Charlie Kirk's Movement Grows One Year After Assassination

Erika Kirk, wife of the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk, discussed advice she received from second lady Usha Vance following her husband's death.

Ms. Kirk recounted a conversation with Ms. Vance the day after her husband was fatally shot, as detailed in a New York Times opinion piece published Monday. Charlie Kirk was assassinated at 31 on September 10, 2025, while holding an event at Utah Valley University. He was known for his "Prove Me Wrong" events, part of his "American Comeback Tour."

One year after his death, the organization he founded, Turning Point USA (TPUSA), continues to develop young conservative voices. TPUSA chief of staff Michael McCoy stated that nobody can replace Charlie and acknowledged a massive void left by his absence. The organization has seen substantial growth since Kirk's assassination. Before September 10, 2025, TPUSA had 410 college chapters registered for the 2025-2026 school year; this number increased to 1,095 afterward.

Club America chapters, aimed at high schoolers, also grew, from 454 to 3,102. Andrew Kolvet, executive producer of "The Charlie Kirk Show," described Kirk as intentional in building a farm system for activists, citing Rep. Anna Paulina Luna and former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt as alumni who achieved high-profile public roles. Beyond organizational growth, Charlie Kirk's legacy has also manifested online, where he has become a recurring internet meme.

An AI-generated song, "We Are Charlie Kirk," reached No. 1 on Spotify's Viral 50 U.S. Audio from his killing became a TikTok sound, and his image has been inserted into various media. The American right has responded to this ridicule by fighting back against meme-making and criticism, with President Trump and his allies blaming Democrats and the radical left for Kirk's assassination without evidence. Secretary Pete Hegseth promised to investigate armed forces members for inadequate mourning, and the State Department revoked visas of noncitizens who celebrated his death.