Erika Kirk has been appointed as the new CEO and chair of the board for Turning Point USA, following the assassination of her husband, Charlie Kirk. The board made the announcement on Thursday, emphasizing that Charlie had prepared the organization for leadership transitions. "It was the honor of our lives to serve as board members at Charlie's side. Charlie prepared all of us for a moment like this one. He worked tirelessly to ensure Turning Point USA was built to survive even the greatest tests. And now, it is our great pride to announce Erika Kirk as the new CEO and Chair of the Board for Turning Point USA," the board stated in a letter shared on social media.

Charlie Kirk was killed on September 10 during an event at Utah Valley University. An assassin shot him in the neck, leading to his death. Prior to his passing, Charlie had expressed his desire for Erika to take over leadership of the organization in the event of his death.

Turning Point USA, which is now based in Phoenix, was founded in 2012 by Charlie Kirk and William Montgomery. The organization aims to promote conservative values on college campuses, advocating for low taxes and limited government. It gained significant traction after supporting Donald Trump during the 2016 election.

Currently, Turning Point USA boasts over 250,000 student members across more than a dozen schools in Arizona, with chapters at all major universities in the state. A memorial service for Charlie Kirk is scheduled for Sunday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale.