“We Are Not Afraid”: Erika Kirk Vows TPUSA Will Relaunch Campus Debates Nationwide

Erika Kirk, widow of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) founder Charlie Kirk, told Shannon Bream on Fox News Sunday that the organization intends to reestablish a nationwide presence on college campuses and continue its signature "Prove Me Wrong" debate series.

“We are not afraid,” Erika Kirk said, adding that TPUSA will keep hosting open-mic debates and other campus outreach events as it moves forward.

Charlie Kirk was killed during an outdoor TPUSA event on Sept. 10 at Utah Valley University — the first stop of the group's planned "American Comeback Tour." Moments before the fatal shot, he had been seated beneath a white tent marked with the slogan "Prove Me Wrong," taking questions from the crowd.

Charlie Kirk throws hats to the crowd after arriving at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025, in Orem, Utah.

In the wake of his death, an estimated 90,000 people attended public memorials and tributes, underscoring the large following Kirk had built among young conservatives. Erika Kirk told Bream she plans to preserve and advance the activist network her husband created.

From Campus Startup to National Movement

Charlie Kirk began organizing as a teenager; at 18 he left community college to co‑found TPUSA and focused the group on campus debates and student political advocacy. By his mid‑20s he was the youngest speaker at the 2016 Republican National Convention and later emerged as a prominent conservative commentator and organizer.

With financial support from Republican donors such as Foster Friess, TPUSA expanded rapidly. Reporting of tax filings indicates the group's revenue grew from about $2 million in 2015 to roughly $85 million in 2024, reflecting its growth into a major force in conservative youth politics.

Charlie Kirk, who founded Turning Point USA, was killed on Sept. 10 while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University.

What Comes Next

TPUSA says it will continue staging open forums, outreach programs and the debate format that made its campus events distinctive. Erika Kirk emphasized both continuity of mission and a commitment to keep the organization visible on campuses while navigating security and operational challenges in the aftermath of Sept. 10.

Supporters report rising chapter enrollments at colleges, a sign — TPUSA and its backers say — that the organization retains momentum among conservative students nationwide.

Bottom line: Erika Kirk has publicly pledged to carry on Charlie Kirk’s legacy by maintaining TPUSA’s campus presence and debate series, framing the group’s next phase with the refrain, “We are not afraid.”