Peter MacDonald
On September 10, 2025, (6am September 11, NZ time), America witnessed a political assassination of profound significance. Charlie Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot while speaking at Utah Valley University: struck from a rooftop 200 yards away in what police describe as a premeditated, politically motivated attack.
This is the most prominent political assassination in the United States since the 1960s, yet it differs fundamentally from those of the past. Kirk’s death signals a deeper fracture in society, with spiritual and ideological divisions threatening to splinter the nation and potentially Western democracies worldwide into pieces.
Kirk, 31, was a devout Christian who embraced the talents God had given him and used them to shape public discourse and inspire young Americans. From the Chicago suburbs of Arlington Heights and Prospect Heights, he rose rapidly to national prominence, founding Turning Point USA at age 18 after leaving Harper College to dedicate himself fully to activism. Through initiatives like the Professor Watchlist and School Board Watchlist, Kirk challenged ideological indoctrination in schools and championed open debate as essential to freedom.
A masterful orator, Kirk spoke without notes to thousands of students and often faced hostile crowds and accusations ranging from racism to hate speech. His rhetorical skill and influence drew comparisons to historic figures like Roman orator Cicero, blending intellect, persuasion and charisma. He consistently warned that societies that abandon debate risk sliding into tyranny and intolerance.
Politically, Kirk was a steadfast supporter of Donald Trump, with his campus outreach and youth engagement playing a pivotal role in the 2024 election. Trump himself acknowledged Kirk’s extraordinary impact on the youth vote.
Beyond the United States, Kirk served as a worldwide voice for Christians and conservatives who feel silenced by ideological pressures. In Britain, individuals face imprisonment for expressing their Christian values online. In Ireland, a teacher has been repeatedly jailed for adhering to traditional Christian principles in his high school. Kirk gave courage to those who hold faith-based convictions, speaking boldly where others were and are too afraid to raise their voices.
Pastor Peter Mortlock of New Zealand reflected on Kirk’s life, describing him as “a young life cut down by an assassin’s bullet, yet a great voice for conservatism and for Christ”. Mortlock invoked scripture, “When a seed falls into the ground, it shall bear much fruit.” Though Kirk’s life was tragically ended, Mortlock affirmed that his death will serve as a seed for a spiritual awakening, a rising of young people around the world, in both Christian and non-Christian nations, to embrace a renewed passion for Christ and the conservative values Charlie championed. Mortlock offered prayers for Kirk’s wife and children, calling him a national hero recognised by President Trump, with the US flag flown at half-mast across all states, government buildings, and the White House.
Kirk’s positions were unapologetically bold: promoting faith, conservative values and engagement on contentious societal issues. Critics condemned him, but his supporters recognised a fearless champion of free speech, civic responsibility, and Christian conviction.
The premeditated nature of his killing underscores the peril faced by those who stand firmly for their beliefs in today’s climate of ideological hostility. Charlie Kirk’s legacy is a testament to faith, conviction and the extraordinary power one individual can have in shaping a generation. As Mortlock reflected, while Kirk’s body will now be laid in the ground, his life and testimony are a seed planted by God, with the potential to bear much fruit. Through his message, amplified by the internet and grounded in his own words that often invoked the teachings and example of Jesus Christ, young people across the world will be inspired to rise with renewed devotion to Christ and to live faithfully according to His will.
In this sense, Charlie Kirk can be seen as a Christian martyr, standing boldly for faith and biblical values in a society increasingly dominated by secular and progressive ideologies. Much like Luther, Hus and other early Christian reformers who spoke truth to power, Kirk confronted a culture that has largely shunned its Christian foundations. Today, persecution often comes from within traditionally Christian nations, where political and media elites marginalise or silence those who remain faithful to the teachings of Christ. In this context, Kirk’s life and death resonate as a modern testament to courage, conviction and unwavering faith in the face of ideological pressures.
Kirk was also a champion of the Second Amendment, often emphasising that it was an impossible utopian dream to ban guns in a nation with so many lawful owners. He recognised that, while gun crime is tragic, the right to bear arms is a freedom worth protecting. In this context, he would not want his own death to be turned into a debate over gun policy: it is his life, faith and convictions that should stand as the enduring legacy.
