Charlie Kirk’s ‘American Comeback Tour’ plans Utah return –  weeks after the conservative activist’s assassination in the state

Charlie Kirk’s “American Comeback Tour” will continue on to Utah State University later this month, just weeks after the Turning Point USA founder was shot dead at a college campus in the state. 

“I think that that’s exactly what Charlie would have wanted,” said Turning Point USA’s Utah State University Chapter President Kaitlin Griffiths. “He wouldn’t want things to go on hold. He would only want this to empower our organization and our entire nation.”

Kirk, 31, was assassinated on Sept. 10 at Utah Valley University, which was the first stop on his latest tour, as he engaged in a dialogue with students across the political spectrum – a hallmark of the slain conservative activist’s events. 

Utah State University — located in Logan, about 130 miles north of the site of Kirk’s assassination — will host the tour on Sept. 30. 

Tyler Robinson, who has been charged with murdering Kirk, had been a student at Utah State University but only attended for one semester in the fall of 2021.

“He wouldn’t want his movement to go on pause because of this,” Griffiths told local outlet Fox 13. “He would only want it to grow stronger and to continue.”

Griffiths noted that Turning Point USA has not yet told her chapter who the speaker will be for the event, but Turning Point USA announced earlier this week that Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, would be taking the helm of the organization. 

The university said in a statement that it had already been “working with local, state and federal partners to ensure appropriate security measures” for the event, prior Kirk’s assassination. 

“Given the heightened concerns, USU’s department of public safety is continuing to collaborate with these partners to ensure appropriate safety measures and protocols are in place,” the school said. 

Kirk’s event at Utah Valley University was held outdoors and drew a massive crowd. 

Griffiths indicated that the Utah State event is drawing “increasing, growing interest” and may be held inside the school’s basketball arena. 

“I’ve gotten a lot of people offering to help, asking if there’s any way to volunteer for helping with that event. A lot of people in the local community, at the school as well, just asking for more details,” Griffiths said. 

Charlie Kirk’s funeral will be held Sunday at State Farm Stadium in Phoenix, Arizona.