Two decades ago, the concept of a "content creator" was relatively foreign to Americans. Today, these individuals have become a force in politics, commanding YouTube, Instagram, and X channels with millions of followers, capable of swaying large segments of the US electorate in elections.
Charlie Kirk was one of them. The co-founder of the conservative organization Turning Point USA (TPUSA) built a large following on podcast platforms, alongside other prominent figures like Ben Shapiro and the Meiselas brothers. Kirk is considered to have played a significant role in mobilizing young voters for Donald Trump in last year's election.
However, Kirk's assassination at a speaking engagement at Utah Valley University on 10/9 sent shockwaves through the US political content creator community, alarming both conservatives and liberals.
"My head of security called me the moment it happened," conservative political commentator Glenn Beck said on 10/9, adding that he had previously urged Kirk to reassess his security measures. "Too many of us haven’t taken this seriously enough".
Amid an increasingly polarized US political landscape, social media has become a battleground for heated exchanges between prominent figures and their supporters and detractors. Many political activists have received violent threats, but often dismiss them.
"I’ve worked with high-profile conservatives in media for over 15 years. The number and frequency of death threats they receive would shock most people," said Alyssa Cordova, former vice president of media company The Daily Wire.
 |
Members of the New York Young Republicans Club hold a memorial for Charlie Kirk in New York, US on 12/9. Photo: AP |
Members of the New York Young Republicans Club hold a memorial for Charlie Kirk in New York, US on 12/9. Photo: AP
Steve Bannon, former White House chief strategist and current host of the WarRoom podcast, said Charlie Kirk received threats regularly. However, Kirk believed "you have to interface with the audience and feed off the energy of the crowd".
Meet-and-greets are considered crucial for content creators, providing income, bolstering their status, and fostering relationships with supporters. However, Kirk's assassination will likely make many political activists question the risks of such events in the face of increasing potential for violence.
"It changes how everyone interacts with their audience," Bannon said.
Glen Kucera, who runs protective services at security firm Allied Universal, said on 11/9 that more than 30 universities had contacted him to discuss campus safety following the assassination.
On the left, many also fear potential retaliatory violence. "The potential for people to look for retribution is very real and very scary," popular streamer Hasan Piker said during a live broadcast on 10/9.
Few content creators or venues are willing to discuss future security plans, fearing that revealing too much information could put them at risk.
Caleb Gilbert, president of the security firm White Glove Protection Group, said Kirk's assassination is a "wake-up call" for high-profile political activists who have previously downplayed security. "Everyone we provide protection for is reassessing if they are truly safe," he said.
Dean Withers, a left-leaning streamer with 4.4 million followers on TikTok, said on 12/9 that for the first time in his career, he consulted security professionals. He posed questions like whether speaking at universities was still a smart idea and if holding large events was truly safe.
"What if someone on the right wing who completely disagrees with me wants to hurt me? I've never really thought about that possibility," Withers said.
Withers has previously debated MAGA (Make America Great Again) supporters in videos produced by Jubilee Media. He said he had scheduled a second debate with Kirk next week and also planned an event at Colorado State University on 18/9 to protest Kirk's appearance there.
"I'm just worried. Every content creator I've spoken to is scared after what happened," he said.
Withers recently faced criticism from some of his own viewers, who oppose Kirk, for becoming emotional upon hearing of the assassination. However, Withers said, "seeing someone I’ve met in real life have their life taken away was very impactful".
 |
People watch as the body of Charlie Kirk is loaded onto Air Force Two at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in Arizona on 11/9. Photo: AP |
People watch as the body of Charlie Kirk is loaded onto Air Force Two at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in Arizona on 11/9. Photo: AP
Liz Plank, a left-leaning content creator and host of the Boy Problems podcast, interviewed Kirk several times and was invited by him to Turning Point USA's Young Women's Leadership Summit. After Kirk's assassination, Plank questioned, "do I even want to continue doing this work?".
Beyond content creators, many politicians and political organizations have canceled events due to safety concerns or are considering additional security measures following the assassination.
"The threats they face all need to be calculated because American politics has now become a place where conflict can easily erupt," said Rob Savage, former special agent in charge of the US Secret Service’s Los Angeles field office.
Caleb Gilbert, head of a protection company for officials and senior executives, said Kirk’s death is "clear evidence" of the risks prominent political figures face when opponents are "determined to do harm".
"We can have security, guns, intelligence, and everything else. We can be perfect in every venue for years, but the bad guys only need to be successful once," he said.
However, some observers believe such assassinations cannot deter everyone. Cordova believes, "you’re going to see a lot of conservatives continue to speak. Cowardice is not in their DNA".
Thanh Tam (According to CNN, Seattle Times)
