On September 10th, 2025, conservative activist Charlie Kirk was murdered during a scheduled event at Utah Valley University (UVU). Kirk, only 31 years old, was known for his strong political and cultural views as well as his famous debates where he let people – particularly students – challenge his beliefs in heated disputes that millions of people viewed on social media.
Kirk, who had a close relationship with both President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, was a prominent figure and voice for the conservative and Republican parties. During his debates, Kirk often voiced support for Trump and many of their shared beliefs and values. Kirk spoke at the 2024 Republican National Convention, where he commended Trump and recognized him as an “economic master.”
Kirk, according to PBS News, began to develop his political voice at the early age of 18 when he launched a grassroots organization intended to help gain supporters for the “Make America Great Again” movement. When he began his action group, Turning Point USA, Kirk had no real funding or strong advocates, but it was not long until he gained a significant amount of social media recognition, which led to donations and support. This allowed him to build up his organization and reach more people. As support increased, he began to host large rallies that drew in younger followers.
At UVU in Orem, Utah, Kirk was participating in a debate titled “Prove Me Wrong.” Kirk, sitting on the debate stage, was engaging in debate with an audience member who brought up mass shootings and transgender individuals when he was shot by a sniper who was, allegedly, on a roof across a courtyard. Just two days later, on September 12, the suspect, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, was arrested after he surrendered following a “33-hour manhunt,” according to the BBC News writers Melissa Quinn, Kathryn Watson, Kaia Hubbard, and Joe Walsh.
Kirk’s murder has caused significant uproar in the U.S. and has drawn attention worldwide. Reactions have been shared in speeches, on TV, and, of course, all over social media. In his article for The Guardian, Eric Helmore reported on a September 17th speech from former President Barack Obama, who expressed dismay at Kirk’s murder. Helmore reports that Obama “explicitly denounced political violence, addressing the fatal attacks this year of Kirk and the Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman. He called both incidents ‘a tragedy.’”
Helmore also reported on other political leaders’ responses. “In the aftermath of Kirk’s assassination, political leaders including the House speaker, Mike Johnson, and former presidents Joe Biden and George Bush called for an end to political violence and a return to reasonable debate to lower the political temperature in the US.”
Kirk was known for being a conservative political activist who valued open debate. In his debates, social media posts, and speeches, he expressed his strongly held conservative viewpoints and received significant pushback from those who opposed his beliefs. One of his views that he felt very strongly about and argued was abortion and the pro-life movement.
Paint Branch junior Joyce Kapangala sees Kirk’s death as a senseless act of violence. As for how people are supposed to view Kirk’s legacy, Joyce says, “He doesn’t deserve a tribute for the life he led because he spread hate, but he doesn’t deserve to be cursed either. People should respect the dead.”
Fellow PB student Olivia Takodjou says, “I think the Charlie Kirk situation was tragic and sad. It’s crazy for something like that to happen in such a public place at a time like that. Even though many may not agree with his political values, I believe nobody deserves to die like that.”
