A TOP Trump advisor broke down in tears live on Fox News while remembering conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Alex Bruesewitz, a longtime Trump ally and close friend of Kirk, became emotional during an appearance on The Story on Thursday, saying he believed Kirk would have become president one day.
Top Trump advisor, Alex Bruesewitz, broke down in tears on Fox News, remembering conservative activist Charlie Kirk[/caption]
Bruesewitz said he believed Kirk would have become president one day[/caption]
Turning Point USA founder Kirk, 31, was gunned down in front of thousands of students at Utah Valley University on Wednesday afternoon.
Bruesewitz recalled their friendship and blasted what he called the “sick ideology” behind the killing.
“It’s been a really tough 24 hours, and I lost a friend of mine since I was 16 years old,” he told anchor Martha MacCallum.
Bruesewitz described Kirk as “the nicest man” he had ever met and said he never used violence or hateful rhetoric.
“[Kirk] would never hurt anyone,” he said.
“It breaks my heart that it was him who got hurt. He only wanted to debate people. He just spoke the truth.”
The two collaborated on Bruesewitz’s book Winning the Social Media War, with Kirk writing the foreword.
Bruesewitz accused the left of fueling hate against conservatives, pointing to attacks on Trump and Kirk.
“The radical left for too long has been perpetrating this hate on innocent people like the president, who got nearly shot twice,” he argued.
He also lashed out at critics of Kirk, saying politicians who bashed him on TV would privately “kiss your a–.”
“These people don’t even believe what they say,” Bruesewitz said.
“They just want TV hits on MSNBC or CNN. It’s sick.”
Fox News aired the tribute as fallout grew over comments by former MSNBC analyst Matthew Dawd, who was fired Wednesday after calling Kirk “one of the most divisive” figures.
MSNBC issued an apology, calling Dowd’s remarks “inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable” during breaking news coverage.
Charlie Kirk’s rise to hero of the youth MAGA movement
CHARLIE Kirk transformed conservative youth activism from a marginal movement into a powerful force before his assassination on a college campus at 31.
Kirk was an American conservative political activist, author, and media personality who rose to prominence as the co-founder of Turning Point USA (TPUSA).
He launched the organization in 2012 when he was just 18 years old, with the goal of promoting conservative principles to high school and college students and became a significant figure in American politics by building a massive grassroots network, framing himself as a “culture warrior.”
The rise of Turning Point USA
Turning Point USA’s mission was to counter what Kirk and his allies saw as liberal dominance on American college campuses.
It quickly grew to prominence through his use of provocative activism and viral social media campaigns.
They created watchlists of professors pushing leftist propaganda and organized events to debate students on controversial topics.
The strategy helped them gain a significant following and financial backing from wealthy conservative donors.
Kirk’s ability to connect with a new generation of conservatives was one of his most notable impacts.
He cultivated a style of political engagement that was heavily reliant on social media, podcasts, and confrontational public appearances.
His organization’s events, such as the annual Student Action Summit, drew thousands of young attendees and featured prominent conservative speakers, creating a new kind of political ecosystem for young people who felt alienated from traditional conservative groups.
A key ally of Donald Trump
Kirk also became a staunch supporter and ally of President Donald Trump.
He was the youngest speaker at the 2016 Republican National Convention and served as an aide to Donald Trump Jr. during the presidential campaign.
This relationship solidified his position within the Republican Party’s “MAGA” (Make America Great Again) wing, and his organization became an integral part of Trump’s political apparatus.
Through his popular podcast, “The Charlie Kirk Show,” and his frequent appearances on conservative media, Kirk was a powerful voice in the pro-Trump movement.
He often framed political issues as a “spiritual battle” between good and evil and championed a pugnacious, populist form of conservatism.
His influence was so significant that after Trump’s 2024 victory, Kirk was credited with helping to mobilize younger voters for the campaign.
Influence on culture and social issues
Beyond traditional politics, Kirk’s influence extended deeply into social and cultural issues.
He was a vocal opponent of “woke” ideology, particularly in education and media.
He promoted traditional values, often encouraging young women to prioritize becoming homemakers and mothers over professional careers.
Kirk also openly criticized programs related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
He was also a major proponent of Christian nationalism, arguing that there is no true separation of church and state in the United States.
The Turning Point Empire
Kirk’s activism led to the expansion of the Turning Point brand into a larger political and media empire.
He launched Turning Point Action, a political advocacy group focused on voter mobilization, and Turning Point Faith, aimed at engaging evangelical Christian communities in conservative politics.
These affiliated organizations allowed him to broaden his reach and influence beyond college campuses, into a more mainstream political force.
Earlier in the day, CNBC host Joe Kernen revealed Trump had personally told him he thought Kirk “could have been president someday.”
Kernen said the president called him to congratulate Squawk Box on its 30th anniversary, but also expressed heartbreak over Kirk’s death.
“He’s devastated about Charlie Kirk and said, ‘What a guy, what a great individual,’” Kernen said.
Trump credited Kirk with helping him in the last election and told Kernen he was “such a talented guy” who had a future in the White House.
Kirk was shot once in the neck while hosting a Q&A event for students on his American Comeback Tour.
His wife Erika and their two young children were in the crowd when the gunman opened fire from a rooftop 200 yards away.
Horrifying video showed Kirk collapsing in a pool of blood as terrified students screamed and ran from the outdoor venue.
The FBI said Thursday it recovered the high-powered bolt-action rifle used in the attack.
Police later arrested Tyler Robinson, 22, in St. George, Utah – more than 250 miles from the campus.
Robinson’s father, a sheriff’s deputy, turned him in after the suspect allegedly confessed.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox announced the arrest Friday, declaring: “We got him.”
Investigators said Robinson plotted the shooting on Discord and left bizarre engravings on bullet casings, including “hey fascist,” “if you read this, you are gay,” and lyrics to the Italian song Bella Ciao.
Footage showed the gunman running across a roof and changing clothes to evade capture.
Cops believe Robinson acted alone.
He faces the death penalty if convicted of what officials are calling a political assassination.
Alex Bruesewitz is a longtime Trump ally and close friend of Kirk[/caption]
