Utah Valley University is facing mounting backlash over its 2026 commencement speaker’s past comments about conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was killed on the school’s campus last year.
Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of youth organization Turning Point USA, was fatally shot while speaking at an outdoor event on the Orem campus September 10, 2025. Utah resident Tyler Robinson has been charged with Kirk’s murder.
Now, some conservative student organizations and political figures are slamming UVU’s decision to invite Sharon McMahon, an author and social media personality, to be the 2026 commencement speaker on April 29 after she reportedly posted on social media criticizing Kirk’s rhetoric shortly after he was killed. Her posts on Kirk appear to have been deleted.
In one post, McMahon shared some of Kirk’s quotes and explained why she took issue with his rhetoric, according to KUTV.
She reportedly wrote: “To many Americans, especially if you are Black, LGBTQ or Muslim, Charlie Kirk was not a person who simply engaged in good-faith debates on college campuses.”
“It’s important to remember that the incredible tragedy of a public assassination does not erase the harm many experienced from his words and the ensuing actions his followers took,” her post concluded.
According to ABC 4, McMahon also posted: “These aren’t sound bites taken out of context. Millions of people feel they were harmed, and the murder that was horrific and should never have happened does not magically erase what was said or done.”
Caleb Chilcutt, president of UVU’s Turning Point USA chapter, said McMahon “posted a now-deleted series of out-of-context quotes from Charlie in an effort to tarnish his name and minimize the tragedy, rather than offering condolences or condemning political violence.”
Chilcutt wrote in a statement: “While universities should welcome diverse viewpoints, platforming someone who treated a historic and tragic political assassination not as a moment to grieve but as an opportunity to create content is tone-deaf and disrespectful to those still affected, especially on this campus.”
Sage Lloyd, president of UVU’s College Republicans, said the organization opposes the university’s decision to have McMahon deliver this year’s address.
“It is an insult to deliberately select a speaker who mocked the loss of a political figure assassinated on our beloved campus,” Lloyd wrote in a statement.
Republican Senator Mike Lee of Utah also re-shared a post criticizing McMahon, adding: “Why would you do this, @UVU?”
A spokesperson for McMahon told The Independent she “unequivocally condemned the murder of Charlie Kirk, repeatedly and publicly calling his death a tragedy and stressing that public debate must never be met with violence.”
“Sharon’s goal is to unpack what is happening in society and help people understand how government works,” the spokesperson said. “That spirit is reflected in her work—bringing together voices from across the aisle in closed-door conversations with her book club community, from Amy Coney Barrett to Kamala Harris, and in interviews with Utah Governor Spencer Cox and Nikki Haley, to foster the kind of dialogue and perspective democracy depends on.”
“She believes what we need most is more bridge-building and more people willing to show up for one another,” the spokesperson added.
The university described McMahon as a “New York Times-bestselling author, award-winning educator, and ‘America’s Government Teacher,’” in a press release last month. McMahon also runs popular social media accounts — including an Instagram page with 1.4 million followers — where she posts about politics and government.
"Sharon McMahon is an original. She is a force of nature and a force for good. As a former history teacher, she understands that education can inform, inspire, and instigate courageous action," Utah Valley University President Astrid Tuminez said in a statement.
The Independent has contacted Utah Valley University for comment.
Editor's Note: This article was updated on April 13 to include a statement from Sharon McMahon.
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