Turning Point USA on Thursday named Erika Kirk, widow of its co-founder Charlie Kirk, as chief executive officer and chair of the board, in a move the organization said fulfills Kirk's own wishes following his assassination last week.
In a statement posted on X, the board said Charlie Kirk had previously told senior executives that Erika Kirk should succeed him in the event of his death. "We will not surrender or kneel before evil," the board said. "We will carry on."
Charlie Kirk, who co-founded Turning Point USA in 2012, built it into a powerhouse of the conservative youth movement closely aligned with President Donald Trump's MAGA agenda. His killing on Sept. 10 at Utah Valley University stunned supporters and prompted an outpouring of tributes from conservative leaders across the country.
"It was the honor of our lives to serve as board members at Charlie's side," the Turning Point 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."
Erika Kirk, 36, addressed the nation for the first time since her husband's death on Sept. 12. "To everyone listening tonight across America, the movement my husband built will not die," she said. "My husband's mission will not end, not even for a moment."
She pledged to continue the organization's American Comeback Tour on college campuses this fall, a core initiative aimed at galvanizing student support ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Born Erika Frantzve in Scottsdale, Ariz., Kirk studied political science at Arizona State University, briefly played NCAA basketball, and was crowned Miss Arizona USA in 2012. She married Charlie Kirk in 2021, and the couple has two young children.
A public memorial service is planned for Sept. 21 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., with President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and other conservative figures expected to speak.
