Georgia billboard tribute to Charlie Kirk goes viral after murder, drawing national attention to US politics

A Georgia businessman’s tribute to Charlie Kirk has drawn national attention after the Turning Point USA founder was fatally shot Sept. 10 at Utah Valley University. Wayne Robinson, president of Wayne Robinson Holdings, owns a Steak ’n Shake in Rome, Georgia. The billboard reads “Charlie Kirk, 1993-2025,” followed by the words “Stand up, speak out, stay bold.” Robinson said he instructed a marketing partner to install the tribute the day after news of the shooting broke, and the post quickly went viral on social media.

Robinson said he was moved by Kirk’s engagement with students on college campuses and by what he described as Kirk’s faith-based outreach. He told Fox News Digital he was impressed by Kirk’s debates with students and that he believed the message could resonate beyond Rome. The billboard’s sudden popularity, he noted, was unexpected. “I don’t think he would have ever thought, in his wildest dreams, the response that would have taken place after he was assassinated,” Robinson said, adding that Kirk’s legacy was now reaching people who hadn’t previously engaged with him.

Within days, the tribute drew hundreds of thousands of online interactions and paramedics of local chatter along with calls from across the country. The response included thousands of local comments and messages from people planning to visit the Rome location to eat lunch or dinner as a sign of support. After Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., who represents Rome, shared an image of the billboard on social media, supporters nationwide said they would patronize Steak ’n Shake in solidarity. “Eating at Steak ’n Shake because they put up a Charlie Kirk billboard,” one social user wrote; others echoed similar sentiments about supporting the store because of the tribute.

Robinson said Steak ’n Shake’s corporate office contacted him soon after the billboard’s viral spread. He recalled, “They said, ‘You know, you’re supposed to get everything OK’d through corporate when you use the name Steak ’n Shake on it, but we really like it,’” and he said the company’s leadership asked to extend the campaign to locations nationwide if the owner’s plan gained approval. Robinson said the owner’s move has sparked a broader revival that he believes is “so needed” in political discourse today, with Kirk’s supporters calling for more engagement and more debate on important issues.

Kirk’s death has prompted a wave of tributes from various corners, including other businesses and conservative groups. In Idaho, Grooveberries Frozen Yogurt faced backlash after honoring Kirk via stickers on its cups, and last week a group of his supporters urged Starbucks to add Kirk’s signature tea order to menus nationwide. Robinson acknowledged the broader national attention but said his focus remains on honoring Kirk’s work and the idea that young people can be reached through constructive dialogue.

The incident has laid bare the intersection of politics, culture, and commercial platforms, illustrating how private citizens and local businesses contribute to a national conversation in a charged political climate. As the country continues to reflect on Kirk’s legacy and the methods by which public figures are remembered, the Rome tribute stands as a concrete example of how local actions can catalyze national discussion about free expression, faith, and political engagement.