Two weeks after the shocking assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University, his movement has not only survived—it appears to be surging. As students filed into a Virginia Tech auditorium on September 24, 2025, they passed through heightened security, past police dogs and metal detectors, and by a replica of the tent where Kirk was slain. The tent, emblazoned with his signature "PROVE ME WRONG" tagline and a large photograph, was a stark reminder of both the tragedy and the determination to press forward.
Inside, nearly 3,000 attendees—many donning red "Make America Great Again" caps or white hats marked with "47"—filled the seats. Each chair held a poster of Kirk against the American flag, and staff wore white T-shirts with "Freedom," echoing the shirt Kirk wore the night he died. The atmosphere was somber yet charged, as the crowd chanted, "We are Charlie," signaling a collective resolve to carry on his work.
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, one of several prominent conservatives stepping in as guest speakers on the resumed tour, addressed the crowd directly: "You'll be the next Charlie." His words, as reported by AFP and The Christian Science Monitor, were more than a rallying cry—they were a challenge to the young audience to step into the activist’s shoes. Youngkin led the gathering in prayer, underscoring the event’s blend of political and spiritual fervor.
Kirk’s death on September 10, 2025, during the first stop of his American Comeback Tour, could have derailed the conservative youth movement he built through Turning Point USA. Instead, the organization has announced that the tour will continue, with 11 campus events scheduled over the next two months—seven original stops and four new ones in Virginia, Oklahoma, Alabama, and California, according to CNN. The list of guest speakers is a who’s-who of conservative politics and media: Utah Senator Mike Lee, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte, Ohio gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy, Megyn Kelly, Tucker Carlson, and Glenn Beck, among others.
Erika Kirk, Charlie’s widow, has stepped into the spotlight as Turning Point USA’s new CEO and board chair. At a memorial in Arizona on September 21, she vowed, “The world needs a group that will point young people away from the path of misery and sin. I promise you today, every part of our work will become greater.” Hours later, she sent a fundraising email, urging supporters to “carry the torch” her husband lit by donating to the cause. Her message of forgiveness at the memorial drew bipartisan praise, and many within the organization see her as the natural successor to Kirk’s legacy.
“She knew everything,” said Mikey McCoy, Kirk’s chief of staff, on a recent episode of The Charlie Kirk Show. “From the way she texts to the way she talks, I can confidently say that I feel like it’s Charlie still leading this organization.”
The movement’s momentum is measurable. Since Kirk’s death, Turning Point USA reports receiving more than 120,000 requests to start new chapters at high schools and colleges nationwide. This groundswell suggests that, far from silencing the conservative youth network, the tragedy has galvanized it. “What happened ignited something in me. Like, he let down the flag, I’ve got to pick it up and carry it,” said 16-year-old Kieran Owen to AFP, capturing the sentiment echoed by many young attendees.
The campus tour’s format, however, has shifted. Security is tighter, and the open, sometimes combative debates that Kirk was known for have been replaced—at least for now—by more conservative-friendly discussions. At Virginia Tech, Megyn Kelly fielded questions that largely came from fellow conservatives or fans, not from ideological opponents. “I don’t think you should talk about politics,” Kelly advised in response to a question about coexisting with liberals as a conservative Christian, sharing her own experience of maintaining friendships across the political spectrum by avoiding divisive topics.
This change has not gone unnoticed. “There wasn’t the kind of ‘proving wrong’ that Mr. Kirk made go viral in his social media clips,” The Christian Science Monitor observed. Some attribute the shift to the heightened security and somber mood, others to the current political climate, where partisanship and accusations have intensified in the wake of Kirk’s assassination.
Still, many students believe the movement’s strength now lies in its collective nature. “No one person could or should replace Mr. Kirk. But maybe remembering him would be enough,” said a Virginia Tech student. Chase Wampler, who started a Turning Point chapter at his high school just days after Kirk’s murder, added, “I think he’s going to be replaced by a movement and not a singular person.”
The tour is not limited to Virginia. In North Dakota, the University of North Dakota is preparing for a visit from Glenn Beck, who will take Kirk’s place at a scheduled October 9 event. Anthony Vettel, president of the UND chapter of Turning Point USA, told the Grand Forks Herald, “I think it’s a great opportunity to do what he would’ve wanted.” The university’s president, Andrew Armacost, emphasized the importance of free inquiry, stating, “Universities are a place where ideas need to be talked about, and so whether it’s non-controversial ideas or controversial ideas, we need to have an open forum.” Security for the event will be led by the University Police Department in coordination with Turning Point USA.
The response to Kirk’s death has also reverberated on the world stage. At the United Nations, leaders including Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, Paraguayan President Santiago Peña, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the killing and the "macabre response" to it. Vučić described the reaction as “the best confirmation” of the current climate, while Peña said the tragedy “must awaken us from our sleepy state of complacency.” Zelenskyy, referencing Kirk and other victims of violence, lamented, “Sadly, his life was short by a bullet. Once again, violence with a rifle in hand.”
As the American Comeback Tour continues, the question of who will fill Kirk’s shoes lingers. For now, it seems, the answer is a resounding: everyone. From Erika Kirk’s leadership to the thousands of students launching new chapters and the prominent conservatives stepping in as guest speakers, the movement is determined not just to endure, but to grow. Whether the spirit of open debate that Kirk championed will return to the tour remains to be seen, but the resolve to keep his vision alive is unmistakable.
The story of Charlie Kirk’s legacy is still being written—by those who knew him, those who followed him, and those who, inspired by his life and untimely death, have decided to pick up the flag and carry it forward.
