Turning Point USA [TPUSA] is an organization co-founded by Charlie Kirk in 2012. Charlie Kirk was an American right-leaning political activist. Along with TPUSA, Kirk also established Turning Point Action, TPUSA Faith and several other organizations. He hosted his own talk show, “The Charlie Kirk Show”, where Kirk, and the occasional special guest(s), would discuss current events or political issues. TPUSA’s mission is to help young people fight for what is best for America based on conservative and patriotic values. Kirk’s main outreach was travelling to different college campuses and debating with young voters and students about political topics. His goal was to challenge their political worldview and get them to think deeper about what they were supporting, and why they were supporting it.
According to an Instagram post on Sept. 25 from Turning Point USA, “TPUSA has received 121,000+ requests from high school and college students nationwide to start a chapter or get involved with an existing chapter.” After Kirk’s assassination on Sept. 10 at Utah Valley University, TPUSA is determined to not give up. They are following through with Kirk’s goal of establishing a TPUSA chapter in every high school and college in America.
According to foxnews.com, “…TPUSA operates 900 official college chapters and approximately 1,200 high school chapters.” One of the TPUSA chapters is here at Eagle High. The club, Club America, is working to start back up and get students to join.
“I joined this club to help lead future voters to the right decisions,” said Club America Vice President and junior Cole Tanner. “Kirk was an amazing man who revolutionized the US and changed the outcome of the country’s future for the better”
Tanner is a supporter of Kirk and his vision for the US. He joined the club to help others make the “right decisions” for America’s future.
When asked why he supported Kirk, Tanner said, “I loved Kirk’s spirit for debate and how he wanted to make this nation the best one yet.”
Club America was able to recruit more members during the club rush that took place at Eagle High on Sept. 12. One of those members was junior Hudson Grant.
“I joined Club America because I believe that once people stop talking and debating, America will fall into shambles,” Grant said. Grant admired how Kirk was able to get his points across through debate and conversation.
“Kirk was not rude or arrogant,” Grant said. “He believed that Christianity and politics went hand in hand, and so do I.”
Grant thinks that Kirk was respectful of others during his debates. He also agrees with Kirk on incorporating faith into political beliefs.
“After the news of Kirk, I researched TPUSA and agreed in its message. When I found out there was a club here, I figure I’d join and encourage others to join,” said junior Jack Marshall. “I liked how he was active in bringing out the voices of the youth. He encouraged them to speak and think for themselves.”
Marshall agreed with TPUSA’s work and how Kirk was able to influence young people in America to speak up for themselves. It is because of this that he wanted to join Club America and wanted to help others join it as well.
TPUSA is not going to stop with their mission now that Kirk is gone. They are going to keep fighting and are determined to continue to influence young Americans.
According to a statement on “The Charlie Kirk Show”, made by Erika Kirk, Kirk’s wife, “…the movement my husband built will not die. No one will ever forget my husband’s name. My husband’s mission will not end. Not even for a moment.”
Erika Kirk is dedicated to Kirk’s mission and ideas. Her goal is to make sure that TPUSA will continue.
According to cnn.com, “Erika Kirk has been named CEO of Turning Point USA, taking over the organization that her husband, Charlie Kirk, helped found and lead until his assassination last week.”
TPUSA is not going to stop with their campus events either. On Sept. 22, Michael Knowles spoke at the University of Minnesota. Knowles was supposed to do the event alongside Kirk, but because of Kirk’s tragic death, he had to do it alone. The event at UMN was the first of many more campus events following Kirk’s death. It was part of the “American Comeback” tour. This tour is scheduled to continue throughout the rest of 2025 and into 2026.
Under the leadership of their new CEO, Erika Kirk, Turning Point USA is going to continue their work in America. They are going to continue visiting college campuses and speaking to young voters. They are also going to start new chapters at high schools and colleges around the U.S. because of the thousands of requests they have gotten since Kirk’s death. TPUSA maintains that debate is the best way to solve problems and disagreements, and they will not let anything hinder them from keeping the spirit of debate alive in the people of America.
