Charlie Kirk was not just a young conservative leader who influenced American conservative youth, but he also had a broad impact on conservatives in Europe and beyond. Hungarian conservative influencer Matthew Kulifai writes about Kirk’s role in his own life. Here is his text reprinted:

Unimaginable evil.

Charlie Kirk was a role model for me. As an evangelical Christian, he was able to confess and defend his faith in Jesus Christ so naturally, bravely, and professionally, which was enviable. In addition, his public influence was enormous: He opened the eyes of hundreds of thousands, millions of young Americans to proudly and courageously represent the values ​​they believe in instead of the crazy woke and cancel culture spreading on campuses.

At a very young age, he knew what his mission was with Turning Point USA, and he carried it through. He regularly consulted with the most powerful people in the country, became a close ally of Trump – according to some analysts, he partly owes his victory to him – because with his extraordinary rhetoric and high intelligence, he won over the young voters. He put an amazing amount of work into the campaign. And it paid off. 

He was only 31 years old, just a year younger than me. He was the proud father of two children and the loving husband of Erika. He and his wife counseled young believers and married couples on how to live a moral life, overcome sin, and resist temptation. 

He was also a role model because he proudly and openly represented the values ​​of the Judeo-Christian revelation, standing up for Israel, even though so many influencers on the American right were now taking a radically anti-Zionist turn. He didn’t. He knew what returning to the Biblical lands meant for Christians, what the prophecies were that needed to be fulfilled. 

The genre he carried on to this day was also very inspiring: on university campuses, he openly invited anyone who had a question or an opinion to debate. Leftists and rightists, atheists or Christians, liberals or conservatives. He always tried to behave in a civilized and correct manner with everyone, to protect his debate partners from the whining and vehement reactions of the majority. He was respectful towards his political opponents, but firm and forceful when it came to important matters. 

The footage of his brutal murder was truly shocking. A still unknown assailant shot him in the neck from a distance of 180 meters at a Utah event. He was taken to the hospital, despite the incredible loss of blood – but they could not save him. 

This was a deeply vicious murder, more than a personal tragedy. He was loved and prayed for by millions, on both sides. (There were, of course, some unscrupulous people who justified the murder (MSNBC host) or even celebrated it (Islamists)

It feels like the United States has reached some kind of turning point, and the world a little bit along with it. The last time I felt this way was maybe October 7th or September 11th. I can’t explain why. It’s like there’s a change of era again.

I am horrified by what happened.

My deepest sympathies to his family, may the Lord give them comfort. 

And for this world rushing towards destruction, mercy, while it is still possible.”