--- title: "Charlie Kirk statue defaced with red paint in Phoenix" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/charlie-kirk-statue-defaced-with-red-paint-in-phoenix" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/charlie-kirk-statue-defaced-with-red-paint-in-phoenix" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/charlie-kirk-statue-defaced-with-red-paint-in-phoenix.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/charlie-kirk-statue-defaced-with-red-paint-in-phoenix" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-09-13T21:45:52.404Z" source_reported: "2026-09-13T21:00:15.000Z" updated: "2026-09-13T21:45:52.404Z" trust_score: 68 critic_score: 83 hype_score: 52 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-13T21:45:16.838731+00:00" --- # Charlie Kirk statue defaced with red paint in Phoenix *Phoenix police are investigating the vandalism of the memorial statue at Turning Point USA headquarters.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 68 of 100, higher is better. Named person Erika Kirk and police, plus specific location and timing, plus six independent digests raise trust. - Craft 83 of 100, higher is better. Provides why the vandalism matters, includes widow’s response, clear facts, next step police investigation. - Hype 52 of 100, lower is better. Loaded adjectives like “VILE” and “deranged leftists” add notable sensationalism. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - A statue of Charlie Kirk at Turning Point USA's Phoenix headquarters was vandalised with red paint. - The defacement happened days after the statue's unveiling and on the one-year anniversary of Kirk's assassination. - Phoenix police are investigating the incident. - Charlie Kirk's widow stated the vandalism would not diminish his legacy. A statue honouring Charlie Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA, was defaced with red paint at the organisation's Phoenix headquarters. The vandalism occurred days after the statue's unveiling and on the one-year anniversary of Kirk's assassination at Utah Valley University. Photos show the paint smeared across the statue's neck and chest. Phoenix police are investigating the incident. ## Disagreement on statue's location Fox 10 Phoenix reported the statue was vandalised in Tempe, while other reports stated it was at Turning Point USA's Phoenix headquarters. ## What the coverage left out None of the right-rated digests mention that Phoenix police are investigating the vandalism. The centre-rated digest did not include comments from Charlie Kirk's widow, Erika Kirk. ## Who covered it Shares of the 32 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 3% (1) - Centre: 47% (15) - Right: 50% (16) 7 of 39 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-13T21:45:16.838731+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 3 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-13T22:30:22.343Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left No separate framing summary. ### Centre - The centre-rated report from Fox 10 Phoenix led with the vandalism of the Charlie Kirk memorial statue at TPUSA headquarters, noting it was defaced with red spray paint. The report stated Phoenix police are investigating the incident, which occurred days after the one-year anniversary of Kirk's assassination at Utah Valley University. It also specified the statue was located in Tempe. ### Right - The right-rated reports focused on the defacement of the Charlie Kirk statue, with headlines highlighting the vandalism and red paint. Legal Insurrection noted the statue was defaced and a memorial display behind it was also targeted, with the headline adding "Cross Out Jesus." YourNEWS and WLTReport described the statue as "newly unveiled" and "brand-new," respectively. WLTReport also described the vandalism as "vile" and suggested "deranged leftists" were responsible. TMZ reported that Charlie Kirk's widow, Erika Kirk, stated the vandalism would not erase his legacy. Just the News mentioned the statue was unveiled on the one-year anniversary of Kirk's assassination. **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - veryLow: 1 - low: 2 - mixed: 12 - high: 14 - unknown: 8 - veryHigh: 2 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion](https://legalinsurrection.com/2026/09/vandals-deface-charlie-kirk-memorial-cross-out-jesus) — Vandals Deface Charlie Kirk Memorial, Cross Out Jesus - [[your]NEWS](https://yournews.com/2026/09/13/7193889/charlie-kirk-statue-vandalized-with-red-paint-days-after-phoenix) — Charlie Kirk Statue Vandalized With Red Paint Days After Phoenix Unveiling - [The Nerd Stash](https://thenerdstash.com/charlie-kirks-arizona-statue-defaced-with-red-x-across-his-face-and-paint-on-his-neck-days-after-unveiling-turning-point-warns-evil-never-sleeps) — Charlie Kirk's Arizona Statue Defaced With Red X Across His Face and Paint on His Neck Days After Unveiling, Turning Point Warns: 'Evil Never Sleeps' - [100% FED UP!](https://100percentfedup.com/charlie-kirk-statue-turning-point-usa-headquarters-vandalized) — Charlie Kirk Statue At Turning Point USA Headquarters Vandalized – 100PercentFedUp.com – by Danielle - [parapolitika.gr](https://parapolitika.gr/diethni/article/1790853/tsarli-kerk-vandalisan-me-kokkini-bogia-to-agalma-tou-liges-imeres-meta-ta-apokaluptiria) — Charlie Kirk: His Statue Vandalized with Red Paint a Few Days After Its Unveiling - [India Today](https://indiatoday.in/world/story/charlie-kirk-memorial-statue-vandalised-phoenix-turning-point-headquarters-2993966-2026-09-14) — Charlie Kirk memorial statue of slain activist defaced in Phoenix - [The Straits Times](https://straitstimes.com/world/memorial-statue-of-conservative-activist-charlie-kirk-vandalized) — Memorial statue of conservative activist Charlie Kirk vandalized - [WTVB](https://wtvbam.com/2026/09/13/memorial-statue-of-conservative-activist-charlie-kirk-vandalized) — Memorial statue of conservative activist Charlie Kirk vandalized - [wfmd.com](https://wfmd.com/2026/09/13/charlie-kirk-statue-defaced-with-red-paint-jesus-crossed-out-days-after-1-year-mark-of-assassination) — Charlie Kirk statue defaced with red paint, Jesus crossed out days after 1-year mark of assassination - [Fox News](https://foxnews.com/us/charlie-kirk-statue-defaced-red-paint-jesus-crossed-out-days-after-1-year-mark-assassination) — Charlie Kirk statue defaced with red paint, Jesus crossed out days after 1-year mark of assassination - [Express US](https://the-express.com/news/politics/215910/charlie-kirk-statue-vandalized-arizona) — Anger as Charlie Kirk statue outside Turning Point HQ defaced by vandals - [Internewscast](https://internewscast.com/news/charlie-kirk-statue-outside-turning-point-usa-headquarters-defaced-by-vandals) — Charlie Kirk Statue Outside Turning Point USA Headquarters Defaced by Vandals - [Pentapostagma](https://pentapostagma.gr/kosmos/ipa/7389571_proklisi-me-kalimera-kokkini-mpogia-sto-agalma-toy-tsarli-kerk-amesos-meta-ta) — "Good Morning" Challenge: Red Paint on Charlie Kirk Statue Immediately After Unveiling - [olympia](https://olympia.gr/1668506/diethni/vandalisan-me-kokkini-mpogia-agalma-toy-dolofonimenoy-tsarli-kerk-ligo-meta-ta-apokalyptiria) — Statue of Murdered Charlie Kirk Vandalized with Red Paint Shortly After Unveiling - [NewsBomb](https://newsbomb.gr/kosmos/story/1763114/vandalisan-me-kokkini-bogia-agalma-tou-dolofonimenou-tsarli-kerk-ligo-meta-ta-apokalyptiria) — Statue of Murdered Charlie Kirk Vandalized with Red Paint Shortly After Unveiling - [AZCentral](https://azcentral.com/picture-gallery/news/crime-public-safety/metro-phoenix/2026/09/13/charlie-kirk-statue-and-poster-vandalized-with-paint/91746630007) — Charlie Kirk statue and poster vandalized with paint - [dailymail.com](https://dailymail.com/news/article-16128145/charlie-kirk-statue-vandalized-phoenix-arizona.html) — Charlie Kirk statue outside Turning Point HQ is defaced by vandals - [Felix Victorino](https://fvdigital.do/new-charlie-kirk-statue-vandalized-outside-tpusas-phoenix-hq) — Charlie Kirk Statue Vandalized in Front of TPUSA Headquarters in Phoenix - [New York Post](https://nypost.com/2026/09/13/us-news/new-charlie-kirk-statue-vandalized-outside-tpusas-phoenix-hq) — Charlie Kirk statue vandalized outside TPUSA’s Phoenix HQ days after it was unveiled - [Hoodline](https://hoodline.com/2026/09/charlie-kirk-statue-defaced-with-red-paint-outside-phoenix-tpusa-hq-days-after-unveiling) — Charlie Kirk Statue Vandalized at Phoenix TPUSA HQ - [RedState](https://redstate.com/sister-toldjah/2026/09/13/newly-installed-charlie-kirk-statue-vandalized-at-tpusa-hq-n2206872) — 'Never Give Up': Erika Kirk Issues Powerful Statement After New Charlie Kirk Statue Vandalized - [WLTReport](https://wltreport.com/2026/09/13/vile-charlie-kirk-statue-at-tpusa-headquarters-vandalized-with-red-paint) — VILE: Charlie Kirk Statue at TPUSA Headquarters Vandalized With Red Paint - [The Gateway Pundit](https://thegatewaypundit.com/2026/09/sick-leftists-vandalize-newly-unveiled-charlie-kirk-statue) — SICK: Leftists Vandalize Newly Unveiled Charlie Kirk Statue at TPUSA Headquarters in Phoenix with Red Paint to Symbolize Blood * The Gateway Pundit * by Jordan Conradson - [Just the News](https://justthenews.com/government/local/new-charlie-kirk-statue-vandalized-phoenix) — New Charlie Kirk statue vandalized in Phoenix - [KOTA](https://kotatv.com/2026/09/13/newly-unveiled-charlie-kirk-statue-vandalized-turning-point-usa-headquarters) — Newly unveiled Charlie Kirk statue vandalized at Turning Point USA headquarters - [KPTV](https://kptv.com/2026/09/13/newly-unveiled-charlie-kirk-statue-vandalized-turning-point-usa-headquarters) — Newly unveiled Charlie Kirk statue vandalized at Turning Point USA headquarters - [KTIV](https://ktiv.com/2026/09/13/newly-unveiled-charlie-kirk-statue-vandalized-turning-point-usa-headquarters) — Newly unveiled Charlie Kirk statue vandalized at Turning Point USA headquarters - [KTRE News](https://ktre.com/2026/09/13/newly-unveiled-charlie-kirk-statue-vandalized-turning-point-usa-headquarters) — Newly unveiled Charlie Kirk statue vandalized at Turning Point USA headquarters - [KWQC TV6 News](https://kwqc.com/2026/09/13/newly-unveiled-charlie-kirk-statue-vandalized-turning-point-usa-headquarters) — Newly unveiled Charlie Kirk statue vandalized at Turning Point USA headquarters - [WOWT](https://wowt.com/2026/09/13/newly-unveiled-charlie-kirk-statue-vandalized-turning-point-usa-headquarters) — Newly unveiled Charlie Kirk statue vandalized at Turning Point USA headquarters - [kctv5](https://kctv5.com/2026/09/13/newly-unveiled-charlie-kirk-statue-vandalized-turning-point-usa-headquarters) — Newly unveiled Charlie Kirk statue vandalized at Turning Point USA headquarters - [PJ Media](https://pjmedia.com/catherinesalgado/2026/09/13/vandals-damage-charlie-kirk-statue-in-arizona-with-ghoulish-paint-job-n4957197) — Vandals Damage Charlie Kirk Statue in Arizona With Ghoulish Paint Job - [AZ Family - Phoenix](https://azfamily.com/2026/09/13/newly-unveiled-charlie-kirk-statue-vandalized-turning-point-usa-headquarters) — Newly unveiled Charlie Kirk statue vandalized at Turning Point USA headquarters - [TMZ](https://tmz.com/2026/09/13/charlie-kirk-statue-vandalized) — Charlie Kirk Statue Vandalized Outside Turning Point USA Headquarters - [Fox 10 Phoenix](https://fox10phoenix.com/news/charlie-kirk-memorial-statue-vandalized-tpusa-headquarters-red-spray-paint) — Charlie Kirk memorial statue vandalized at TPUSA headquarters with red spray paint - [WKRC](https://local12.com/news/nation-world/charlie-kirk-statue-vandalized-turning-point-usa-headquarters-phoenix-arizona-spray-painted-red-memorial-poster-police-investigation-cincinnati-crime-investigation-suspects-anniversary-killing-utah-valley-university) — Recently unveiled Charlie Kirk statue vandalized at Turning Point USA HQ - [The Post Millennial](https://thepostmillennial.com/breaking-charlie-kirks-new-tpusa-statue-vandalized-with-red-paint) — BREAKING: New Charlie Kirk statue at TPUSA HQ vandalized with red paint to signify blood - [KGUN 9](https://kgun9.com/news/local-news/charlie-kirk-statue-at-tpusa-headquarters-vandalized-days-after-unveiling) — Charlie Kirk statue at TPUSA headquarters vandalized days after unveiling - [abc 15 Arizona](https://abc15.com/news/local-news/charlie-kirk-statue-at-tpusa-headquarters-vandalized-days-after-unveiling) — Charlie Kirk statue at TPUSA headquarters vandalized days after unveiling ## Questions **What happened to the Charlie Kirk statue?** A statue of Charlie Kirk at Turning Point USA's Phoenix headquarters was defaced with red paint. The vandalism occurred days after the statue's unveiling and on the one-year anniversary of Kirk's assassination. **Who is investigating the vandalism?** Phoenix police are investigating the defacement of the Charlie Kirk memorial statue. The incident took place at Turning Point USA's headquarters. **What was the reaction to the vandalism?** Charlie Kirk's widow, Erika Kirk, stated that the vandalism would not erase his legacy. Some right-rated reports described the incident with strong negative language. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/charlie-kirk-statue-defaced-with-red-paint-in-phoenix. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Charlie Kirk statue defaced with red paint in Phoenix", https://mediabias.news/politics/charlie-kirk-statue-defaced-with-red-paint-in-phoenix