Turning Point USA draws 2,000 at first tour stop since Kirk assassination
University of Minnesota hosts the first Turning Point USA event since Charlie Kirk’s death, as the tour is renamed The American Comeback Tour and headed to Virginia Tech.
More than 2,000 people attended Turning Point USA's first tour stop since the death of Charlie Kirk, filling the Northrop Auditorium at the University of Minnesota on Sept. 22, 2025. The event, part of the group's "This is the Turning Point" tour, has been renamed The American Comeback Tour in the wake of Kirk's Sept. 10 assassination at Utah Valley University.
Conservative commentator and author Michael Knowles hosted the Minnesota stop, delivering opening remarks that honored Kirk's life and legacy. "Charlie accomplished more in his 31 years than most people could accomplish in many lifetimes," Knowles said. "His most public accomplishments were political. His most important were religious. He wanted to be remembered for his faith." Knowles later took questions from audience members on topics including women's suffrage and media bias, according to MPR News. A line formed to enter Northrop Auditorium about an hour and a half before doors opened, underscoring the demand for the event. Keane Pfeifer, a high school senior taking college classes at the University of Minnesota, told MPR News that Kirk "started Turning Point USA when he was 18" and inspired youth to speak out. "It has shown that youth can make a difference … if we come together and work together," Pfeifer added.
About 50 demonstrators gathered near the auditorium, holding signs such as "Say No to Hate," to protest the event. "Although we do not condone in any way the actions that led to his death, we also do not condone the things he said in life," protester Trey Brumley told MPR News. The Turning Point USA account on X posted a video of attendees chanting "Charlie! Charlie!" during the event.
Kirk's death on Sept. 10 at Utah Valley University — the site of the first stop of the wider effort — launched a rapid evolution of the tour. The shooter, Tyler Robinson, has been identified in reports as the alleged assailant. The second stop of the tour at Colorado State University transitioned into a vigil rather than a rally, reflecting the period of mourning that followed Kirk's death. The Minnesota stop thus served as a bridge between the initial tragedy and the broader campaign to carry Kirk's messaging on campuses nationwide.
The tour has since been renamed The American Comeback Tour, and organizers say screenings, discussions, and appearances will continue at colleges across the country. The renamed tour's next stop is scheduled for Wednesday night at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia. On the tour’s official website, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin is listed among the speakers, signaling a strong involvement from Republican political figures as the tour moves forward. In Minnesota, the event drew both supporters and critics, illustrating the deep divisions surrounding campus speech and conservative youth organizing in the current political climate.
The Minnesota gathering occurred at a time when Turning Point USA has sought to build a national presence by staging campus-focused appearances, panel discussions, and student-led activities that emphasize free speech, conservative policy proposals, and questions of media bias. While attendees celebrated the turnout and the framing of Kirk's legacy, protesters contended with the movement's rhetoric, highlighting ongoing tensions over how political ideas are expressed and debated on college campuses.
As the tour moves to Virginia Tech, organizers and observers will likely watch for how the event is received in a different regional context and how the reach of Kirk's legacy continues to shape campus political activism. Some supporters say the events are necessary to defend free speech and to empower students to engage in civic life; critics argue that such movements contribute to a polarized environment on campuses nationwide.
The broader political context surrounding these events underscores the ongoing debate over how universities balance free expression with concerns about hate speech and harassment. In this moment, Turning Point USA's leadership — including Knowles in Minnesota and future appearances by other figures — is positioned to influence student political engagement as the country approaches broader election-season conversations. The Minnesota stop thus stands as a notable milestone in a campaign that has been marked by both strong support from conservative students and vocal opposition from demonstrators who view the platform as polarizing.