Chants of "Charlie, Charlie" echoed through the arena during President Donald Trump's midterm convention on Thursday, as Republicans gathered to honor Charlie Kirk, the influential leader of Turning Point USA who was assassinated one year prior.
A five-minute memorial video created a somber pause in the convention's proceedings. Lucas Miles, a pastor and Turning Point vice president, stated that "one year later, there is something wonderfully defiant about the fact that his voice has not grown quieter." He added that the organization's membership and social media following have "multiplied."
Vice President JD Vance, a friend of Kirk's, spoke directly to Kirk's children, recalling how Kirk's presence offered him comfort during his own speech at the 2024 Republican National Convention. Vance remembered Kirk as a "great man" who was a unifying figure on the right, fostering relationships across various factions of the "Make America Great Again" movement.
Kirk was shot and killed on September 10, 2025, while speaking at Utah Valley University. Tyler Robinson, 23, faces the death penalty if convicted of aggravated murder in Kirk's death; he has pleaded not guilty. Robinson surrendered to authorities the day after the shooting.
Since Kirk's death, no single individual has fully assumed his role, and the movement he built has been affected by internal disputes regarding the circumstances of his killing. Prominent podcaster Candice Owens has publicly questioned the official account provided by Utah prosecutors, which identifies Robinson as the sole perpetrator, leading to the proliferation of conspiracy theories online.
Addressing the internal tensions, Miles asserted from the stage, "Turning Point is not dead. The organization Charlie founded is still growing. A new generation is stepping forward."
Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk's widow, was appointed CEO of Turning Point and has assumed some of his public speaking engagements. The organization has also engaged other commentators to speak at events and continue the public debates Kirk was known for hosting.
Turning Point also held a memorial event in Orem, Utah, on Thursday evening, returning to the Utah Valley University campus where Kirk was killed. In a news release, the organization stated, "We have felt the weight of his absence in ways that never seem to get easier."
Conservative speakers including Frank Turek and Michael Knowles addressed attendees at the Utah memorial. During the program, Turning Point unveiled a larger-than-life bronze statue of Kirk seated and holding a microphone. Earlier the same day, the group installed a statue of Kirk outside its Phoenix headquarters.