Daniel Wolfram
One year after podcaster Charlie Kirk was assassinated in Utah, a portion of Trump-a-palooza was dedicated to honor him.
Thousands of attendees gathered in Dallas for the second night of the Republican midterm convention, also known as the Trump-a-palooza.
The President of the United States has been the center of attention for the last two days in Dallas. But for five minutes, a video was played and a tribute broke out.
Chants of “Charlie, Charlie” echoed through the arena as the GOP paused the festivities to mark the one-year anniversary of Charlie Kirk’s death.
A somber tribute
The controversial, conservative influencer and Turning Point USA founder was shot on September 10, 2025, at Utah Valley University. The suspect, Tyler Robinson, surrendered a day later. The case is still ongoing as he has pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder charges.
Some of the most high-profile politicians in the White House remembered Kirk fondly. One of them was Vice President JD Vance, who formed a tight-knit friendship with Kirk after Vance entered politics.
Vance remembered feeling anxious during his 2024 convention speech until he saw his friend Charlie cheering in the crowd. Pointing to Kirk’s apparent talent for diplomatic interventions within the GOP, Vance urged unity in the Republican Party. “Do what Charlie did,” he said. “Do not throw the baby out with the bathwater.”
Building the future
The Turning Point USA organization has experienced internal friction while continuing to grow after Charlie Kirk’s death. Erika Kirk, his widow, took over as chief executive officer.
Lucas Miles, a pastor and vice president in Turning Point, also spoke at the convention. Here, he told the Dallas crowd that Turning Point’s membership has expanded since the tragedy. “Turning Point is not dead,” Miles said.
Even so, internal debates continue to dominate the conversation around Kirk. Influencer, conspiracy theorist, and former close friend of Charlie Kirk, Candace Owens, has publicly questioned the official investigation into the shooting, fueling conspiracy theories online.
Remembering in bronze
A separate memorial took place on the campus in Utah where the shooting occurred. Speakers addressed a packed auditorium as supporters repeatedly chanted “U-S-A!”
“We have felt the weight of his absence in ways that never seem to get easier,” the organization said in a statement.
During the event, a larger-than-life bronze statue of Kirk holding a microphone was unveiled.
