Rest in Peace to My Friend and Mentor David Horowitz

Rest in peace to my friend and mentor David Horowitz, who has just passed away. A fearless truth-teller, David was a titan in the battle of ideas and a warrior for Western civilization.

David grew up on the hard Left and remained a committed Marxist into his 30s. But he had the rare courage to question everything, and ultimately reject the radicalism of his youth to become one of the most influential conservative thinkers of our time.

Without David Horowitz, I’m not sure Turning Point USA would exist. David was a lifelong crusader and maverick for the conservative cause. A former communist turned fierce anti-left advocate, he dedicated his life to confronting the ideologies he once embraced.

Over 90% of our earliest major donors were introduced at a David Horowitz event—thanks to his warm endorsements and generous introductions. His support opened doors that would have otherwise remained closed.

David always believed in me and in Turning Point USA. He saw our campus movement as a rebirth of freedom—the kind of revival he long hoped to see. We spoke often by phone, and he remained a trusted teacher and mentor throughout my journey.

David understood the Left—not just its surface slogans, but its underlying motivations, its tactics, and most importantly, how to effectively confront and defeat it. His life was a testament to courage, intellectual clarity, and unwavering moral conviction. He showed that truth—once found—demands action, no matter the personal cost.

His David Horowitz Freedom Center was a launchpad for so many voices on the Right—including mine. In 2014, he invited me to speak at his Restoration Weekend, one of the first big breaks of my career. He believed in young leaders long before the world did.

Twenty-five years ago, David mentored a high school student named Stephen Miller. He supported him through Duke, through the Senate, and into the Trump White House. Today, Stephen is one of the most impactful architects of America First immigration policy. A legend thanks to David’s mentorship.

As Politico wrote, “If you want to understand the immigration policies [Trump] has put into place, you have to also understand Horowitz.” David’s fingerprints are all over the populist revival of the last decade.

David saw the Left clearly—and early. His books Indoctrination U and One Party Classroom were prophetic, exposing the rot on college campuses years before most conservatives dared to speak up. They helped inspire my own book The College Scam and much of Turning Point USA’s campus strategy.

But David didn’t just write. He debated. He showed up. He walked into hostile auditoriums and faced down Marxist professors, Islamist apologists, and race hustlers—armed only with truth, moral clarity, and a sharp tongue.

Back in 1999, David called out the Left’s weaponization of civil rights and its growing hatred of white people—a topic so radioactive that most conservatives avoided it for two more decades. He said what others were afraid to even whisper.

He published over 50 books, debated thousands, mentored dozens, and shaped the ideological terrain we now fight on. His final book was published in 2023—at the age of 84. He worked until his last breath.

David Horowitz was a lion. A fighter. A father of modern conservatism. He was a teacher to me, a mentor, and a friend. Turning Point USA will continue its successful movement in your honor, and thanks to your help. We miss you David, god bless you. Thank you.

Charlie Kirk is the Founder and CEO of Turning Point USA and the host of The Charlie Kirk Show.