Erika Kirk vowed Friday that the college tour and political movement founded by her slain husband, conservative activist Charlie Kirk, will continue this fall and grow in the years ahead, hours after authorities charged a Utah man with aggravated murder in the killing.
Speaking to supporters at a Turning Point USA event on Sept. 12, 2025, Erika Kirk said the group’s “American Comeback” campus tour will proceed this fall and that the annual AmericaFest conference in Phoenix will go on as planned. She told young conservatives to join local Turning Point USA chapters and pledged that her husband’s podcast and radio show would continue.
Charlie Kirk, a high-profile conservative commentator and founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed Sept. 10 during an outdoor event at Utah Valley University in Orem. He was speaking from a stage as part of his “Prove Me Wrong” segment when an attendee opened fire, police said. The gunshot struck Kirk in the neck and he was later pronounced dead.
Authorities arrested 22-year-old Tyler Robinson on Sept. 11 after Rochester-area law enforcement said he was turned in to police by his father. Prosecutors charged Robinson with aggravated murder on Sept. 12. Investigators have said Robinson acted alone.
Officials and media reports cited by prosecutors said the suspect had expressed hostility toward Kirk before the shooting, including writing a message on a bullet, and later threatened to kill himself rather than surrender when confronted by his father. Law enforcement has not publicly released a motive and has cautioned against speculation as the investigation continues.
Vice President J.D. Vance transported Kirk’s body on Air Force Two to Arizona, where his family lives, officials said. President Donald Trump said Friday he plans to attend Kirk’s funeral, though formal arrangements had not been announced.
Erika Kirk used her remarks at the Turning Point event to invoke one of her husband’s mottos, saying, “We’ll never surrender,” and urging the movement’s supporters to carry on his work. She specifically named AmericaFest in Phoenix, scheduled for December and headlined this year by media personality Tucker Carlson, and asked attendees to bring their families.
In addition to campus events and the December conference, Erika Kirk said Charlie Kirk’s podcast and radio show would continue broadcasting, calling his voice and message enduring amid a time of national uncertainty.
Turning Point USA, the conservative nonprofit Mr. Kirk founded, organizes campus chapters and draws thousands of attendees to its annual conference, which features political figures and commentators. The group’s website continued to display a countdown to the next scheduled tour stop at Colorado State University; organizers had not announced whether that specific event would be postponed.
Law enforcement officials said the investigation into the shooting and the circumstances that led to it is ongoing. Robinson faces aggravated murder charges in state court; prosecutors have indicated they will seek further charges as the probe develops. Authorities asked anyone with relevant information to contact investigators.
The shooting and its aftermath prompted a wave of statements from political figures and conservative leaders, and have renewed debate over political violence on college campuses and at public events. Erika Kirk concluded her speech by urging supporters to join local chapters of Turning Point USA and saying the movement would grow stronger when more young people got involved.