The murder of Charlie Kirk is a turning point for the US, much like the name of the organization he founded: Turning Point USA. It could mark a positive shift, if Americans wake up to the dangers of inflammatory rhetoric and the legitimization of violence. But it may also be the opening shot in a cycle of escalating, multi-sided violence.
I met Kirk at the start of his public career seven years ago. Even then, those who knew him regarded him as a future president. He had it all – maturity, charisma, openness, values, extraordinary organizational skills, a gift for fundraising, and striking looks. Most of all, he had the ability to speak with people who thought the opposite of him. He didn't always persuade his opponents, but I never met anyone who managed to change so many minds.
More than anyone else, Kirk was responsible for the political transformation of America's youth. Donald Trump won more young voters than any Republican president in modern history. Polls show today's young generation is far more conservative than their parents, with a renewed embrace of family, faith, nationalism, capitalism, initiative, and personal responsibility.
These were precisely the themes Kirk spoke about, influencing tens of millions. For young conservatives, his assassination feels like the killings of Robert F. Kennedy or Martin Luther King Jr. Israelis unfamiliar with Kirk may find it hard to grasp the magnitude of this loss, or how deeply it unsettles this generation's sense of security.
Kirk was also a staunch friend of Israel and a fierce critic of antisemitism. His love for Israel and the Jewish people stemmed from his deep religious faith, but also from his profound belief in truth and justice. He never hesitated to confront Israel's detractors, always with wisdom and dignity. He condemned antisemitism at every opportunity. Israel's government would be wise to collect and amplify his many remarks about Israel and the Jewish people.
A target for elimination
At the time of writing, we still do not know the motives behind the assassination. But anyone following the online discourse in recent weeks could see that Kirk had been marked as a prime target. Contrary to the slanted coverage in Israeli media, violence – even murder – has in recent years become a legitimate tool for the alliance between the radical Left and radical Islam.
A survey conducted a few months ago found that 48% of Democrats consider it legitimate to kill Elon Musk. The demonization of the right by much of the media and by the Democratic Party and its affiliates is the root of this violence. Democrats have openly declared that any means are acceptable to topple or neutralize a right-wing government.
Trump and his supporters were persecuted by then-president Joe Biden's administration and remain targets of corrupt prosecutors, radical judges, and hostile media. When those efforts failed to convince the American people of their falsehoods, Democrats turned to violence – from the George Floyd riots to rising antisemitism, from assassination attempts on Rep. Steve Scalise and Trump himself, culminating in the murder of Charlie Kirk. Students are celebrating his death.
Politicians such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are justifying it. Left-wing media are distorting the coverage, portraying Kirk as an extremist. This represents a complete moral collapse. Delegitimization and political violence do exist on the right, but only on the margins and to a far lesser extent than on the Left.
The use of violence, of the media, and of the judicial system to achieve political goals will only lead to more violence and the erosion of public trust in democracy and the rule of law. Kirk's message was the opposite: dialogue, openness, and love of humanity.
America has lost a leader, and perhaps a future president. Israel has lost a dear friend. May his memory be a blessing.
