Charlie Kirk producer dismisses conspiracy theories around death: 'They have the guy who did this'

OREM, UTAH: MAGA supporters are still reeling from the shocking shooting of Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old conservative firebrand who built Turning Point USA into one of America’s most influential right-wing youth movements.

Kirk was shot in the neck by a suspected sniper during a live public debate at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on September 10. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

The accused shooter, Tyler James Robinson, now faces aggravated murder charges in one of the most high-profile political killings in recent memory. In the aftermath, Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, stepped in as CEO of Turning Point USA.

Journalist Chris Cuomo spoke with Andrew Kolvet, executive producer of 'The Charlie Kirk Show' and spokesperson for Turning Point USA, on NewsNation’s "CUOMO" to separate facts from the conspiracy chatter spreading on social media.

Andrew Kolvet explains how Turning Point navigates tragedy

Cuomo opened the interview. “A lot of people are pushing agendas and using Charlie Kirk’s death to do so,” he said, asking Kolvet how those closest to Kirk view the movement’s future.

Kolvet responded, “Thanks for having me, Chris. It’s a tragedy, and we’re navigating it as best we can.”

He added there’s a renewed sense of purpose. “You mentioned this flush of enthusiasm, and I think that gives us a lot of solace. We have work that’s really important to do,” Kolvet said. “I’m proud of the team, from the field staff to production. People have thrown themselves fully behind our mission.”

Andrew Kolvet shares Turning Point growth after Charlie Kirk’s death

Kolvet shared figures highlighting Turning Point’s expansion after the tragedy.

“It’s been breathtaking,” he said. “We’ve had about 130,000 inquiries to start either a college or high school chapter since 9/10.”

Before the shooting, TPUSA had roughly 900 college chapters and 1,200 high school chapters. In just weeks, those numbers nearly doubled. “We’ve added about 800 new college chapters and 1,890 high school chapters,” Kolvet said.

Student engagement has surged as well. “We now have over 800,000 students in our network, up from 450,000–500,000 before this happened,” he added.

The groundswell of support has been visible at Turning Point events. “We just did an event with Vivek Ramaswamy at Montana State, and it was a sold-out arena,” Kolvet recalled. “People are chanting Charlie’s name. They’re fired up.”

Kolvet said Kirk would have wanted this. “Charlie would have insisted that we channel all this energy into expanding Turning Point USA,” he said.

Andrew Kolvet shuts down conspiracy theories

Cuomo asked Kolvet about conspiracy chatter surrounding Kirk’s death. “Do you believe authorities have the person responsible, or was there another actor involved?” he asked.

“No, I don’t think any foreign entity was involved,” Kolvet replied. “They have the person who did this.”

He did not rule out additional questions. “That doesn’t mean there weren’t others who knew something might happen. We are investigating connections, including the Salt Lake City Armed Queer group and possible backers,” Kolvet said.

Kolvet emphasized cooperation with authorities. “We’ve been in constant communication with federal, state, and local officials. They have a strong case, and we’re letting the process run its course,” he said.

Andrew Kolvet delivers message for Turning Point USA

Cuomo asked about the motive behind the shooting and Turning Point’s path forward.

“The who will play out in time,” Kolvet said. “The what is clear. Someone rejected dialogue and open debate. They picked up a gun instead of a microphone.”

“That is not the country we want to live in, and it’s not what Charlie or our founders believed in,” he said.

Turning Point plans to continue Kirk’s mission. “We will keep tours, conventions, and conferences going to honor Charlie’s legacy. We’ll stay focused and keep the main thing the main thing,” Kolvet said.

Cuomo closed with praise for the movement’s resilience. “Conversation has to be part of the cure,” he said. “Don’t pick up a gun, pick up a microphone.” He offered condolences to Erika Kirk and the family, saying, “I am sorry for their loss.”

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.