Turning Point USA launches tour with sold-out Minnesota stop after Charlie Kirk's killing

Turning Point USA held a sold-out event on Monday at the University of Minnesota as the first stop on its This Is The Turning Point Tour, the group said. The venue reached capacity with more than 2,000 attendees, marking the tour’s launch in the wake of the fatal shooting of right-wing commentator Charlie Kirk earlier this month at Utah Valley University.

Hosted by conservative commentator Michael Knowles, the Minnesota stop featured plans for appearances by Tucker Carlson and Rob Schneider, with Turning Point announcing 11 additional stops to come. The event underscores how right-leaning voices have intensified rhetoric against liberals in the period since Kirk’s death, even as authorities have not released evidence linking the 22-year-old alleged shooter to left-leaning groups. The campus stop comes in a state that has already seen political violence unfold in recent months, adding a charged backdrop to the tour.

A memorial service in Glendale, Arizona, for Kirk drew a massive crowd on Sunday as former President Donald Trump delivered a eulogy in which he condemned what he called radical left maniacs who perpetuate political violence. Trump told the audience that Kirk did not hate his opponents and that he disagreed with him on personal grounds, offering a contrite moment that included an apology to Kirk’s widow, Erika. The remarks were met with applause from the stadium crowd that filled the 70,000-seat State Farm Stadium.

The Minnesota stop also arrived amid broader concerns about the political climate. Authorities have not publicly tied the shooting that killed Kirk to any organized political group, and the circumstances surrounding the shooter remain under investigation. Still, the event’s organizers and some participants have continued to emphasize a combative tone in public discourse and on social media as they promote the tour.

The tour’s broader schedule includes additional cities and other guests, signaling Turning Point USA’s aim to maintain momentum after a tumultuous period for American political rhetoric. The organization has said the tour will feature a mix of conservative commentators and comedians, appealing to its base while seeking to broaden its audience across the country. The first stop’s turnout in Minnesota suggests there is continued interest in the group’s message as it navigates a landscape shaped by violent events, high-profile memorials, and ongoing debate over political violence and accountability.