The murder of influencer and far-right Trump supporter Charlie Kirk (31) is a major blow to conservative America. With his organization, Turning Point USA, he succeeded in promoting right-wing norms and values among American youth. Kirk spoke out in favor of Christianity, capitalism, and the traditional family, and targeted trans people and the"woke."

Just how important Charlie Kirk was to Donald Trump is evident from the message the American president posted on Truth Social: "The great and even legendary Charlie Kirk is dead. No one understood the heart of American youth better than he did."

At 31, Kirk was already a highly influential figure at a relatively young age, earning Trump a significant number of votes during the presidential election. The Washington Post calls him"one of the most influential voices in conservative America." Kirk wasn't lacking in experience either.

Turning Point USA

Kirk began expressing his political views as a teenager. As a student at Wheeling High School in Chicago, he volunteered for the campaign of Republican Senator Mark Kirk, who ultimately won.

He first came to attention in 2012 with a letter he wrote to the conservative news outlet Breitbart News, arguing that high school textbooks"indoctrinate" students. Kirk later enrolled at Harper College in Illinois, but dropped out and began working as an influencer.

At 18, Kirk founded Turning Point USA (TPUSA), with which he aimed to reach young people who shared his conservative values. Since then, he has visited American universities and colleges, which he believes are too progressive and offer too little space for freedom of expression to Republican youth.

TPUSA has since grown into a successful non-profit organization. The organization has representatives at more than 850 institutions in the American higher education system.

Kirk was in Utah at a mass event for conservative students as part of his"The American Comeback Tour."

Prove me wrong

During Kirk's visits to American universities, he often engaged in conversations with students. The influencer not only sought out supporters but also organized debates with opponents. These often became heated. Kirk later posted short clips of these conversations on social media.

The online world was his playground. On Instagram, the influencer had over 8 million followers, while on YouTube he reached over 4 million subscribers. His daily podcast"The Charlie Kirk Show" also attracted many listeners.

Kirk had even developed a special format for debating with other students, the"prove me wrong table" (translated: prove me wrong). People with differing opinions could present them and try to convince Kirk of their point of view. However, this rarely, if ever, happened.

Kirk spoke out against abortion, argued that climate change was overblown, and opposed trans rights. He also emphasized the importance of capitalism and the free market and was a big supporter of Trump's deportation plans.

Kirk's far-right values closely aligned with those of Donald Trump, who, according to the influencer, could save"The American Dream."

Charlie Kirk with Donald Trump, who, according to the influencer, could save 'The American Dream'.

Strong bond with Trump

Kirk had a close relationship with the American president. He was a welcome guest at Mar-a-Lago in Florida and at the White House. Earlier this year, he traveled to Greenland with Donald Trump Jr., with the message that the island should become American territory.

The right-wing influencer also worked hard to ensure the president's election victory. He reportedly helped tens of thousands of people register to vote for the Republicans.

Partly as a result, Arizona turned red again on Election Day after Joe Biden won the state in 2020. Republicans explored the possibility of running Kirk for Arizona in the next election.

Kirk (right) with Vance at the Inaugural Eve Ball, the night before Trump's inauguration as President of the United States.

Prominent Republicans are reacting with shock to Kirk's death. House Speaker Mike Johnson is urging everyone to pray for Kirk and his family.

Vice President J.D. Vance particularly praised Kirk's"unifying power": "If you look closely at Charlie's events—and ignore the fake articles—you'll see one of the few places where an open and honest dialogue between the left and the right is taking place."