Slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk Could Have Been President, Says Trump’s Aide Peter Navarro After Assassination. Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old right-wing activist and founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot at Utah Valley University last week. In the aftermath of his assassination, senior Trump adviser Peter Navarro described Kirk as a historical figure who “could have been President” and praised him as “the greatest political organizer in the last 50 years.”
The killing of Kirk, a close ally of former President Donald Trump, has shocked the conservative movement in the United States. Navarro’s comments, along with Trump’s announcement that Kirk will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously, have elevated his legacy far beyond partisan politics.
Speaking to CNBC on Monday, Trump’s top aide Peter Navarro recalled Kirk as an extraordinary political force.
“Charlie is a historical figure. He is the man who could’ve been President, certainly a Governor. He is also the greatest political organizer in the last 50 years,” Navarro said.
Navarro compared Kirk’s influence to veteran strategists like David Axelrod, Barack Obama’s chief campaign adviser, and Ralph Reed, a key leader of the Christian Coalition in the 1990s. But Navarro argued Kirk had a tougher job than either:
“What Charlie did was a heavier lift. He not only had to mobilize the youth but had to persuade them. Nobody did that better.”
Navarro said when he first met Kirk in 2016, he dismissed him as a “Don Quixote” figure, chasing impossible goals in a country where most young people lean liberal.
But by 2024, Navarro admitted Kirk had become indispensable in rallying young conservatives behind Trump.
The Assassination in Utah
Kirk was shot dead on September 10, 2025, while speaking to a crowd of 3,000 people at Utah Valley University in Orem.
Police arrested Tyler James Robinson, a 22-year-old from Washington, Utah, who reportedly harbored deep hostility toward Kirk’s far-right politics.
Authorities have yet to confirm a motive beyond Robinson’s apparent disdain for Kirk’s ideology, which often sparked allegations of racism and provocation.
The assassination came less than two months after an attempted assassination of Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, drawing chilling comparisons. Navarro himself noted:
“The difference between Donald Trump and Charlie Kirk is a millimeter.”
He referred to Trump’s near-fatal shooting, in which a bullet grazed his ear. “There would be a very different story right now if that thing had been this much closer,” Navarro said.
Trump: “A Martyr for Truth and Freedom”
Former President Donald Trump, who counted Kirk among his closest political allies, condemned the killing and blamed the “radical left” without providing evidence.
Trump described Kirk as:
“A giant of his generation, a champion of liberty, and an inspiration to millions and millions of people.”
In a historic gesture, Trump announced Kirk would be posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States’ highest civilian honor.
He also ordered flags flown at half-staff nationwide and directed the Vice President to accompany Kirk’s casket—an unprecedented tribute for a non-elected official.
Who Was Charlie Kirk?
Charlie Kirk launched Turning Point USA at age 18 to promote conservative ideas on liberal-leaning college campuses. Over time, he grew into one of the most influential voices of the American right.
Kirk built a massive online following, with 5.3 million X (Twitter) followers, and hosted the Charlie Kirk Show as a podcast and radio program. He also appeared frequently on Fox News and even co-hosted “Fox & Friends.”
His activism often drew backlash, as he engaged in culture war issues around race, gender, and immigration with provocative statements.
Nevertheless, he became a central figure in Trump’s conservative movement, working alongside influencers like Candace Owens, Jack Posobiec, and Laura Loomer.
Navarro went further, directly comparing the assassination of Kirk with the shooting attempt on Trump.
“The worst thing I had in prison July 13 was watching my boss get shot. And the difference between Trump and Kirk was a millimeter. That’s all. And Kirk could have been President,” Navarro said.
Navarro, who has long been one of Trump’s most loyal aides, said he wanted Americans to recognize Kirk’s historical significance:
“He was important in taking back the House and Senate for Republicans. Nobody did that better. He was 31 years old when he achieved that.”
America on Edge
The killing of Charlie Kirk has heightened political tensions in the U.S. at a time when political violence is escalating. The assassination attempt on Trump, combined with Kirk’s murder, has underscored the dangers facing public figures in an increasingly polarized nation.
While Trump has pointed fingers at the “radical left,” law enforcement continues to investigate Robinson’s personal motives. Rights groups have warned against inflaming partisan hostility further.
Still, Kirk’s death has united conservatives in mourning. To his supporters, he was not just an activist but a symbol of youthful energy in a movement often defined by older leaders.
Legacy of Charlie Kirk
At just 31, Kirk’s impact on the American right was immense. He turned a small youth organization into a nationwide movement, brought thousands of young conservatives into politics, and became one of Trump’s most visible defenders.
Navarro’s insistence that Kirk “could have been President” reflects the scale of his influence and the sense of unfulfilled potential cut short by violence. As the U.S. prepares for Trump’s posthumous honor to Kirk, the assassination marks a turning point—both in how America remembers one of its youngest conservative leaders, and in how it reckons with the growing threat of political violence.
Also Read: ‘A millimetre difference’: Navarro likens Trump shooting attempt to Kirk assassination
