‘The Five’ remembers Charlie Kirk 1 year after his death
During a speech at the RNC midterm convention, former President Donald Trump paid tribute to Charlie Kirk. The co-hosts of ‘The Five’ discussed Kirk’s legacy and his influence through Turning Point USA, noting that the organization has grown to over 3,500 high school clubs since his assassination a year ago.
In an unfortunate event just three days after the unveiling of a memorial statue, vandals attacked the statue of Kirk and vandalized a Christian tribute outside Turning Point USA’s headquarters in Phoenix. They splashed vibrant red paint across the statue, which is eight feet tall, and drew a crude frowning face on its chest.
A sign bearing Kirk’s image with a message that read “Jesus defeated death so you can live” was also defaced. The name “Jesus” and a cross were crossed out, and the word “Satan” was scribbled over the display.
Phoenix police confirmed that they started receiving reports of the vandalism in the area around 8:09 a.m. Officers are currently investigating the incident, but as of Sunday afternoon, no arrests or suspect descriptions had been made public.
Tyler Bowyer, the Chief Operating Officer of Turning Point USA, expressed his shock on social media, condemning the vandalism as an attack on Kirk’s legacy. He referred to it as a situation that is not reflective of the country they envision, adding, “Arizona is not Gotham.”
Bowyer was present at the headquarters while police examined the scene and noted that TPUSA was ready to clean up the memorial right after authorities allowed it. He thanked the police for their efforts in investigating the crime and remarked on the extreme actions of the perpetrators.
TPUSA shared footage of the damage and encouraged supporters to participate in voting for the midterms, emphasizing that “hate cannot win.” They conveyed a commitment to restoring the statue and replacing the damaged signs while cooperating with law enforcement to find those responsible.
The vandalism occurred just days after TPUSA had revealed the bronze statue to mark the anniversary of Kirk’s assassination, which took place on September 10, 2025, at Utah Valley University.
The statue was crafted by Utah artist Quintin McCann, who felt deeply moved to start the portrait of Kirk immediately after his death. The memorial was initially located outside TPUSA’s headquarters but was expected to be moved indoors for security reasons.
In response to the attack, various conservative voices condemned the act, viewing it as an assault on Kirk’s memory and on his friends and family. Rep. Abe Hamadeh described the act as “truly abhorrent” and highlighted that those who work with Turning Point do not deserve such treatment.
Others, like conservative commentator Benny Johnson, emphasized that the actions of the vandals reflected a destructive mindset. Amidst the anger, TPUSA’s Chief of Staff, Mikey McCoy, suggested a response grounded in faith and encouraged others to seek a higher understanding rather than retaliating with anger.
Additionally, Bowyer criticized Arizona’s Governor Katie Hobbs for allegedly lacking a bipartisan approach in the aftermath of Kirk’s death and pointed out her veto of a bill that would have named a highway in his honor.
Turning Point USA noted that those wanting to report any information regarding the vandalism should reach out to the Phoenix police. Fox News Digital has reached out for more comments from both TPUSA and Hobbs’ office.
