Conservative activist and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was assassinated by a rooftop sniper on September 10, 2025, while debating a student at Utah Valley University. The Kirk family has since issued a wrongful death notice against the university and state officials, alleging security failures including a lack of bag checks, insufficient police staffing, and the absence of rooftop drone monitoring and first responders.
On the one-year anniversary of the event, tributes were issued by the White House, Vice President JD Vance, Donald Trump Jr., Sen. Ted Cruz, Speaker Mike Johnson, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Turning Point USA organized a remembrance ceremony at the site of the killing, though the event faced student protests. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has cited the event in discussions regarding a rise in political terrorism from the radical Left in the U.S. and Europe.
Concurrent with the tributes, some college campuses including NYU, Georgetown, and the University of South Carolina saw anonymous posts on platforms like Yik Yak and Fizz, as well as shares from Libs of TikTok, promoting "Kirkiversary" events and look-alike contests. Additionally, an Instagram account called "The Culture Beat" posted a critique of Kirk's media ecosystem, stating he should not be remembered kindly and using the phrase "rest in piss."
Turning Point USA spokesperson Andrew Kolvet claims the organization is experiencing unprecedented expansion. However, student leaders from Georgia State, University of Richmond, and Grand Canyon University report internal fractures and a leadership vacuum following Kirk's death.