On September 10, 2025, the American conservative movement was shaken to its core when Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA and a trusted advisor to President Donald Trump, was assassinated while speaking to students at Utah Valley University. The event not only stunned Kirk’s supporters but also ignited a firestorm of reactions across the nation and around the globe, exposing deep divisions in society and sparking conversations about faith, free speech, and the boundaries of public discourse.
Kirk, who began Turning Point USA at just eighteen in a Chicago garage, had spent his adult life rallying young Americans to conservative causes and was widely credited with helping secure the youth vote for Trump. His influence stretched from college campuses to the highest echelons of government, where he was a beloved and trusted advisor. Yet, as much as his political acumen was admired, those closest to him remember him first as a disciple of Jesus Christ, a husband, and a father.
The shock of Kirk’s assassination was compounded by the way news of his death was delivered. According to Concerned Women for America, President Trump himself announced Kirk’s passing, and Vice President JD Vance flew Kirk’s coffin and family home to Arizona aboard Air Force Two. In the days that followed, organic prayer vigils and worship services swept the nation, from small towns to the White House, as Americans grappled with the loss of a polarizing but passionate figure.
On September 15, Vice President Vance hosted a special remembrance episode of The Charlie Kirk Show, inviting guests to reflect on Kirk’s legacy before closing with a recitation of the Nicene Creed, sharing the Christian Gospel with millions of viewers. The national outpouring of grief and prayer was perhaps most visible at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., where a packed prayer vigil featured worship led by Sean Feucht and speeches from Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Speaker Mike Johnson, and Congressman Andy Biggs. Each speaker, according to Concerned Women for America, proclaimed, “Jesus Christ is Lord,” drawing thunderous applause.
Yet, even as many mourned, the response to Kirk’s death revealed the country’s fractures. Left-leaning commentators and politicians responded with sharp criticism. MSNBC’s Matthew Dowd, for instance, implied Kirk’s “hateful thoughts and hateful words” made him deserving of his fate. Christianity Today downplayed the assassination, emphasizing Kirk’s political ideology over the tragedy itself. In Congress, when Rep. Lauren Boebert called for a moment of silence, Democrats reportedly shouted and refused to participate.
The political divide was further highlighted on September 16, when Speaker Mike Johnson introduced H.Res.719 to honor Kirk’s life and legacy. The Senate passed a similar resolution with unanimous consent, but in the House, 58 Democrats voted “No” and 38 voted “Present.” Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez delivered a scathing floor speech, calling Kirk “uneducated” and accusing him of seeking to “disenfranchise millions of Americans.” Despite the vitriol, the spiritual revival in Kirk’s wake continued to grow.
The crescendo of remembrance came on September 21, when over 100,000 people attended Kirk’s memorial service in person, and 100 million more watched online. The service featured worship music from Kari Jobe, Brandon Lake, and Chris Tomlin, and speakers such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Vice President Vance, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, all of whom proclaimed the Gospel. Kirk’s pastor, Rob McCoy, and mentor, Frank Turek, preached to the massive audience, reinforcing the message of faith that Kirk had championed throughout his life.
The most poignant moment came when Erika Kirk, Charlie’s widow, stood before the world and forgave her husband’s assassin. Quoting Luke 23:34, she declared, “Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do.” Her act of radical forgiveness was described by Concerned Women for America as a testament to the power of the Gospel, an act that placed evil in “the wrathful hands of a loving God who says vengeance is His.” Erika’s words resonated with millions, offering a model of grace and faith in the face of unimaginable loss.
The aftermath of Kirk’s assassination has not been without controversy and consequence. According to The Tennessean and WSMV, a Tennessee man, Larry Bushart Jr., a 61-year-old former police officer, was arrested on September 22 for making threats of mass violence after posting a meme in a Facebook group organizing a vigil for Kirk. The meme, referencing a Trump quote about a previous school shooting, was interpreted as a threat against Perry County High School. Sheriff Nick Weems stated, “Investigators believe Bushart was fully aware of the fear his post would cause and intentionally sought to create hysteria within the community.” Bushart was charged and held on bond, and authorities emphasized their zero-tolerance approach to threats of school violence.
Other incidents followed: two sisters in Arkansas were arrested for vandalizing a Kirk memorial, and a man in Arizona was apprehended for wielding a firearm outside a memorial arena. Some individuals lost their jobs after making unsympathetic or condemning posts about Kirk’s death. The suspect in Kirk’s assassination remains in custody, charged with aggravated murder, as reported by The Independent.
The reverberations of Kirk’s death extended far beyond American borders. At the United Nations General Assembly in late September, several world leaders addressed the assassination and the divisive reactions it provoked. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic condemned the “sick expression of joy for the crime committed against an innocent person,” calling it evidence of deep societal fissures. He lamented, “He was savagely assassinated just because his killer did not like his ideas… He was shot even after death by the same ones who had prepared political and media grounds for his assassination.”
Paraguayan President Santiago Peña, speaking in Spanish, said he was “shaken, saddened, and distressed” by Kirk’s killing, urging the world to awaken from “complacency.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy referenced Kirk’s death alongside other violent attacks, noting, “Sadly, his life was short by a bullet. Once again, violence with a rifle in hand.”
The global reaction underscored the broader discussion Kirk’s assassination ignited—about the boundaries of free speech, the dangers of political polarization, and the challenge of responding to violence with grace rather than vengeance. As memorials and vigils continued, many churches reported increased attendance and renewed interest in faith. Across the United States, communities gathered to pray, worship, and reflect on Kirk’s legacy.
In the end, while the divisions exposed by Charlie Kirk’s death remain raw, the outpouring of faith and forgiveness led by his widow Erika has inspired many to seek reconciliation and revival. The story of his life—and the aftermath of his death—continues to ripple across the nation and the world, challenging all sides to consider how we respond to tragedy, disagreement, and the call for grace in public life.
