A year after the assassination of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University, the conservative youth movement he built has grown larger than ever — yet the political ground beneath it has shifted. Turning Point USA now reaches more campuses than at any point in its history, but Trump's approval among young men has fallen sharply, pulled down by inflation, war costs, and deepening skepticism about American military engagement in Iran. The paradox of this moment is one democracy has seen before: a party can expand its machinery while losing the hearts it was built to win.
Year after Kirk's assassination, Trump loses ground with young voters despite TPUSA expansion
Charlie Kirk, a prominent conservative activist and Trump ally, was assassinated on September 10, 2025, while speaking to students at Utah Valley University.