TPUSA’s Next Steps

Turning Point USA (TPUSA) has reportedly seen a surge in support since Charlie Kirk's assassination.

Kirk founded TPUSA to spread conservative policies among young Americans. It has since become the largest conservative youth organization, with approximately 900 official college chapters and around 1,200 high school chapters, as well as additional chapters abroad. TPUSA is attributed with partially driving a major shift among young Americans toward Trump in the 2024 election. Kirk was fatally shot on Wednesday last week while speaking at Utah Valley University. Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old from Utah, was arrested Thursday night as the primary suspect and charged with aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, and obstruction of justice.

TPUSA officials have said that the group has seen an influx of more than 32,000 chapter inquiries over the weekend following the assassination of its 31-year-old founder.

To put the new interest into perspective, the 32,000 inquiries received in two days far exceed the organization's existing chapter network of 900 college chapters and 1,200 high school chapters.

This weekend, the organization announced that it would hold a public memorial service for Kirk – entitled "Building a Legacy, Remembering Charlie Kirk" – on Sunday, September 21, at the Arizona Cardinals' NFL arena in Glendale, Arizona. President Trump announced he would attend the service. VP JD Vance, who was close to Kirk and accompanied his casket on its final flight to Phoenix, hosted Monday's edition of The Charlie Kirk Show in tribute to the man he called his friend.

Last Friday, Kirk's widow, Erika, pledged to continue her husband's mission during a livestream. Erika said, "If you thought that my husband's mission was powerful before, you have no idea, you have no idea what you just have unleashed across this entire country and this world." She confirmed that Kirk's campus tour would continue throughout the autumn and in coming years. She also announced that his podcast would continue and urged young people to join or start local Turning Point USA chapters. "If there isn't a chapter, you can't find one, then start one. There is no excuse."