- Turning Point USA's "American Comeback Tour" will continue with indoor-only events, including a Sept. 30 stop at Utah State University featuring Sen. Mike Lee, Gov. Spencer Cox and other political figures.
- TPUSA remains committed to debates at campus events, but they promise increased security measures.
- Following Charlie Kirk's death, his wife Erika Kirk has been named CEO and board chair of Turning Point USA, vowing to continue his mission.
Turning Point USA has announced who will take the place of slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk for an upcoming Utah State University event.
Also, the group says it will no longer hold public events outdoors, according to Turning Point Action COO Tyler Bowyer.
The “American Comeback Tour” is coming to USU on Sept. 30. It will be held indoors, and will be focused on where Utah should go from here and what healing from Kirk’s death looks like.
A panel of speakers will take part in Kirk’s place, including Utah Sen. Mike Lee, Gov. Spencer Cox, Arizona Rep. Andy Biggs, and former Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz, Bowyer told the Deseret News on Monday.
Changes and consistencies in the debates moving forward
Debate will still happen at TPUSA campus events.
“This is who we are. This is the DNA of Turning Point,” Bowyer told the Deseret News. “You can’t have Turning Point and walk away from the things that made us successful.”
Coupled with elevated security measures, Turning Point is “completely committed to continuing the program,” Bowyer said.
He said the organization still has a goal of promoting civil discourse.
“That’s part of the mission, and goal of doing these things is that if you do them and you do it civilly, you win people over. ... That’s what Charlie had been doing. That’s his life’s work, and that’s a beautiful thing,” he said.
Many people have reached out and said they would be willing to step in and help fill Kirk’s role on the tour stops, he said.
Kirk’s death is stirring an ‘American revival’
On Sunday, TPUSA hosted Kirk’s funeral at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, bringing in an estimated 200,000 people to honor his life.
Kirk’s wife Erika Kirk, President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, members of his Cabinet, Tucker Carlson and others spoke about God, forgiveness and faith.
“I don’t think we realized the yearning for spirituality that existed within the greater political atmosphere,” Bowyer said.
Erika Kirk is the new face of TPUSA
Erika Kirk was named the CEO and board chair of Turning Point USA on Sept. 18.
“Erika is the face. She is the CEO. She’s one with Charlie,” Bowyer said. “We want to be respectful of her and what she wants to do.”
Two days after her husband’s assassination, Erika spoke in a video filmed at Kirk’s recording studio, thanking the people who have supported her as she grieves. Again during his funeral, Sunday, Erika took the podium, and vowed to continue Kirk’s mission and said she’s forgiven her husband’s killer.
“She’s so loved and so respected and after after yesterday in particular, I think there’s millions of Americans who have her back,” Bowyer said.
The big names filling in for Kirk on other tour stops
Three of the eleven stops on Kirk’s “America Comeback Tour” are yet to be filled. The other seven will be covered by the following politicians and political commentators:
- Michael Knowles at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities on Sept. 22.
- Megyn Kelly and Gov. Glenn Youngkin at Virginia Tech on Sept. 24.
- Vivek Ramaswamy and Gov. Greg Gianforte at Montana State on Oct. 7.
- Glenn Beck at the University of North Dakota on Oct. 9.
- Tucker Carlson at Indiana University Bloomington on Oct. 21.
- Allie Beth Stuckey and Gov. Jeff Landry at Louisiana State University on Oct. 27.
- Rob Schneider and Frank Turek at UC Berkely on Nov. 10.