The Kristan Hawkins Show

Episode 26: A Tribute To Charlie Kirk

Date: September 23, 2025
Host: Kristan Hawkins

Episode Overview

In this deeply personal and passionate episode, Kristan Hawkins, President of Students for Life, pays tribute to the late Charlie Kirk—her friend, Turning Point USA founder, and a leading voice in the pro-life and conservative movements, tragically assassinated earlier this year. Reflecting on his profound legacy, Kristan honors Charlie’s growth as a pro-life activist, his influence on campus and national politics, and the moral courage he embodied. She recounts their personal history, key milestones, and the outpouring of impact following his loss, urging listeners to continue his mission with renewed courage and faith.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Kristan’s First Encounter with Charlie Kirk

• Early Partnership:

  • Kristan recalls her first meeting with Charlie near Chicago O'Hare airport when Turning Point USA was still new (00:25).
  • At the time, Charlie was "pro-life, but not a pro-life activist." She herself was "hard on people" and encouraged Charlie to get more deeply involved in pro-life work (00:55).

• Charlie’s Early Focus:

  • “Charlie was focused on American sovereignty…defending capitalism... just trying to institute founding principles, free market, fiscal responsibility.” (01:30, speaker B)

2. Charlie’s Transformation and Growth

• Spiritual and Pro-Life Awakening:

  • “Over the years, something changed in Charlie’s life… noticeable to those of us watching his interviews… it was really a joy to see Charlie learn more about the movement and really grow not only in his pro-life activism but also his faith.” (01:48)
  • Attributes Charlie’s faith growth partly to his wife, Erica: “I fully believe she saved his soul.” (02:39)

• Commitment to Learning:

  • Retroactive look at past interviews (2021-2022): Charlie “had a notepad...he was studying, he was learning.” (03:32)
  • “That is why you saw this incredible shift in Charlie... he became this not only fearless defender for life, but also very strategic.” (03:48)

3. Political Savvy and Behind-the-Scenes Impact

• Influence on Elections & Policy:

  • During the 2024 election, Kristan and Charlie coordinated to influence Trump’s stance on pro-life issues.
  • “He knew how to talk to the president, how to talk to those within the broader conservative movement...” (05:04)
  • “...we are where we are right now in September 2025, with Planned Parenthood finally defunded... because of the strategic insight and wisdom and devotion... Charlie had.” (06:05)

• Quote—Charlie’s Strategy:

  • “We are working directly in harmony with the Trump campaign... and we’re going to try to win this thing.” (04:54, speaker B)
  • “Stop funding our political enemies.” (06:05, speaker B)

4. Charlie’s Approach: Changing Hearts and Minds

• Incrementalism & Dialogue:

  • At the National Pro Life Summit (Jan 2025), Kristan awarded Charlie the Defender of Life Award.
  • “Charlie spoke about how the pro-life movement needs to be incrementalist and needs to be strategic...” (07:07)
  • Quote: “We have to be incrementalist when it comes to politics. Sometimes this is a fight that's going to take five years, ten years, fifteen years... That’s why you are the pro-life generation.” (07:18, speaker B)

• Campus Impact:

  • Charlie was “debating peacefully with those who disagree with him... you can’t force people to change their minds... you have to dialogue with them... with compassion.” (07:34–09:00)
  • Kristan shares firsthand stories and testimonies from students inspired by Charlie’s videos and presence.

5. Mobilizing Young Conservatives & Shifting Culture

• Turning Out the Vote:

  • Charlie was in charge of voter turnout for Trump in 2024, leveraging campus and online activism.
  • "Charlie went out and made a new base of voters for the Republican party..." resulting in political victories and shifts on abortion policy. (10:47)

• Legacy of Real-World Change:

  • HHS now re-examining chemical abortion pills; Congress defunded Planned Parenthood of 80% of its Medicaid funds for the first time.
  • “These things wouldn’t be happening right now if conservatives had lost in November 2024, full stop.” (13:19)

• Quote on Life:

  • “The fight for life is the most important thing of all the political issues. Kristen is great, by the way...” (13:42, speaker B)

6. Faith, Family, and Countercultural Truth

• Charlie’s Guiding Philosophy:

  • “Charlie loved Jesus. He loved Jesus and he loves Jesus. Today he's praising Jesus in heaven. That’s his full time job.” (15:11)
  • “When we love God, there is life, abundant life. And that was what Charlie was living out every single day.” (15:53)

• Cultural Challenge:

  • Charlie criticized modern feminist narratives, championed marriage and family:
    • “More people should get married young and have more kids than they can afford.” – Charlie on X, July 2025 (18:04)
    • “Charlie knew what women want. Probably his wife had something to do with it, right? He was a really good listener.” (19:47)

7. Reaction to Tragedy and the Culture of Death

• Assassination Aftermath:

  • Kristan describes student laughter and cheering on hearing of Charlie’s shooting:
    • “Their first initial gut filmed reaction was to laugh and cheer. Charlie Kirk was just shot at his campus in Utah. Why are you laughing?” (22:38)
    • Reflection on the spiritual roots of political hatred: “Politics has become the god of this generation...” (24:21)

• Satan Miscalculated:

  • “Satan is really bad at math... the impact Charlie was having during his life has been multiplied by orders of magnitude.” (28:42)
  • Turning Point USA saw 30,000+ students wanting to start a chapter after Charlie’s death.

8. Kristan’s Personal Loss and Call to Action

• Personal Grief and Shared Mourning:

  • “I personally knew Charlie, and I’m grieving the loss of a friend... I think there’s many people... who are sharing in the grief even though they never met Charlie.” (32:38)

• Why People Feel His Loss:

  • “It’s because Charlie was us. Charlie would say things that we were thinking in our heads... he was one of you.” (33:49)

• Charlie’s Battle Philosophy:

  • “Charlie didn’t believe in battling or vilifying people. He believed... in battling ideas.” – Trent Horn, Catholic apologist (36:01)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Charlie’s Defense of the Unborn:
  • “It starts at conception and that's when you were formed. That's when you came into this world and you were worthy of protection.” (02:20, speaker B)
• On Changing Culture:
  • “Good leaders change hearts, and good hearts elect good leaders.” (11:51, Kristan)
• On the ‘Culture of Death’:
  • “The devil, evil shrieked that day with victory when Charlie was shot... and the culture of death cheered.” (22:58, Kristan)
• On Courage and Legacy:
  • “Charlie was asked in an interview just this past June how he wanted to be remembered if he died. And he said, ‘For courage, for my faith.’” (38:52, speaker B)
  • “Courage is the willingness to confront fear despite the risks. It’s doing the right thing despite the risks.” (38:55, Kristan)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |----------------------------------------------------|------------| | Meeting Charlie & Early Days | 00:00–02:26| | Charlie’s Growth as Pro-Life/Faith Leader | 02:26–04:54| | Election Strategy & Policy Wins | 04:54–07:18| | Campus Debates, Changing Minds | 07:34–11:51| | Mobilizing Conservative Youth | 11:51–13:19| | Charlie’s Philosophy on Faith & Family | 13:55–18:54| | Critique of Modern Culture & Feminism | 18:54–21:25| | Assassination Aftermath & “Culture of Death” | 21:25–29:15| | Personal Testimony, Grief, & Charlie’s Legacy | 29:15–36:46| | Courage, Next Steps, and Final Call | 38:52–41:00|

Final Reflections & Call to Action

Three Action Steps for Listeners:

1. Get Your Life in Order:
   • Spiritual readiness, reconciliation, prayer, and overcoming personal struggles (41:50).
2. Love the People in Your Own Home:
   • “If you want to love strangers like Charlie did, love your family first.” (43:05)
3. Do Not Be Afraid—Live with Courage:
   • “Your hero who did this was just assassinated. So it’s time to practice some courage, guys.” (44:10)

Kristan urges listeners to “pray, act, and carry out Charlie’s legacy with courage and faith.”

This episode delivers both a passionate eulogy and a renewed call to pro-life activism, blending personal grief, strategic insight, and spiritual exhortation for a generation Kristan calls to finish what Charlie Kirk started.