A Public Argument for What I Believe and Why
By Charlie Kirk (in first person voice)
I believe in truth. Not “my truth” or “your truth,” but truth itself—absolute, unchanging, and grounded in something higher than government, opinion polls, or cultural fashion. That is where everything begins for me.
I believe that every single human being is created in the image of God. That’s not just a theological claim, it’s the cornerstone of freedom. If rights come from government, they can be taken away. But if rights come from God, then government’s only legitimate role is to recognize and protect what has already been given. That’s why the Declaration of Independence starts not with a policy proposal, but with a statement of natural rights—life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
America is unique because it was founded not on tribe or bloodline, but on principle. The principle that people can govern themselves, because they are moral beings capable of self-rule. This is why our Constitution limits government, divides power, and presumes liberty. I stand for that. I defend that. And I oppose anyone who tries to rewrite it or hollow it out.
Faith and Culture
But here’s what I’ve come to see: politics is downstream of culture, and culture is downstream of faith. If you lose faith, you lose the culture. If you lose culture, politics becomes a tool of tyranny instead of a safeguard of freedom.
That is why I speak not only about government budgets or Supreme Court cases but also about family, faith, and the church. Strong families make strong communities. Strong communities make a strong nation. When families collapse, when fathers are absent, when virtue is mocked and vice is celebrated, no tax policy or government program can repair the damage.
Our culture today celebrates confusion over clarity, autonomy over accountability, and feelings over facts. We tell young men they can become women, we tell students their history is only one long tale of oppression, we tell children that faith is superstition, and then we’re shocked when they grow up anxious, angry, and lost.
I believe truth sets you free. But lies enslave. And right now, we’re enslaving a generation to lies.
Freedom With Virtue
Freedom is a beautiful thing, but freedom without virtue is chaos. Liberty must be tethered to responsibility, or else it becomes license. That’s why the Founders said our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. That’s why John Adams warned it would be wholly inadequate for anyone else.
I believe we must recover the connection between liberty and virtue. True liberty is the freedom to do what is right, not just what is easy.
Current Issues
So let me connect this to where we are right now.
- Free Speech: I believe every American has the right to speak freely, even if it offends, even if it challenges, even if it disrupts. The cancel culture mobs that try to silence debate are not just annoying—they are dangerous. Without free speech, there is no free society.
- Life: I believe life begins at conception, and that every unborn child has the right to live. This is not a matter of “choice”; it’s a matter of justice. You cannot claim to defend the vulnerable while ignoring the most vulnerable of all.
- Borders: I believe a nation without borders is no nation at all. If we cannot control who enters our country, then we have surrendered sovereignty. This is not about hatred or xenophobia—it’s about order, law, and the ability to govern ourselves.
- Education: I believe education should be about truth, not indoctrination. Parents, not bureaucrats, are the primary educators of their children. When schools push ideology instead of knowledge, when they teach activism instead of excellence, they are robbing kids of their future.
- Economy and Government: I believe in limited government, low taxes, and individual initiative. Every dollar the government takes is a dollar less in the hands of a family, a business, a church, or a charity that knows how to use it better. The bigger government gets, the smaller the individual becomes.
Opposition
I am not naïve. I know these positions make me enemies. I know they bring mockery, cancellation, even threats. But truth has never been popular with everyone. Jesus said, “The world will hate you because it hated me first.”
The left today pushes a worldview that says government is God, identity is fluid, and morality is relative. They claim they’re expanding freedom—but in reality, they’re destroying it. Because when you remove truth, you remove the very foundation of liberty.
They say diversity is our strength. I say truth is our strength. Diversity without truth is just division. They say equity is justice. I say equity is enforced mediocrity. They say secularism is neutral. I say it is hostile to faith.
I will not apologize for saying so.
Personal Conviction
I did not choose this path because it’s easy. I chose it because it’s necessary. Young people today are searching for courage. They’re searching for someone who won’t bend when the pressure comes, who won’t sell out for applause or retreat in fear.
I believe courage is contagious. When one person stands, it gives others permission to stand. That’s why I speak at campuses, why I organize with Turning Point USA, why I debate professors and challenge institutions. It’s not because I enjoy conflict—it’s because truth is worth conflict.
Call to Action
So what do I ask of you? Don’t just agree with me. Don’t just nod along. Live it. Speak it. Defend it.
Stand for your faith, even when mocked. Stand for your family, even when culture attacks. Stand for freedom, even when it costs you friends. The future of America depends not on what politicians in Washington do, but on what ordinary Americans are willing to defend in their homes, their schools, and their communities.
I believe America is still the greatest nation on earth, not because we are perfect, but because we are built on principles that are timeless. Principles rooted in truth. Principles worth fighting for.
That is what I believe. That is why I stand. And that is why I will never be silent.
Now That I’m Gone
(Imagined last reflections, addressed to the nation, supporters, family, belief-holders.)
Now that I’m gone, know this: my voice may be silent, but my convictions remain. I want you to remember that truth did not die with me. I want you to stand even stronger, louder, bolder than before.
To my family: Erika, my children—carry on with love, with faith. Do not be driven by fear, but by the assurance that every sacrifice has purpose. I hope you look back and know I lived not for fame, not for applause, but for something better: the eternal idea that God-given rights are not negotiable.
To my teammates, my movement, the students I spoke to—do not soften. Do not trade conviction for comfort. The moment you compromise truth, you compromise the future. Hold fast. Build schools that teach not just test scores, but character. Engage not just in politics, but in culture. Be scholars and warriors of truth.
To the country: America is worth it. The founding principles are worth defending, even if the wind blows against us. Even if the loudest voices are those who deny what we know in our bones. Freedom, faith, virtue—they endure because they are anchored in something beyond us. So be bold. Speak up. Love hard. Fight well. When darkness presses, raise not hatred, but unwavering resolve.
If there is anything I would leave behind, it is this: a challenge. The world you want isn’t born in your waiting. It’s born in your standing. It’s born in your sacrifice. So live like the truth depends on you—because in many ways, it does.
When all is said and done, I hope they remember that I believed. And because I believed, I acted.
Official Obituary
Charlie Kirk (1993-2025)
Born October 14, 1993, in Arlington Heights, Illinois, Charles James “Charlie” Kirk rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most prominent conservative voices in America. As co-founder of Turning Point USA, he helped mobilize young people across college campuses, championed free speech, pro-life causes, and limited government, and became a key ally to the MAGA movement.
Kirk died on September 10, 2025, aged 31, after being shot while speaking at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. He is survived by his wife, Erika Frantzve Kirk, and their two children.
During his life he authored several books, including Campus Battlefield (2018), The MAGA Doctrine (2020), and Right Wing Revolution (2024); hosted The Charlie Kirk Show; and addressed audiences and media across the country in universities, conferences, and media appearances.
His legacy is one of controversy and conviction: beloved by supporters for his unabashed defense of faith, family, and freedom; criticized by detractors for rhetoric they saw as divisive; but with no dispute that he mattered.
The Legacy Continues
Following his passing, his wife, Erika Frantzve Kirk, was appointed CEO and Chair of Turning Point USA. In doing so, she carries forward not only her husband’s mission but also the organization’s momentum into a new chapter. Those who loved and followed Charlie see this as a sign that his voice, though stilled, still echoes through the work and leadership that continue in his name.
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