By David Bossie
Forever the happy warrior, my good friend Charlie Kirk was tragically assassinated yesterday doing his life’s work in the public square.
The young conservative icon and legend in the making was brutally murdered exercising his free speech rights in front of a huge crowd of Americans who both agreed with him and disagreed with him. He died needlessly in the arena in which he thrived, doing what he loved. Along with our grieving nation, I am heartbroken.
As I got to know Charlie over the years, I saw that he believed deeply in the American ideals of robust political discourse and the free exchange of ideas. He understood the critical importance of defending the First Amendment — the most important amendment to our Constitution — and the slippery slope that rules and regulations seeking to limit speech represent. Through his incredible work as the Founder and President of Turning Point USA, Charlie served as an inspiration to millions of young people who will now follow in his footsteps and carry his patriotic message forward for many generations to come.
Charlie was a devout Christian — and he took his religious beliefs with him onto the debate stage. As a follower of Jesus Christ, Charlie was taught to love the people he disagreed with — and he did. My friend and Turning Point Action COO Tyler Bowyer told me that “Charlie Kirk worked to be the Christ centered husband and dad that young men in America needed to look up to. He will forever be that now, and that will lead the work that is done in his honor.” I couldn’t agree more.
Charlie was wise well beyond his 31 years and believed in his core that the hallmark of a healthy constitutional republic is the concept that more speech is always better than less speech. And Charlie traversed our great country working to convince others about the importance of civil “give and take” in politics. Charlie was the best in the business when it came to strongly advocating for his principled positions and then respectfully listening to his political opponent’s positions. It was so refreshing for me to hear Charlie, a young and talented conservative leader, talk about our bedrock principles, such as the right to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness, so effortlessly. His honest and spirited delivery drove people to him and his mission. It never got old to hear Charlie talk off the cuff about why America is the best country in the history of mankind.
His decision to take up the mantle of liberty, his herculean support of President Donald Trump and the America First agenda, and his unprecedented impact on countless youth will be remembered forever. White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles articulated how much Charlie meant to the White House beautifully when she told me, “Charlie was such an important part of the Trump team’s family, and he was appreciated, loved, and respected by all. His enthusiasm for this country and this movement joyfully infected everyone he knew. His death is truly tragic, and he will be missed by all whom he touched. RIP, beautiful soul.”
Charlie was the living embodiment of the concept of American Exceptionalism. He lived it, and he believed in its power. Charlie came along at exactly the right time – at a time when too many college campuses are being overrun with a warped ideology that believes the United States of America, our Constitution, free speech, and capitalism are fundamentally bad things. At a young age, Charlie recognized the imminent danger and decided to stand up and speak eloquently in defense of our great nation and our sacred Judeo-Christian values — and he never stopped.
There is no doubt in my mind that Charlie rescued the futures of many young people simply by showing them there’s a hopeful and optimistic way to look at the world. He served his Lord Jesus Christ, loved his family and friends with all his heart, and believed that our rights are derived from our Creator and therefore can’t be taken away by government.
Make no doubt about it, Charlie grew into a political phenomenon because of his effectiveness. He created a movement of countless millions who were yearning for answers, honesty, and hope. I’m angry that Charlie was taken from us way too soon, but his work will now grow exponentially and beyond his wildest imagination. May God Bless his wife Erika and their young children. I hope they can take some amount of comfort in knowing that their fellow countrymen are praying for them at this most difficult time.
Charlie’s senseless murder must serve as a wake-up call for our country. Political violence is never acceptable under any circumstances. We must all strive to do better by America – and for Charlie.
David N. Bossie is president of Citizens United. He served as deputy campaign manager for Donald J. Trump for President in 2016.
