LOS ANGELES (OC).–Silencing the most influential voice in the youth conservative movement, 31-year-old syndicated radio talk show host Charlie Kirk was assassinated at Utah Valley University in in Orem, Utah. Kirk was a rising star in the conservative movement, especially in MAGA circles for his work recruiting conservative youth on college campuses in one of the most successful youth voter registration drives of all time. Author of the “Right Wing Revolution” [2024] and “MAGA Doctrine” [2020], Kirk had a meteoric rise in conservative circles, creating one of the most successful radio shows on Salem Radio Network since Rush Lmbaugh did it in the 1980s. Hitting Kirk with a kill shot to the neck, Kirk wasn’t as lucky as President Donald Trump who’s assassin’s bullet July 13, 2024 near took Trump’s life. Kirk’s assassination signals the beginning of a potential civil cultural war.
Kirk was the leader of the conservative youth movement, signing up young conservatives in record numbers on college campuses. Utah Valley University, in the heart of conservative Utah, was the last place Kirk thought he would take an assassin’s bullet. Utah authorities have no suspect in custody yet with the assassin most likely striking Kirk at long range, now determined to be a rooftop over 400 ft. from the stage where Charlie delivered his speech. “This is a dark day for our state. It’s a tragic day for our nation. I want to very clear that this is a political assassination,” said Utah Gov. Spencer Cox. Kirk dropped out of college in 2012 and founded Turning Point USA when he was 18, becoming the premier conservative recruitment organization in the country. Kirk’s meteoric rise stemmed from charaismatic personality, best selling books and syndicated radio program.
Kirk’s daily radio show on Salem Broadcasting became virtual who’s who for conservative activists and voices in Congress, a true believer in President DonaldTrump’s MAGA movement. When it comes to a motive for the the assassination, Kirk threatened left wing wokism, a kind of war conservatives wage against the politically correct left wing causes of affirmative action and pro-LGBTQ-plus politics that dominated the country during former President Joe Biden’s four years in office. Left wing activists consider Kirk a Christian nationalist and racist, a true racist to threat to the leftist agenda promoting civil rights, gender equality especially LGBTQ-plus rights, causes that had their heyday in the Biden administration. Kirk and his youth movement was a threat to leftist politics in the country, a symbol, like President Donald Trump, of white supremacy.
Assassinating Kirk raises disturbing questions of where the country goes from here, now more polarized than ever, most likely leading to kind of civil cultural war. When the assassin is finally found, if he’s caught alive, the FBI plans to take a serious inventory of what groups, if any, were involved in snuffing out the 31-year-old activist’s life. Trump who survived an assassination attempt July 13, 2024 at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, looks eerily similar to what happened to Kirk. Most likely the killer perched himself on a roof top with an unobstructed view with a high-powered telescopic rifle for the kill shot, apparently hitting Kirk in the neck, most likely severing his spinal cord. Commenting about the upcoming 250 anniversary of the United States, Cox said an assassin deprived Kirk of his life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. Cox vowed to find Kirk’s assassin and bring him to justice.
Speaking to Fox News host Brett Baier, President Trump described Kirk as “an amazing guy,” saying “nobody was better.” Trump knew how much Kirk’s Turning Point USA conservative youth voter registration drive helped him win his big victory in 2024. “Charlie was such an amazing guy. He really captured the youth-the imagination of the youth,” Trump said. “He was an unbelievable patriot. He really convinced millions and millions of young people that MAGA was the way to go. Today is so sad. He was an amazing person who was not afraid to and confront the other side. Just talked to them, debated them, and explained why they were wrong and MAGA was right. Nobody was better. It’s such a tragic day,” Trump said realizing that the MAGA movement had lost its youth voice. Kirk’s books the “MAGA Doctrine” and “Right Wing Revolution” were instant best sellers.
Repercussions from Kirk’s assassination will reverberate around the conservative movement, essentially declaring war on the left for snuffing out one of their leading figures. Whatever polarization existed before today, it going to get worse, knowing that right wing activism won’t die with Kirk’s death. Leftist groups around the country, led by groups like “Move On,” “Invisible” and “Field Team Six,” etc., will double down with their anti-Trump rallies hoping to convince enough independent voters to vote Democrat in 2016, capturing back the House of Representatives. Charlie would have gone to every college campus around the country to influence the hearts-and-minds of young people to stick with the MAGA agenda. Finding his assassin will be a top priority in Utah to bring justice to Charlie and the conservative movement. Dark days are no doubt ahead.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlinColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
