Conservative commentator Tucker Carlson took over the late Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk’s show and spoke to a packed crowd of more than 3,500 people at Indiana University Tuesday night.
The Indiana University Auditorium was full for the Carlson-headlining event, which featured heavy security including police spotters positioned on university buildings.
Kirk was murdered in cold on September 10 during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University. His widow, Erika Kirk, has taken over as CEO of the organization.
Carlson addressed how to keep the conservative movement united following Kirk’s assassination.
“I think there a lot of us – including me – are more divisive or hotheaded than we need to be,” Carlson said. “Charlie had a lot of emotional self-control. He was 20 years younger than me, and I admired that openly.”
Indiana’s Republican Governor Mike Braun also spoke at the event, and urged students to continue Kirk’s mission.
“The other side controls the media. They’re going to spend more money on campaigns against you. They’ll try to wear you out. But they don’t have the winning message,” Braun said.
Braun proclaimed the day Turning Point USA Civic Engagement Day in honor of Kirk.
Carlson took questions from twelve audience members representing a range of political viewpoints. He talked about a wide range of topics including the war in Ukraine, abortion, illegal immigration, and even ritual human sacrifice.
The event drew attendees from across Indiana and neighboring states. Many came to honor Kirk’s legacy while others traveled specifically to see Carlson.
Outside the auditorium, a small group of protesters gathered across from the auditorium.
Turning Point USA spokesman Andrew Kolvet said thousands more people were turned away from the event due to capacity limits. All students were admitted, but some adults could not be accommodated.
The event was the latest in Turning Point USA’s “This is the Turning Point Tour,” which continues to visit college campuses across the country. Eighteen speakers have been featured on the tour so far, including Erika Kirk, Megyn Kelly, and Glenn Beck.
James Chambers, president of TPUSA at IU, said the national branch made the decision to bring Carlson to campus.
“It’s very fortunate that Tucker is coming to IU, and I think it is a benefit to free speech,” Chambers said. “I think this is what Charlie would have wanted.”
Turning Point USA has chapters at more than 850 universities around the country, including Indiana University. The organization says requests for new chapters have soared since Kirk’s assassination.
Carlson hosted “Tucker Carlson Tonight” on Fox News from 2016 to 2023. He now runs the independent Tucker Carlson Network.
Tucker Carlson takes the stage at the This Is the Turning Point Tour at Indiana University@TuckerCarlson @tpusastudents pic.twitter.com/ZgDA1z7g7b
— Turning Point USA (@TPUSA) October 21, 2025
Student asks Tucker Carlson what “woke” really means to conservatives@TuckerCarlson pic.twitter.com/t15ek9x2KL
— Turning Point USA (@TPUSA) October 21, 2025