Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro has penned a tribute to Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, who was assassinated at age 31. Shapiro reflects on Kirk's rise from a young activist to a key figure in American conservatism. The piece warns of a rising wave of political violence in the United States.
Ben Shapiro first encountered Charlie Kirk in 2009 at a donor event for the David Horowitz Freedom Center held at The Breakers hotel in Palm Beach, Florida. Kirk, then 18 and fresh out of high school, was pitching his newly founded organization, Turning Point USA, which had initial seed donors but was still in its early stages.
Shapiro described Kirk as eager, aggressive, and exceptionally intelligent, with an energy that was nearly overwhelming. After their meeting, Shapiro told his friend Jeremy Boreing, “That kid is going to be the head of the Republican National Committee one day.” In reality, Kirk's influence exceeded that prediction. Turning Point USA grew into what Shapiro calls the single most important conservative political organization in the country.
Kirk honed his skills as a public speaker and debater, excelling at fundraising while remaining friendly and driven by his core values. Though he never attended college, Kirk became a confidant to the President of the United States, the vice president, and other prominent conservatives. Public clips showed him as a fiery campus advocate, but privately, he was thoughtful, focused on building coalitions—a challenging endeavor that few matched.
Kirk's relentless energy ended abruptly when a bullet took his life at 31. He left behind a wife and two young children. Shapiro portrays the assassination as punishment for Kirk's passionate advocacy, political debates, and efforts to improve the nation.
Shapiro situates Kirk's death amid a broader surge in violence, citing the attempted shooting of President Trump, the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, and the killing of two Israeli embassy staffers. He argues that political rhetoric has escalated, with opponents viewed as existential threats, particularly from radical left-leaning perspectives that equate speech with violence.
In response, Shapiro advocates for greater empathy and prayer: recognizing fellow Americans despite disagreements, upholding constitutional freedoms by treating others as friends, and rejecting violence in favor of dialogue—as Kirk exemplified. He concludes that Kirk's reverence for free speech led to his murder, urging his memory to inspire national healing.
