Turning Point USA Names Erika Kirk CEO After Husband’s Assassination
Turning Point USA announced Thursday that Erika Kirk, widow of slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk, has been unanimously elected as the organization’s new CEO and chair of its board of directors.
“In prior discussions, Charlie expressed to multiple executives that this is what he wanted in the event of his death,” the organization said in a post on X.
Kirk, 31, was fatally shot on Sept. 10 while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University. His death stunned supporters and allies across the conservative movement and left the future of the group he founded in question.
In a statement, Turning Point USA’s board of directors said its members were confident in Erika Kirk’s leadership, pointing to her experience alongside her husband and her commitment to his mission.
“It was the honor of our lives to serve as board members at Charlie’s side,” the board said. “Charlie prepared all of us for a moment like this one. He worked tirelessly to ensure Turning Point USA was built to survive even the greatest tests. And now, it’s our great pride to announce Erika Kirk as the new CEO and Chair of the Board for Turning Point USA.”
The statement described Erika Kirk as the natural successor to carry forward the late founder’s vision of faith and patriotism.
“All of us at Turning Point USA have a special role in carrying Charlie Kirk’s mantle and completing his vision of bringing us all closer to our Lord and fostering a prosperous country for generations to come,” the board said. “As Charlie always said, ‘We have a country to save.’ We will not surrender or kneel before evil. We will carry on. The attempt to destroy Charlie’s work will become our chance to make it more powerful and enduring than ever before.”
The Turning Point Board has unanimously elected Erika Kirk as the new CEO and Chair of the Board.
— Turning Point USA (@TPUSA) September 18, 2025
In prior discussions, Charlie expressed to multiple executives that this is what he wanted in the event of his death. pic.twitter.com/PazORgiHWP
The board concluded its statement with a blessing for the family: “May God Bless Erika, the Kirk family, and the entire team at Turning Point USA.”
Kirk will be remembered at a public memorial service scheduled for Sept. 21 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The event is expected to draw thousands of mourners and will feature remarks from several high-profile political leaders.
President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are slated to deliver tributes, along with other national figures.
According to a website for the service, the event will highlight Kirk’s legacy as a faith-driven leader. “Charlie Kirk’s life was a testament to faith, courage, and conviction,” the site said. “From his earliest days, he believed America was worth fighting for, and he dedicated every moment of his 31 years to that cause. He lived with eyes fixed on eternity, grounded in the truth of God’s Word, and driven by a calling bigger than himself.”
Turning Point USA, founded by Kirk in 2012, has grown into one of the largest conservative youth organizations in the country, with a presence on hundreds of college campuses and a significant digital reach. Its future was uncertain after Kirk’s killing, but board members said his preparation and his wife’s leadership ensured its continuity.
For supporters, Erika Kirk’s appointment is being described as both symbolic and practical — a way to honor the founder’s wishes and to solidify the organization’s direction in turbulent times.
“Charlie built this with God at the center,” one Turning Point official said privately. “Now Erika will make sure his mission doesn’t just survive — it expands.”
The Texas Rangers and Utah authorities continue investigating the killing, which has been described by prosecutors as an aggravated murder. The suspect, 22-year-old Tyler James Robinson, faces the death penalty if convicted.
For now, the focus of Turning Point USA remains on honoring its late leader while empowering his successor. As one board member said, “Charlie may be gone, but his movement will never die.”
