Turning Point USA (TPUSA), the conservative organisation founded by Charlie Kirk, is facing internal divisions and questions about its future one year after his assassination.

Kirk was killed on 10 September 2025 while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University in Utah. Jeb Jacobi, a student and volunteer at the event, witnessed the shooting and says the campus has felt permanently changed since his death.

In the immediate aftermath of the killing, interest in TPUSA surged. The organisation said it received more than 32,000 inquiries from people wanting to start new campus chapters within 48 hours of Kirk’s death.

However, some current and former members say that momentum has since slowed. They point to disagreements between more moderate and more right-wing factions within the organisation. In Arkansas, one chapter changed its name after students became unhappy with the direction of the group.

Jacobi says the organisation no longer has the same influence it had when Kirk was alive. He believes that while other people can repeat Kirk’s conservative message, they have struggled to match his ability to attract students to political debates.

Kirk became well known for holding debates on university campuses, where he challenged people who disagreed with his political views. His popularity among young conservatives and online helped make him an influential figure in the Republican Party.

His supporters have portrayed him as a martyr for the conservative movement, while critics accused him of using confrontational debates to generate outrage and social media attention.

His death has also deepened political tensions at Utah Valley University. Some students have protested against a campus memorial for Kirk and attempted to stop an event marking the first anniversary of his death.

Anthony Shinkle, another UVU student, said the shooting and its aftermath had made some conservative students afraid to express their views, while pushing others towards more extreme political positions.

Political scientist Mark Brewer said a loss of momentum was not unusual after the death of a movement’s central and charismatic leader. However, he said Kirk’s influence and status among conservatives remained strong, creating a political “vacuum” within the organisation.

Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, has taken over as CEO of Turning Point USA. The organisation is attempting to continue his work through initiatives such as its Pick Up the Mic campaign, which sends student debaters to campuses and high schools.

Macy Gunnell, who started a TPUSA chapter at St Mary’s College in Indiana after Kirk’s death, said the organisation remained strong despite claims that it was struggling.

Back at Utah Valley University, Jacobi also believes TPUSA can continue to grow. He points to students who became involved in the organisation only after Kirk’s death as evidence that his influence is still attracting new supporters.

Meanwhile, the man accused of killing Kirk, Tyler Robinson, is due to face trial after a Utah judge recently cleared the way for prosecutors to seek the death penalty. Robinson has pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder and six other charges.

As TPUSA enters its second year without its founder, experts say the organisation’s future will depend on whether it can maintain Kirk’s influence while managing internal divisions. (BBC News)