Charlie Kirk’s daughter runs to hug him on Fox set weeks before his death in touching video

Charlie Kirk and his wife had long shielded their children from public attention, but their daughter ran to hug him, drawing prayers after his death
PUBLISHED SEP 11, 2025
Charlie Kirk and his wife welcomed their daughter in August 2022 and their son in May 2024 (Fox News)
Charlie Kirk and his wife welcomed their daughter in August 2022 and their son in May 2024 (Fox News)

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Charlie Kirk was caught on camera in a tender moment with his three-year-old daughter just weeks before his death.

A new video from 'Fox & Friends Weekend' shows the Turning Point USA co-founder flashing a wide grin as his little girl toddled across the set and into his arms. It was Kirk’s first gig as a guest host on the network after years of being a frequent contributor.

The 31-year-old firebrand and his wife, Erika Kirk, had spent years guarding their children from the spotlight. This time, however, his daughter ran straight toward the couch where Kirk was seated to hug her dad.

“Charlie Kirk appeared on Fox and Friends with his family just weeks before he was shot in Utah. Prayers are continuing to pour in for the Turning Point USA co-founder,” Fox News posted on X after the footage resurfaced.



 

A campus event that turned deadly

Charlie Kirk’s life was cut short on Wednesday during his “American Comeback Tour” stop at Utah Valley University.

The father-of-two was in the middle of his popular “Prove Me Wrong” segment, where students debate him on hot-button issues, when a bullet struck him in the neck from more than 200 yards away. Chillingly, Kirk had been answering a question about mass shootings just seconds earlier.

He was rushed to the hospital in critical condition but pronounced dead two and a half hours later. His killer is still on the loose. The FBI and Utah police are leading a massive manhunt.

The event had sparked outrage even before it began, with 6,000 students signing a petition to keep him off campus.

Charlie Kirk speaks at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025 in Orem, Utah. Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was speaking at his
Charlie Kirk speaks at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025, in Orem, Utah. Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was speaking at his 'American Comeback Tour' when he was shot in the neck and killed (Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune/Getty Images)

Kirk leaves behind his wife, Erika, their 3-year-old daughter, and 16-month-old son. The couple had just marked their fourth wedding anniversary in May.

Charlie Kirk was a political powerhouse

Charlie Kirk wasn’t just an activist.

Named to Forbes’ “30 Under 30,” he was the youngest speaker at the 2016 Republican National Convention and later opened the 2020 RNC.

He co-founded Turning Point USA back in 2012 as a teenager, calling it a “national student movement” whose mission was to “identify, educate, train, and organize students to promote the principles of fiscal responsibility, free markets, and limited government.”

Turning Point became a GOP juggernaut, ballooning from 400 to 1,000 staffers in 2024 alone to “chase the vote” in swing states. Kirk also served as a personal aide to Donald Trump Jr. during a campaign and was one of the earliest voices to push for JD Vance to become Trump’s running mate.

“I’m going to put my power behind JD for whatever I can,” Kirk once said. “That is a very good chapter two to the MAGA story that we’re writing.”

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 22:  U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with conservative activist Char
US President Donald Trump shakes hands with conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a forum dubbed the Generation Next Summit at the White House on March 22, 2018, in Washington, DC (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Charlie Kirk's focus on education and faith

Charlie Kirk built a loyal base of millions, known best for his college debates. Last year alone, his clips racked up a staggering 15 billion views across social platforms. He logged 200 hours at more than 60 colleges last year, sparring with students over everything from immigration to gender to politics.

Beyond politics, he expanded Turning Point into education and faith. Turning Point Academy, which partners with more than 250 institutions, promotes what he called a “pro-American” education. Through Turning Point Faith, he worked with more than 3,700 congregations to encourage “biblical citizenship.”

As his nonprofit put it, Kirk’s mission was to restore “traditional American values like patriotism, respect for life, liberty, family, and fiscal responsibility.”

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