Statue of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk vandalized a day after unveiling
A newly unveiled statue of Charlie Kirk outside Turning Point USA's Phoenix headquarters was defaced with red paint and altered signage; the organization plans to repair and relocate the memorial while police investigate.
A statue honoring Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was vandalized on Sunday, a day after it was unveiled outside the organization’s headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona. Red paint was smeared across the figure’s face, neck, torso and left hand, and a nearby sign that read "Jesus defeated death so you can live" was altered, with the word "Jesus" crossed out and replaced by "Satan."
Turning Point USA said it will clean the memorial after police complete their investigation and is reviewing surveillance footage to identify those responsible. The organization also announced that the statue will be moved inside its headquarters for security reasons.
"We will restore the statue and replace the signs, but we are also reviewing the footage of the incident and are working with law enforcement to identify who did this and hold them accountable," the group said in a statement.
Erika Kirk, who now leads Turning Point USA after her husband’s death, expressed that the vandalism would not diminish his legacy and referenced his earlier comment about building statues.
"Charlie once said we should be building two statues for every statue that they tear down. God will not be mocked," she wrote.
Phoenix police confirmed the incident is under investigation, though no arrests have been reported.
The statue, depicting Kirk in the "Freedom" T-shirt he wore on the day he was shot in 2025, was part of commemorations marking the first anniversary of his assassination. Another Kirk statue, shown in a pickup truck in Utah, had previously been displayed briefly at Utah Valley University during a memorial event.