Who is Charlie Kirk? What we know about the conservative political influencer

Charlie Kirk, a conservative political influencer and long-time ally of President Donald Trump, was shot Wednesday while speaking at a Utah Valley University event in Orem, Utah — about 40 miles south of Salt Lake City.

According to university officials, the incident involved a single gunshot. Kirk was reportedly hit in the neck and is in critical condition after being evacuated from the area by security personnel. Authorities said a suspect was apprehended at the scene but it remains unclear if that person is the alleged gunman.

RELATED STORY | Conservative activist Charlie Kirk shot during event at Utah Valley University

Kirk, 31, is the founder of Turning Point USA (TPUSA), a right-wing political nonprofit organization that advocates for conservative politics on high school and college campuses across the U.S. — making Kirk a major figure and voice within the young conservative movement with millions of followers across his various social media platforms.

He often engaged in spirited and sometimes testy debates with people from different sides of the political aisle. Kirk was recently invited as one of the first guests on California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom's podcast, with the two discussing a wide range of political topics and their different views on the direction of the country.

Kirk was also front-and-center at the inauguration of President Donald Trump earlier this year and has frequently appeared alongside Republican politicians at rallies and fundraising events.

Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP

Kirk's stop Wednesday at Utah Valley University was part of his "The American Comeback Tour," where he engages students through political debates under tents branded with phrases like "Prove Me Wrong." Kirk's events have attracted hundreds of attendees while his social media videos of interactions with participants have garnered tens of millions of views online.

The events, however, have been both widely attended and widely protested by people who disagree with his takes on hot-button issues like abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, immigration and the Black Lives Matter movement. Prior to Wednesday's shooting, Kirk was scheduled to host another event at Colorado State University next week.