Tribute to Charlie Kirk
U.S. Rep. Chip Roy spoke about Charlie Kirk’s death at the 2025 Texas Youth Summit in The Woodlands on Sept. 19, 2025. The event was attended by over 1,000 people, mostly young adults, who gathered to pay tribute to the right-wing activist and podcaster. The crowd sang worship music in remembrance of Kirk, who was killed last week in Utah.
Remembering Charlie Kirk
As the songs continued to play, Texas state Rep. Nate Schatzline took the stage and told the audience that Kirk was a "martyr" and his death would energize a new generation of conservatives. Schatzline said, "The life of Charlie Kirk woke up Generation Z, but the death of Charlie Kirk radicalized Generation Z. When I say radical, I don’t mean violence. … I mean this generation will speak truth no matter what it costs them. This generation will speak truth no matter what the cost."
The Circumstances of Charlie Kirk’s Death
Kirk was assassinated last Wednesday while speaking at Utah Valley University. He was shot and killed during a debate hosted by Turning Point USA, a national conservative student organization he led. The first Texas Youth Summit was held in 2019, and since 2023, the event has been hosted at the hotel located north of Houston.
Reaction from Prominent Conservatives
Following approximately an hour of worship, several prominent conservative activists and elected officials addressed the crowd. U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, via a prerecorded video, and U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, speaking in person, both blamed the political "left" for Kirk’s death. Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old Utah man, has been charged with aggravated murder in connection to Kirk’s shooting death.
Calls to Action
U.S. Rep. Chip Roy asked the audience, "What are you willing to risk? Charlie risked it all. Charlie gave it all. … What will you do when you wake up tomorrow to say, ‘I’m going to risk it all for my kids and my grandkids,’ because you’re the generation that is going to save this country?" Other speakers at the event included political strategist Steve Bannon via video, Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough, Texas Youth Summit founder Christian Collins, and Allie Beth Stuckey — a conservative online commentator and podcaster.
Legacy of Charlie Kirk
As the event reached its end, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz reinforced the message that Kirk should be an example for young conservatives to follow. Cruz said, "In 31 years, Charlie Kirk impacted this world in a profound and powerful way that will resonate for generations. He didn’t live a single day with a spirit of fear. He knew that he would encounter people who were socialists, who were communists, who were transgender, who were ideologues, who disagreed with him. And he went in with courage." Cruz also asked the audience to subscribe to his podcast to know the "facts" and to be equipped with information to counter opposing ideologies.
Conclusion
The Texas Youth Summit continued on Saturday with scheduled speakers including Gov. Greg Abbott and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. The event served as a tribute to Charlie Kirk and a call to action for young conservatives to follow in his footsteps. The legacy of Charlie Kirk will live on through the next generation, and his impact will continue to be felt in the conservative movement. As U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz said, "I grieve for Erika [Kirk], I grieve for his little kids that will never know their dad. But, they’ll see him online, they’ll see pictures of him, they’ll see images, they’ll see his charm … they will see the legacy he left."
