Chants of “Charlie, Charlie” echoed through the basketball arena in Dallas during the second night of President Donald Trump’s midterm convention as Republicans gathered to honor Charlie Kirk, the Turning Point USA founder who was assassinated on Sept. 10, 2025.
Memorial video and remarks
The lively crowd fell silent when a five‑minute memorial video played, offering a somber interlude amid the convention’s parade of candidates. Lucas Miles, a pastor and Turning Point vice president, told the audience, “One year later, there is something wonderfully defiant about the fact that his voice has not grown quieter.” He noted that the organization’s membership and social‑media following have multiplied since Kirk’s death.
Kirk’s legacy and ongoing work
Kirk built a nationwide network of campus chapters, hosted a popular podcast, and became a key powerbroker within the broader Make America Great Again movement. His widow, Erika Kirk, has taken over as CEO of Turning Point and is stepping into some of his public‑speaking roles. The organization also plans a memorial event in Orem, Utah, returning to the Utah Valley University campus where Kirk was killed.
Legal developments
Tyler Robinson, 23, has been charged with aggravated murder in connection with Kirk’s death and faces the death penalty if convicted. He pleaded not guilty and turned himself in a day after the shooting.
Controversy and conspiracy claims
Since the assassination, the movement Kirk built has experienced internal tension. Prominent podcaster Candace Owens and others have questioned Utah prosecutors’ narrative that Robinson acted alone, fueling conspiracy theories online. Miles addressed the concern from the stage, affirming, “Turning Point is not dead. The organization Charlie founded is still growing. A new generation is stepping forward.”
Turning Point’s statement on the anniversary emphasized the lasting impact of Kirk’s work, saying, “We have felt the weight of his absence in ways that never seem to get easier.”
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
