As you’ve been hearing all over the news, Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk was shot and killed Wednesday. There’s a lot to say about who he was, and what his legacy will be — and those are all conversations that will unfold over the coming weeks. Today I want to offer this snapshot of my brief experience with Kirk, a charismatic Arizonan who I covered at what would turn out to be the apex of his influence.
Here at The Show, we’ve been following Kirk and Turning Point USA for a while. Turning Point is one of the most influential organizations in American politics — and one of the most conservative. But they’re also based here in Phoenix.
So last fall, before and after the election, we talked about Turning Point’s ability to merge evangelical religious fervor with right-wing cultural issues. We looked at the ways Turning Point more or less took over President Trump’s voter turnout operation. When J.D. Vance came to Glendale last summer to headline his first Arizona rally as Donald Trump’s running mate, producer Nick Sanchez and I were there. We watched as Charlie Kirk warmed up the crowd for Vance, and we couldn’t help noticing that, to our ears at least, Kirk got as much applause — if not more — than Vance.
Around that time, we started reaching out to Turning Point, in hopes of getting an interview with Kirk. We never heard back. But last December, we were able to get a couple of press passes for an event called AmericaFest. AmericaFest is this massive gathering of activists, influencers, entrepreneurs, students, and hardcore MAGA Republicans of all ages. It was held at Phoenix Convention Center, just a few short weeks after President Trump’s victory.
On the first night, thousands packed the main hall for the kickoff event: a speech from Kirk. Standing about 10 rows back from the stage, in a crowd of people waving flags and literally jumping up and down, I watched as the lights in the hall dimmed. A video began to play on floor-to-ceiling screens behind the stage.
HYPE VIDEO NARRATOR: Let’s rewind the clock to January 7, 2021. We never wavered in our support of Donald J. Trump ...
KIRK: I know that he fulfilled his promises, and I know that he would do it again.
TRUMP: I wanna thank our good friend Charlie Kirk for everything that he’s done to build Turning Point in a very short period of time into one of the most powerful organizations in the entire nation…
The screens began showing a montage of pundits praising Kirk’s work on the 2024 election.
VOICE 1: The single most effective organizer of conservatives in the United States…
VOICE 2: One of the most formidable voices in politics for decades to come…
VOICE 3: You have been on the ground, and your team has been unreal at Turning Point USA… [clip fades]
The video ended, and the lights went out. For a moment, a hush fell over the room. A picture of Charlie Kirk appeared on the screen. Kirk appeared in silhouette behind a baffold, and then walked out on stage, his arms stretched wide.
CHARLIE KIRK: Welcome to AmericaFest, everybody! [massive cheer]
Kirk attempted to speak, but the crowd wouldn’t stop chanting “Thank you, Charlie!”
CROWD: Thank you, Charlie! Thank you, Charlie! Thank you, Charlie!
When they finally settled down, Kirk launched into a freewheeling, conversational speech. He spoke without notes or a teleprompter, leaning in hard on issues like immigration, guns, and gender, frequently interrupted by cheers so loud my recorder nearly spiked.
KIRK: [massive cheer]
Kirk had them eating out of his hand. And towards the end, when the room got quiet, he switched gears. He warned the crowd not to get too comfortable.
KIRK: We are in the driver’s seat. And that comes with a lot of obligation. We are the cultural force - we are ascendant. The bad guys are scattered, confused and afraid, and they will be back. And the posture should not be one that, “oh, we won, and we’re the greatest, and we’re indestructible.” It should be one of humility. That we are actually in charge. And we didn’t earn it — but we have an obligation to deliver.
Kirk explained what he meant by not earning it. Turning Point’s power, he said, came from God. And God, he claimed, was on their side.
KIRK: This is the greatest country ever to exist in the history of the world. And I can say while there was a debate — is God done with this country? Now I can say confidently — no. God is not done with America. And our best days are ahead!
Strobe lights flickered, the music swelled, and Charlie Kirk strolled offstage, seeming genuinely convinced that America’s best days were ahead.
Charlie Kirk was 31 years old. He is survived by his wife Erika and two children. As of this recording, no one was being held in connection with the shooting.
