Founded by Charlie Kirk when he was 18, Turning Point USA has established itself as the first youth political organization in the United States.

Erika Kirk, the widow of pro-Trump influencer Charlie Kirk, will replace him as head of Turning Point USA. "The movement my husband created will not die," she announced in a speech two days after her husband's murder in Utah.

Founded by Charlie Kirk when he was 18, Turning Point USA has established itself over the years as the leading youth political organization in the United States. It aims to attract young Americans to the Republican Party. It has branches on more than 800 campuses across the country, and its founder was seen as a key cog in Donald Trump's recapture of the White House last year.

Unanimously elected

Following the influencer's death at age 31, "the Turning Point Board of Directors unanimously elected Erika Kirk as the organization's new director," Turning Point USA announced on X. Kirk, 36, was also named board chair. "In the past, Charlie had expressed to several leaders that this was his wish in the event of his death," the organization added.

Following Charlie Kirk's assassination, the American right-wing hailed him as a "martyr" for free speech and called for censorship of anyone deemed disrespectful to his memory. Donald Trump ordered flags to be flown at half-mast. His Vice President, J.D. Vance, traveled to Utah to retrieve the influencer's remains and hosted his podcast in his place. These honors speak to the special place occupied within the Trumpist galaxy by this ally, who held no government office or electoral mandate.