 "Who was Charlie Kirk, Trump ally and India critic, shot dead at Utah university?")
Charlie Kirk, a right-wing activist and ally of US President Donald Trump, was shot dead while attending an event at a college in Utah on Wednesday.
The 31-year-old was one of the most recognised conservative figures in the country.
Kirk was also credited with helping strengthen Trump’s backing among young voters, inspiring conservative youth, and gaining global recognition through an organisation he started when he was just 18.
ALSO READ | How the killing of Trump aide Charlie Kirk unfolded
In a video shared on Truth Social, Trump said he was “filled with grief and anger at the heinous assassination of Charlie Kirk”. He also announced that all American flags across the country will fly at half-mast until Sunday evening.
But who was Charlie Kirk? How did he help Trump? And what else did Trump say after his death?
Let’s find out:
Who was Charlie Kirk?
At 18, Kirk co-founded Turning Point USA, a group focused on promoting conservative ideas among students and young voters.
An early supporter of Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential bid, he turned Turning Point from one of many well-financed conservative outfits into a central player in right-wing politics.
Although initially cautious, the group fully backed Trump once he became the Republican nominee. Kirk also worked as a personal aide to Donald Trump Jr during the general election.
Kirk soon became a familiar face on cable news, often speaking on culture wars while praising Trump. Both Trump and his son regularly spoke at Turning Point events, boosting his profile further.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsIn 2019, he launched Turning Point Action, a non-profit that campaigns for conservative candidates. The group is known for hosting large rallies featuring prominent right-wing figures, including Trump himself.
Kirk came to be seen as one of the leading voices of Trump’s Make America Great Again movement.
He strongly pushed Trump’s false claim that voter fraud cost him the 2020 election.
Trump has also publicly credited Kirk for helping him secure support among young voters and voters of colour during his winning 2024 campaign. This included a five-point victory in Arizona, Turning Point’s base, which Trump had lost narrowly in 2020.
Kirk developed a fiery style on his podcast, radio programme and at rallies. At an event with Trump in Georgia last year, he said Democrats “stand for everything God hates” and described the Trump versus Kamala Harris contest as “a spiritual battle.”
His podcast draws more than 500,000 monthly listeners, and his account on X has 5.3 million followers.
Notably, he often appeared at college events and wrote several books, including one defending the Second Amendment. He was known as a strong advocate for gun rights.
Charlie Kirk on Indians in US
Kirk’s recent comments about Indian migrants have come back into focus after the Utah tragedy.
Notably, he once said “America does not need more visas for people from India," adding that the country was already “full” and should prioritise its own citizens.
“America does not need more visas for people from India. Perhaps no form of legal immigration has so displaced American workers as those from India. Enough already. We’re full. Let’s finally put our own people first,” he posted on X on September 2.
His remarks came in response to Fox News anchor Laura Ingraham, who wrote that any trade agreement with India would likely involve the US offering more visas. “I’d rather not pay them in visas and trade deficits,” she had posted.
In an X post on September 5, he wrote, “President Trump is reportedly considering blocking American tech companies from outsourcing their work to Indian companies. Good. Invest in this country first. Hire American companies and American workers.”
Responding to a post on X that read, “Large accounts are being paid to attack Trump’s tariffs on India to their ‘MAGA audience’,” Kirk, without any evidence, claimed that the accounts are being paid to “peddle this trash from the Indian government.”
You have to wonder if this coordinated activity promoting the interests of India should trigger FARA registrations. Many accounts are obviously being paid to peddle this trash from the Indian government, who is paying them and how much? We need answers. https://t.co/pkTh1Jss6Q
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) September 4, 2025
Who is Erika Frantzve, Charlie’s wife?
Kirk is survived by his wife Erika, a former Miss Arizona USA, and their two children.
The two met in 2019 and married in May 2021 in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Frantzve studied Political Science and International Relations at Arizona State University, completed a Juris Master’s degree at Liberty University in 2017, and earned a Doctorate in Christian Leadership in 2022.
She works as a real estate agent with The Corcoran Group in New York and founded Everyday Heroes Like You, a non-profit aimed at community empowerment.
Frantzve, a former basketball player at Regis University in Denver, won the Miss Arizona USA crown in 2012.
Charlie and Erika have two children: their daughter Sarah Rose and a son.
How did Trump react to Charlie’s death?
The US President described Kirk as a patriot and called his death a “dark moment for America.”
“Charlie inspired millions and tonight all who knew him and loved him are united in shock and horror. Charlie is a patriot who devoted his life to the cause of open debate and the country that he loves so much, the United States of America,” he said in a video statement.
“He’s a model for truth and freedom, and there’s never been anyone who was so respected by youth.”
On Truth Social, he posted, “No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us.”
“In honor of Charlie Kirk, a truly Great American Patriot, I am ordering all American Flags throughout the United States lowered to Half Mast until Sunday evening at 6 PM,” Trump added.
With inputs from agencies
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