters under the name ‘Club America.’  

But Kirk’s work within the MAGA realm was not confined to Turning Point, as he also authored four books and has been featured on-screen and in writing across multiple media outlets. 

His podcast, The Charlie Kirk Show, reached over 1 million people every day and often ranked among the top ten shows on Apple News podcast charts. 

Kirk’s MAGA reputation was prevalent as he was often involved in controversial discourse.

In June at a Turning Point event in Dallas, Texas, Kirk became involved in backlash after he said that women should only go to college to find a husband. 

A 14-year-old asked for advice from the influencer for attending college and the advantages and disadvantages of higher education. 

After the girl mentioned that she was interested in pursuing a career in political journalism, Kirk asked all the young girls in the audience to raise their hands if their top priority is to ‘get married and have kids.’ 

Many of them did raise their hands, including the girl who asked him the question.

‘Interestingly, I think there is an argument to bring back the MRS degree,’ he said, referencing the slang term for women who go to college solely to find a husband.

‘No seriously. And just be clear that’s why you’re going to college. Don’t lie to yourself, like, ‘Oh, I’m going and studying sociology.’ No you’re not, we know why you’re here and that’s okay!’ Kirk said, grinning.

He specifically cited universities in the Southeastern Conference, many of which are known for being party schools, to find a man.

‘That’s a really good reason to go to college actually, especially an SEC school. You will find a husband if you have the intent to find a husband at Ole Miss,’ he said.

‘I say college is a scam, but if you find your life partner that’s actually a really good reason to go to college.’ 

His comments did not go over well with critics after a clip of his answer spread online.

‘This poor girl. She asks Charlie Kirk about her goal to be a political journalist and he tells her to go get an Mrs degree,’ author and columnist Jill Filipovic posted on X.

‘Charlie Kirk telling a 14-year-old to go to college just to land a husband? That’s not advice – it’s a time warp,’ another user added.

‘Women aren’t signing up for debt and getting science and math degrees to play 1950s housewife. Let’s aim a little higher than an ‘MRS degree.”

Another person joked about Kirk’s own lack of a college degree.

Kirk’s often controversial and out-spoken opinion even landed him a death threat last October. 

He and Donald trump were the subject of one Arizona social studies teacher’s death threat to the Republican figures. 

Daniel Ashpes, 24, was accused of making online threats against the Republican figures while they were in the East Valley for a political rally last week.

He was booked into the Tempe City Jail on October 17 after police were made aware of threatening messages sent in response to an automated messaging service for RSVPs to the rally at a local hotel.

Detectives said that Ashpes admitted sending the messages during an interview, AZ Family reports.

He faced three counts of threatening to cause physical injury to another person and one charge of using a phone to threaten or intimidate.

But his popularity, especially among young Republican voters, was a majorly positive influence for Trump and the Republican party. 

One of Turning Point’s biggest donors, Ed Zemen, said the Republican party was lacking in ‘personal engagement’ with the younger generation. 

‘They’re figuring out what the kids want and giving it to them,’ Zeman told Deseret.

‘There’s no money in it. Charlie’s not about the money. He’s about the movement. Always has been.’

Kirk previously said that his job ‘every single day is actively trying to stop a revolution.’

‘This is where you have to try to point them toward ultimate purposes and toward getting back to the church, getting back to faith, getting married, having children,’ he said. 

‘That is the type of conservatism that I represent, and I’m trying to paint a picture of virtue, of lifting people up, not just staying angry.’