Charlie Kirk 'Murder Tent' Replica Installed By Turning Point USA For 'Selfies' - The Internet Finds It Weird

Turning Point USA (TPUSA) has drawn widespread attention with its four-day conference in Phoenix, Arizona, known as AmericaFest. This year, organisers of the event installed what many have described as a bizarre yet symbolic tribute to Charlie Kirk, recreating the tent where the 31-year-old conservative activist and media personality was assassinated—allowing attendees to take photographs at the site. The display has provoked criticism online, with many questioning its taste and symbolism.

Kirk was fatally shot in the neck while speaking at an outdoor 'American Comeback Tour' event at Utah Valley University on 10 September 2025. The shooting was carried out by a gunman positioned on a nearby rooftop. A suspect, Tyler James Robinson, 22 years old, has since been charged with aggravated murder.

TPUSA Conference's Tent Replica

At AmericaFest, TPUSA unveiled the tent replica, complete with the slogan 'PROVE ME WRONG'. Attendees queued to take photos with an image of Kirk. Following his passing, his widow, Erika Kirk, became the CEO of the political organisation.

MS Now reported extensively on the installation, noting its viral spread across social media. Reporter Brandy Zadrozny said, 'You can see from behind me, this is a recreation of the tent where Charlie Kirk lost his life at Utah Valley University in September, and people are taking selfies with it.'

Zadrozny also shared that attendees of the conference are wearing a replica of the shirt Kirk was wearing when he was shot dead back in September. 'You can see all around, people are saying like, 'For Charlie,' they're wearing replicas of the shirt that Charlie Kirk was wearing when he was killed,' Zadrozny said.

MS Now also highlighted a symbolic leadership transition at the event, 'And that torch, as you mentioned, was being passed to his widow, Erika Kirk. Erika Kirk is now in charge of a political organization that brought in $100 million and that, you know, Donald Trump and JD Vance credit [it] with swinging some of the youth vote to Donald Trump,' Zadrozny reported.

Online Reaction: 'Strange' and 'Inappropriate'

The replica tent quickly became a viral talking point after Truth Seeker (@TruthZone) reposted MS Now's video to X, captioning: 'Turning Point USA recreated the moment Charlie Kirk was executed at their convention for people to take selfies with...Anyone else find this strange?' The repost has amassed 7.8 million views, 26,000 likes, nearly 6,000 reposts, and 2,000 comments.

Truth Seeker followed up with a pointed remark: 'So, a "grieving widow" allows her husband's murder scene to be recreated for people to take selfies with....'

Other users echoed similar sentiments. One wrote: 'Nobody seems to care. Even my own followers don't think this is weird or disgusting like I do, really.' Another commented: 'A most inappropriate display in just 3 short months in my opinion.' Others suggested alternative ways to honour Kirk, with one remarking: 'Yes, very strange, plenty of other and better ways to honour Charlie!'.

Criticism of Erika Kirk and TPUSA

Several comments focused on Erika Kirk's approval of the installation. One user said: 'It says a lot about the wife who approved it.' Others accused TPUSA of exploiting Kirk's death, claiming the organisation is 'milking' the tragedy for attention.

Another X user, Diligent Denizen (@DiligentDenizen), mocked the installation by posting a video of a Kirk supporter alongside music from Stranger Things. They wrote: 'Make sure to pick up some merch on your way by after getting your selfie at the TPUSA AmFest Charlie Kirk murder-tent.'

One comment on the post said that the display was of 'poor taste': 'One of the strangest things I've ever seen someone happy to display. Creepy, poor taste, and I just can't see who thought this was a good idea. They threw up a massive airball.'

Another user said, 'If I came to the function and saw the murder tent there for pictures, I would leave quickly.'

Despite the backlash, neither the organisers of TPUSA's AmericaFest nor Erika Kirk have released a statement addressing the controversy. As the installation continues to go viral, many netizens view it as a disturbing and inappropriate tribute that has overshadowed the conference itself.