'If my daughter...': Charles Kirk's extreme view on abortion goes viral after his death
Charlie Kirk was asked during a public forum how he would respond if his own daughter, at the age of 10, were raped and became pregnant. See his response
Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA who was killed during a campus event in Utah on Wednesday, was known for his uncompromising stance on abortion, a position that often drew both fervent support and fierce criticism.
In one exchange that has again gone viral, Kirk was asked during a public forum how he would respond if his own daughter, at the age of 10, were raped and became pregnant. His response underscored his rigid opposition to abortion in any circumstance.
“That’s awfully graphic,” Kirk said. “But the answer is yes, the baby would be delivered.”
The comment encapsulated Kirk’s broader view: that abortion, regardless of circumstance, amounted to the taking of a life. He routinely described abortion as “murder” and frequently clashed with critics who accused him of lacking empathy for survivors of sexual assault. Supporters, however, used to praise him for adhering to what he framed as a Biblical, pro-life principle.
Track latest updates on Charlie Kirk shooting and probe to catch shooter here
Kirk’s hardline position was consistent with his evangelical Christian worldview, which blended politics and religion and often animated his speeches, podcasts, and campus events. He told audiences that there was “no true separation of church and state” and advocated that America remain a Christian nation. At rallies, he called abortion “a spiritual battle,” casting it as central to what he described as the fight between good and evil in American politics.
Utah horror
Kirk was shot in the neck while addressing thousands of students at Utah Valley University, in what state Governor Spencer Cox called a “political assassination.” The suspect remained at large as of late Wednesday, though authorities said they had interviewed at least one “person of interest.”
Kirk co-founded the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA and was a close ally of President Donald Trump.
No one was in custody Wednesday evening as authorities seek a new person of interest in the assassination, according to a law enforcement official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing investigation. The Utah Department of Public Safety also confirmed no one was in custody in the investigation into Kirk’s killing.
“This is a dark day for our state. It’s a tragic day for our nation,” said Utah Governor Spencer Cox. “I want to be very clear this is a political assassination.”
Also read: Who killed Charlie Kirk? Manhunt on for shooter, FBI releases 2 suspects
Who was Charlie Kirk?
Charlie Kirk, 31, rose from an 18-year-old grassroots activist to one of the most influential figures in the pro-Trump conservative movement. Through Turning Point USA, he built the largest conservative youth organization in the country, mobilizing college students around causes including free speech, opposition to “woke” culture, and his signature issue: abortion.
In recent years, he hosted “The Charlie Kirk Show,” which drew millions of listeners, and regularly sparred with liberal students at campus debates. At one event last year, Kirk defended his view that abortion should be outlawed entirely, declaring, “There is no such thing as a moral abortion. Every abortion is wrong.”
Kirk is survived by his wife, podcaster Erika Frantzve, and their two young children.
