Charlie Kirk was assassinated while doing what he loved—talking with young people and getting them to ponder what they believe and why they believe it.
Charlie was supremely effective at engaging with college-age crowds. The reason for this is because he was authentic. If he talked about Jesus, it's because he truly loved Jesus and he wasn't afraid to say so into a microphone in front of a thousand people, many of whom might not have been particularly receptive to the message. If he touted marriage, it's because he was married and knew that strong marriages are the core of a strong nation. If he rejected abortion, it's because he had had a deep love for life and fathered two beautiful children of his own. If he loved freedom of speech, he proved it by giving a microphone to anyone who wanted to have a go at him in front of an audience.
These same virtues made Charlie an object of pure hatred to the political Left. If he was authentic, the Left hated him because they are hypocrites. If he was joyful, the Left hated him because he made them appear positively miserable by comparison. If he was willing to have deep conversations with confused young people who disagreed with him, the Left hated him because angry slogans and blue-haired vitriol are all they have to offer.
It’s all about Jesus.
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) August 17, 2025
If Charlie was tremendously brave to the point of standing before hostile crowds, one of which proved to have an assassin embedded within it, the Left hated him because at heart, they are cowards.
Charlie's outspoken and unapologetic love for the United States of America—our country, institutions, and history—caused an immediate and violent allergic reaction among the true believers on the Left. They recoiled like Howard Zinn when confronted with a primary source historical document.
The "hate has no home here" crowd could not tolerate such an eloquent, authentic, and exuberant advocate of faith, family, and freedom. And since they could not debunk his authenticity or refute his arguments, they had to silence his voice—with a bullet.
In the immediate aftermath of the assassination, when Charlie's death was broadcast on social media, many, many on the political Left responded with: "Thoughts and prayers. Isn't that what we're supposed to say?" This mocking comment was repeated over and over, as if it was the epitome of a clever riposte. It was accompanied by many hundreds and thousands of "laugh" emoticons.
This reaction well defines the state of post-Christian America today. Ugly only begins to describe it. I can only pray that most of the "people" reacting that way were bots and not actual humans.
The best thing that could happen in the aftermath of the assassination of Charlie Kirk would be the emergence of ten thousand more Charlie Kirks. Ten thousand more authentic young people who love America and are unafraid to engage in debate with the Left. Ten thousand more men who are unafraid to enter the lists and run toward danger, knowing that the Left may try to kill them. Ten thousand sharp, eloquent, enthusiastic voices who will confound the stale, soulless rhetoric of the Left.
What more fitting legacy could emerge than millions of zealous, activated young Americans joining Charlie's Turning Point USA to confront and ultimately defeat the Left?
God willing, Charlie Kirk's death will truly become the turning point for America.
