Charlie Kirk, a powerful face of youth in the MAGA movement and just 31 years old, was mercilessly assassinated on Wednesday when he was doing what he loved: speaking to people on a college campus.
Kirk, who never graduated from college, understood the influence of young students who, for decades, had been indoctrinated by the left-wing ideologies prevalent on modern campuses. He founded Turning Point USA (TPUSA) while still in high school. The following year, while at Harper College, Kirk founded Turning Point Action, a nonprofit advocacy group that supports conservative candidates for office.
Following his work with the Tea Party movement in 2012, Kirk's mission was to educate fellow college students about a conservative, Christian ideology focused on marriage, family, children, low taxes, and limited government. In this venture, Kirk achieved phenomenal success. At the time of his death, TPUSA had 850 chapters across colleges and universities in the United States.
During last year's presidential campaign, Kirk was a constant fixture on the college circuit, engaging with students, taking on challenging questions, and entering into healthy debates. He perfected the art of retail politics by conducting his own version of town halls, often sitting in a tent with a microphone and handing out a roving microphone to anyone who came forward to ask him a question. No one had ever done it with such finesse and authenticity.
In one video posted by Kirk on October 11, 2024 (a month before the elections), filmed during a campus visit, Kirk directly engages with a young male student who questions Trump's border policies as "xenophobic." He challenges the student with a hypothetical scenario: "What would you do if a homeless man broke into your dorm room?"
The interaction escalates into a discussion on immigration, security, and the impacts of open borders, highlighting key campaign issues. The video captures the back-and-forth debate, showcasing Kirk's style of on-the-spot persuasion with college students. The highlight of the clip is its ending. Kirk answers the student, "How are you leaning in this election?" The student responds, "After what you said, Trump." Kirk responds, "Let's go!!" It was the exact same setting at Utah Valley University today when a single bullet struck Kirk's throat, blood spilling out.
Kirk realized that the best way to promote his message was online, where students spent their time. He had one of the largest followings on social media. Just hours before he was shot, Kirk posted on X, his favorite platform: "If we want things to change, it's 100% necessary to politicize the senseless murder of Iryna Zarutska because it was politics that allowed a savage monster with 14 priors to be free on the streets to kill her." The post garnered over 200,000 likes and was reposted over 31,000 times. Kirk had over 5 million followers on X.
Kirk also recognized the power of new media. As early as 2023, he was a top podcaster, regularly reaching more than 500,000 listeners. Despite being a novice, he was ranked #8 in the podcasting world in September 2023 as the Republican National Committee held its first presidential debates. Only established media figures, with decades more experience than him, such as Ben Shapiro, Megyn Kelly, Dan Bongino, and Glenn Beck, outranked him. By 2024, his listeners had surpassed 750,000.
No single person can take more credit than Charlie Kirk for bringing America's youth to Trump's MAGA movement. Today, while college students embrace the hookup culture, which involves casual sexual encounters without commitment or emotional intimacy, Kirk remained Christian in his beliefs and heavily promoted traditional marriage during his interactions. In May 2021, he married Erika Frantzve, a podcaster and businesswoman. The couple's first child, a daughter, was born in August 2022. Their second child, a son, was born in May 2024.
President Trump was one of the first to notice the rising popularity of this youth superstar and fully embraced Charlie Kirk, even addressing annual Turning Point USA conferences in 2023 and 2024. Trump invited Kirk to his innermost circle. About ten days before Trump’s second presidential inauguration, readers may recall that Trump Force One, his Boeing 757, visited Greenland, the ice-covered island, which Trump wanted to acquire from Denmark. Among the passengers were Don Trump Jr., the elder son and close confidant of the President-elect, and Charlie Kirk. At the inauguration, Kirk was seated in a prized spot that was denied to hundreds of members of Congress.
Trump, who values loyalty above all else, had nothing to fear from Kirk, who was firmly in the Trump camp. Every day, Kirk functioned as the youth spokesperson for Trump's policy. When news came out that Kirk had been shot, Trump posted on Truth Social: "We must all pray for Charlie Kirk, who has been shot. A great guy from top to bottom. GOD BLESS HIM!"
When Kirk died in the hospital later, it was Trump announcing the news again on his media platform. "The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead... 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. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!"
Minutes later, Trump ordered that all American flags be flown at half-staff until 6 p.m. on Sunday in honor of Kirk.
RIP, Charlie Kirk. You will be missed.
Never Forget
📊 Market Mood — Thursday, September 11, 2025
🟢 Futures Edge Higher
U.S. stock futures rose as traders awaited pivotal CPI inflation data that could shape the Fed’s rate decision next week. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq closed at fresh record highs on Wednesday, buoyed by Oracle’s 36% surge on blockbuster AI-cloud results, even as the Dow slipped slightly.
🟡 CPI Report Looms
August consumer prices are expected to rise 2.9% YoY, up from 2.7% in July, keeping pressure on the Fed as it juggles sticky inflation and a cooling labor market. A surprise drop in producer prices yesterday eased fears slightly, but stagflation worries linger.
🟣 ECB Decision Day
The European Central Bank meets Thursday and is widely expected to hold rates at 2%, though a hawkish faction could push for cuts later. Mixed inflation and growth signals, plus U.S. tariff uncertainty, add to the cautious tone.
🔵 Adobe Earnings Ahead
Adobe reports after the bell, with EPS expected at $5.18 on $5.91B revenue. Sentiment is cautious as investors question when its AI bets will boost growth amid cyclical headwinds.
🟠 Oil Slips on Weak Demand
Crude prices dipped (Brent $67.40, WTI $63.56) as U.S. inventories rose sharply by 3.9M barrels, hinting at softening demand. Gasoline stocks also rose unexpectedly, stoking growth concerns.
🟣 Gold Pauses Near Record Highs
Gold edged lower as traders stayed cautious before the CPI report, though prices remain near record peaks on firm rate-cut expectations from the Fed.
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📅 Key Events Today
🟨 Thursday, September 11
08:30 – Core CPI (MoM) (Aug)
Consumer inflation excluding food & energy.
08:30 – CPI (YoY) (Aug)
Annual inflation rate.
08:30 – CPI (MoM) (Aug)
Monthly consumer inflation.
08:30 – Initial Jobless Claims
Gauge of new unemployment filings.
13:00 – 30-Year Bond Auction
Investor demand for long-term Treasuries.
