The Republican Party paid tribute to Charlie Kirk at its unprecedented midterm convention on Wednesday evening, recognizing the conservative activist’s influence on the GOP one year after his assassination shook the nation.
Nearly one year to the day after a gunman fatally shot Kirk during a speaking event at Utah Valley University, the Republican National Committee reserved a seat on the convention stage for him.
A white photo and American flag were draped across the lone chair, which featured a white placard with “Saved for Charlie” written in bold black lettering.
Wednesday marks the first of two days Republicans are gathering in Dallas to rev up the base ahead of November.
President Donald Trump is set to speak both nights at the first-of-its-kind convention. Vice President JD Vance will also address attendees on Thursday evening.
The tribute to Kirk comes as he was viewed as one of the most significant leaders in the Republican Party before his death, and was especially known for his outreach to young people on college campuses through Turning Point USA.
He built pivotal relationships with Trump, Vance, and other top figures in the GOP, campaigning across the country for Republicans in the 2024 election before he was assassinated on Sept. 10, 2025.
To honor his death, the RNC will pay tribute on the second night of the convention, Sept. 10, in the 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. time slot.
Kirk’s death caused some division within the GOP, as controversial figures, such as Candace Owens and Tucker Carlson, began pointing fingers over who was responsible for his killing. The suspect, Tyler Robinson, has been ordered to stand trial for the assassination amid the investigation.
Kirk’s wife, Erika, took over Turning Point USA after his death.
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“The wave still comes, but it’s different now,” she wrote in a New York Times guest essay published Monday. “A year ago, when I felt it coming over me, I wondered whether it would swallow me completely. Now, I recognize it; sometimes I even welcome it, because for a moment the grief makes Charlie feel impossibly close.”
“One day, maybe when you least expect it, you’ll start to see that those 15 minutes hold more than just grief,” Erika Kirk continued. “The grief is there, always, but so is the beautiful gift of life.”