It was supposed to be just another stop on the American Comeback Tour. On September 10, 2025, Charlie Kirk sat under a white tent at Utah Valley University (UVU) in Orem, doing what he always did: arguing with college students for the camera. You've probably seen the format a hundred times. A ring light, a microphone, and a "Prove Me Wrong" sign.
Then everything went quiet.
If you are looking for the video of Charlie Kirk from that day, you aren't alone. Millions have searched for it. In fact, Kirk became one of the most-searched people on the planet by the end of 2025, even topping Wikipedia's most-read articles with nearly 45 million views. But what that specific video shows—and what it doesn't—has become a massive point of contention, fueling everything from genuine grief to wild conspiracy theories.
The Viral Moment Nobody Expected
The footage starts like any other Turning Point USA clip. Kirk was engaged in a back-and-forth with a student named Hunter Kozak. They were talking about mass shootings—ironic, in the most tragic way possible.
Kozak asked Kirk about the statistics of transgender individuals involved in shootings. Kirk, leaning into his characteristic rapid-fire style, asked a clarifying question: "Counting or not counting gang violence?" Those were his last words on camera.
A single "pop" sound rings out.
The camera shakes. People scream. In the chaos of the video of Charlie Kirk being struck, the lens drops to the grass. You don't see the shooter on the main feed, but the audio captures the immediate, terrifying transition from a political debate to a crime scene. Kirk was hit in the neck and rushed to the hospital, but he was pronounced dead later that day at just 31 years old.
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The Footage You Haven't Seen
While the "debate" video is what went viral first, the FBI later released much more chilling CCTV footage. This secondary video of Charlie Kirk investigation shows the suspect, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, moving across the roof of the Losee Center.
Robinson was wearing a black shirt with a U.S. flag and large sunglasses. The FBI video, which is about 1 minute and 40 seconds long, shows him jumping from the roof to the ground at approximately 12:24 p.m. to make his escape.
Honestly, the digital trail this left behind is insane.
Police say they found DNA evidence connecting Robinson to the scene. More than that, they found texts he allegedly sent to a romantic partner saying he'd "had enough of [Kirk's] hatred." It wasn't a random act. It was a targeted assassination that played out in front of several thousand people and a live-streaming audience.
Why the Video of Charlie Kirk is Still Trending in 2026
You might wonder why we're still talking about this months later. Well, the internet is a strange place. In late 2025, YouTube released its list of top creators, and Charlie Kirk was ranked #6.
People lost it.
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The comments sections were a mess. "Is he streaming from hell?" one user asked. The reality is much more technical: because so many people were watching the archived video of Charlie Kirk debates and the news clips of his death, the algorithm flagged him as a "trending creator."
The Rise of "Kirkified" Content
Then there's the AI factor. Shortly after the shooting, an AI-generated song called "We Are Charlie Kirk" started circulating. It features "deepfake" versions of figures like Donald Trump and JD Vance tearfully singing a memorial.
It's weird. It's "slop," according to some critics. But it's everywhere on TikTok.
Users have started "Kirkifying" other videos—editing Kirk’s face onto characters from Grand Theft Auto VI or memes of Jeffrey Epstein. It’s a bizarre mix of genuine mourning from his supporters and "rickroll" style pranks from his detractors. If you search for the video of Charlie Kirk today, you’re just as likely to find a "Kirkified" meme as you are the actual news footage.
The Legal Battle and the Candace Owens Theory
The story took another turn just a few days ago in January 2026. Tyler Robinson’s lawyers are currently trying to disqualify the prosecution team. Why? Because the daughter of a deputy county attorney was actually at the rally.
She wasn't just there; she was texting her dad in real-time. "CHARLIE GOT SHOT," she messaged the family group chat. The defense argues this creates a bias, especially since prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
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And then there's Candace Owens.
She's been making headlines by claiming Kirk once told her he was a "time traveler" being hunted by shadowy forces. She’s suggested on her podcast that "they" killed him to prevent a specific future outcome. No evidence, of course. Just wild speculation that has caused a massive rift between her and Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, who has now taken over as CEO of Turning Point USA.
Sorting Fact from Fiction
When you're looking for the video of Charlie Kirk, it's easy to get lost in the noise. Here is what we actually know for a fact:
- The shooting happened at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025.
- The suspect, Tyler Robinson, is in custody and his trial is ongoing.
- Erika Kirk has publicly forgiven the shooter, citing her faith, but the legal case is moving toward a potential death penalty.
- The "time travel" and "deep state" claims are viral theories with zero backing in the official investigation.
The death of Charlie Kirk didn't end the movement he started. If anything, it turned him into a martyr for the right and a permanent fixture of internet culture for everyone else. Whether you liked his politics or hated them, the footage from that day at UVU remains a pivotal moment in the history of American political violence.
If you want to stay updated on the trial, follow the Fourth District Court filings in Provo, Utah. The preliminary hearing is currently set for May 18, 2026, where prosecutors are expected to reveal more DNA evidence and the full timeline of the suspect's movements before the first shot was fired.