Logan •As Charlie Kirk’s tour returned to Utah, a crowd came carrying American flags and homemade signs attacking Utah’s governor, many wearing Make America Great Again gear. Some wore white T-shirts with the word “FREEDOM” — identical to the one Kirk was wearing when he was fatally shot at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10.
Utah GOP Gov. Spencer Cox joined a panel of Republican, Latter-day Saint politicians who spoke as Kirk’s “American Comeback Tour” — now the “This is the Turning Point” tour — continued at Utah State University Tuesday, two hours north of where he was killed.
Here are images from before and during the event, held by Kirk’s nonprofit Turning Point USA in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum arena.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Fans wear MAGA hats at the Turning Point “American Comeback Tour” in Logan.
[Read more: Speaking in Charlie Kirk’s place, Utah Gov. Cox booed at USU ahead of urging ‘peacemaking’]
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) A man pumps up the crowd before the event.
The crowd cheered as a man carried Utah’s historical state flag. Since the traditional blue banner with the state seal was replaced in 2023, it has become a pennant for Utahns who fall to the right of many of the state’s elected GOP officials.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) A man carried Utah's historical state flag.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) A person with a sign outside of the arena.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) People in line for the event.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) A person wearing an American flag before the event.
Some wore shirts or brought placards with images of social media posts Kirk made attacking Cox, who is often perceived as more moderate than other prominent figures in his party.
In 2022, after Cox vetoed a ban on transgender girls from school sports, Kirk posted, “Utah Governor Spencer Cox should be expelled from the Republican party.”
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) A woman's T-shirt ...
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune)
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune)
Cox has since signed and supported multiple laws imposing restrictions on the state’s transgender community, and has retreated from his declarations acknowledging the LGBTQ+ community.
Cox has drawn a national spotlight in the days and weeks since Kirk’s death, including bipartisan praise for his condemnation of toxic political division and violence.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Charlie Kirk posters on the chairs during the Turning Point event Glen Smith Spectrum Arena, on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Crowds raise Charlie Kirk signs during the Turning Point event Glen Smith Spectrum Arena, on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Gov. Spencer Cox, Andy Biggs, Jason Chaffetz and Tyler Bowyer at the Turning Point event Glen Smith Spectrum Arena, in Logan on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Fans listen to speakers during the Turning Point event Glen Smith Spectrum Arena, on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Fans listen to speakers during the Turning Point event Glen Smith Spectrum Arena, on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Gov. Spencer Cox says a few words at the Turning Point event Glen Smith Spectrum Arena, in Logan on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025.