Ben Shapiro wastes no time jockeying for position following the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk.

Ben denies rumors that he canceled college campus tours, calling them "false" and "bulls***." Brent Scher said the canceled events were "book signings" canceled out of respect for Kirk. Shapiro also vowed to "pick up that blood-stained microphone where Charlie left it" and continue carrying on Kirk's work, and it seems many are ready and willing to do so.

AXIOS 9/10/2025 - Gavin Newsom, AOC, and Ben Shapiro among those cancelling events following the assassination of Charlie Kirk

September 12, 2025 – Washington, D.C.  In the wake of the shocking assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk on Wednesday, fellow right-wing pundit Ben Shapiro has swiftly positioned himself as a torchbearer for Kirk's influential work, denying rumors of canceled campus events and pledging to "pick up that blood-stained microphone where Charlie left it." The developments come as a nationwide manhunt intensifies for the shooter, with the FBI offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.

Kirk, the 31-year-old founder and CEO of Turning Point USA—a prominent conservative youth organization—was fatally shot in the neck during a speaking event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on September 10. The incident occurred while Kirk was discussing mass shootings and gang violence as part of his "Prove Me Wrong" debate series.  Eyewitnesses described a chaotic scene as the "college-age" assailant opened fire, with video footage capturing the horrifying moment circulating widely online. Kirk, a close ally of President Donald Trump and a vocal advocate for free speech, fiscal conservatism, and limited government, succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital. He leaves behind his wife, Erika, and two young children.

President Trump, who praised Kirk as "the Great, and even Legendary" in a Truth Social post, condemned the killing as a "heinous assassination" orchestrated by the "radical left," linking it to years of demonization against conservative figures.  Speaking at a 9/11 remembrance event at the Pentagon on Thursday, Trump reiterated his grief, calling Kirk a "patriot" and "martyr" whose legacy would endure. Utah Governor Spencer Cox echoed the sentiment, describing the attack as a "political assassination" and emphasizing Kirk's role as a husband and father.  As of Friday morning, no suspects remain in custody after two individuals were briefly detained and released, and authorities continue to scour for leads, including the release of suspect video footage.

The tragedy has sparked widespread tributes from across the political spectrum, though reactions have been polarized. Donald Trump Jr. mourned Kirk as a "brother," while even some Hollywood figures like Chris Pratt offered prayers for his family. However, reports emerged of Air Force members making inflammatory social media posts celebrating the death, prompting Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to vow investigations and terminations.  Security experts have drawn parallels to last year's assassination attempt on Trump in Pennsylvania, citing similar lapses in event protection.

Enter Ben Shapiro, the Daily Wire co-founder and host of "The Ben Shapiro Show," who has long shared the stage with Kirk in conservative circles. Shapiro, 41, met Kirk when the activist was just 18 and immediately recognized his potential, once predicting he would lead the Republican National Committee—a prophecy Shapiro later said Kirk surpassed by building Turning Point USA into "the single most important conservative political organization in the country."

In a heartfelt X post on Wednesday, Shapiro expressed being "utterly stunned and heartbroken," weeping for Kirk's family and the nation, while calling on supporters to "pick up the baton where Charlie left it." By Thursday, Shapiro had escalated his rhetoric, announcing plans for a nationwide college tour to continue Kirk's campus activism. "They may have taken Charlie Kirk’s life, but they will never silence his voice," he declared in a video statement shared widely on X.  Addressing those seeking to intimidate conservatives through violence, Shapiro delivered a blunt message: "To those who would stop us, I have two words: F**K YOU. We will not stop telling the truth. We will never stop debating and discussing... And we will never let Charlie Kirk’s voice die."

The announcement followed online rumors that Shapiro was canceling his college tours out of fear for his safety—speculation fueled by the postponement of a Wednesday book signing at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, shortly after Kirk's shooting.

The library cited respect for Kirk as the reason for the cancellation, not security concerns.  Shapiro dismissed the rumors as "false" and "bulls***," with Daily Wire editor-in-chief Brent Scher clarifying that only two book signings were affected, purely as a mark of respect, and that Shapiro's campus visits would proceed.

 "I will be coming to college campuses, many of them this year," Shapiro affirmed, emphasizing American resilience: "We’re not going to be deterred." Shapiro's rapid pivot has drawn mixed reactions. Supporters hail it as a defiant continuation of Kirk's mission to engage young conservatives on campuses, with X users praising the move as ensuring Kirk's "spirit lives in thousands more."

Students affiliated with Turning Point USA echoed this, vowing they "are not afraid" and will defend free speech in Kirk's honor.  Critics, however, have accused Shapiro of opportunism, with some online voices labeling it "vile" and "heartless" to "take Charlie’s spot" so soon.

Conspiracy theories have also proliferated, with fringe claims suggesting the assassination was orchestrated to prevent Kirk from shifting conservative support away from certain foreign policy stances. The broader conservative movement appears unified in resolve. House Republicans have introduced a resolution to honor Kirk with a statue in the U.S. Capitol, and figures like Senator Marsha Blackburn have called for firing federal employees who justified the killing.  As the investigation unfolds, Shapiro's vow signals no retreat: Kirk's blood-stained microphone, he insists, will be wielded louder than ever. "We must pick up the baton," Shapiro wrote, "fighting for the things he believed in so passionately."

17GEN4.com