What made Charlie Kirk so great was that he served a cause greater than himself.
Thursday marks the first anniversary of Kirk’s assassination at Utah Valley University. Kirk, the founder of Turning Point, was bantering about political topics before a crowd. It was Kirk in his element — taking on all comers as his fans cheered. Kirk’s probing questions, extensive knowledge, quick wit and courage created viral videos that earned billions of views.
That wasn’t the only thing Kirk created. Turning Point Action, the group’s political arm, pushed young adults, especially men, to vote for Donald Trump in 2024. Kirk’s prominent seat at Trump’s second inauguration was a tangible sign of how highly Trump prized his efforts. Some expected Kirk to one day be president himself.
Debating shouldn’t be a death sentence, but it was for Kirk. Overwhelming evidence suggests that the cowardly killer resorted to violence in response to Kirk’s ideas.
Death is the ultimate test of a life’s pursuit. Kirk had achieved the pinnacle of what many people chase: fame, money and power. But if those had been his goals, he quickly would have been forgotten. When the Kardashian family ceases to be entertaining, their fame will quickly dissipate. Money is left to others. Even power is fleeting. Quick, name the 20th president of the United States. (Kudos if you came up with James Garfield, who was assassinated shortly after taking office.)
But Kirk didn’t view his fame, money and power as primary objectives. He leveraged those things for higher purposes. To the general public, the most obvious manifestation of this was his political influence. But his message to young people went far beyond voting advice.
“Get married. Have children. Build a legacy. Pass down your values. Pursue the eternal. Seek true joy,” Kirk wrote on X in 2024.
The past year has shown how seriously Kirk took his own advice. The world has caught glimpses of how much his wife, Erika Kirk, and their children loved their dad. What a contrast to the hatred of those who openly celebrate the murder of a beloved husband and father over political differences.
Hours before his death, Kirk told a group of restaurateurs in Salt Lake City about the challenge of “separating the brand from the founder.” He said Turning Point had “not done this successfully yet.”
Even so, Turning Point has continued to expand. Its number of new high school chapters is up 168 percent. Its number of new college groups is up 64 percent.
There have been major rifts in the broader conservative ecosystem since Kirk’s death. Come to find out, Kirk consistently worked behind the scenes to resolve disputes privately.
Kirk’s focus on the eternal was exemplified by Erika Kirk at Charlie’s memorial. Following the example of Jesus on the cross, she said, “That young man — I forgive him.”
Charlie Kirk’s legacy lives on because he spent so little time living for himself. Do the same.
Victor Joecks’ column appears in the Opinion section each Sunday, Wednesday and Friday. Contact him at vjoecks@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4698. Follow @victorjoecks on X.
