Charlie Kirk statue vandalised with red paint just days after it was unveiled

A statue of Charlie Kirk has been vandalised with red paint just days after it was unveiled.

The eight-foot statue of Kirk was installed outside the Turning Point USA headquarters in Phoenix on Friday (10 September) to mark a year since he was shot and killed while speaking at Utah Valley University.

As well as the statue, a sign had been also been placed featuring a photo of Kirk alongside the words: "May Charlie be received into the merciful arms of Jesus, our loving Savior."

However, just days after the new statue was unveiled, it was defaced with red paint across its torso and neck and what looked to be unhappy face across the chest.

The sign was similarly vandalised with the word ‘Jesus’ crossed out and a red X over Kirk's photo.

In a statement shared on social media, Turning Point USA condemned the vandalism and said it was working with police to identify who did it.

The conservative youth organisation said: “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.

“But vandalism like this is not funny, it’s diabolical. The incident happened in the middle of the night because evil never sleeps. Beyond spray painting on the neck and face, they made the intentional decision to cross out the name of Jesus on a nearby sign.”

The post ended with the bible quote: “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.”

Kirk’s widow Erika has also commented on the incident.

Sharing the Turning Point USA post onto her own X timeline, she wrote: “Charlie once said we should be building two statues for every statue that they tear down. His instinct was always to build, not to destroy.

“They thought a bullet would silence my husband’s voice but it only made it louder. They think spray paint can obscure his legacy, but it will only spread it further. Every attempt to tear down what Charlie built makes us root deeper and work even harder.

“And if you think crossing out the name of Jesus Christ will silence Christians, history has already proved you wrong. We know what it costs to stand firm for Christ and we will stand anyway. God will not be mocked.

“We’ll put His name right back where it belongs, clean up the mess, restore Charlie's statue, and keep building. We will never give up and never surrender.”

Kirk, 31, was fatally shot during an event at Utah University on 10 September 2025.

Tyler Robinson, 23, has been charged with his murder and will stand trial after Utah judge Tony Graf ruled that prosecutors had provided enough evidence to prosecute the case.

Robinson, who has been pleaded not guilty, could now be facing the death penalty.

In a statement made after the judge’s ruling, the Kirk family said: “Today’s decision, which comes nearly a year since Charlie was taken from us, marks an important step in our family’s pursuit of justice for him.

“Every step in this process carries the weight of all that Charlie’s murder has taken from his family, especially his children who will grow up without their father. We are grateful to all who have continued to pray for us, support us, and stand with us through a year of unimaginable grief.

“As the next phase of the judicial process begins, our family remains united in our love for Charlie, our commitment to the pursuit of justice, and our prayer for a transparent and timely process.”