Turning Point USA Cancels UW Event After Threats and Transgender Student Murder

Turning Point USA (TPUSA) canceled a “Pick Up the Mic” talk by detransition activist Chloe Cole at University of Washington on Wednesday. Cole reported over 200 threats, which she linked to Antifa, and it followed the discovery of a 19-year-old transgender woman’s body in an apartment.

Newsweek

The UW homicide is the seventh transgender killing in U.S. in 2026, per LGBTQ+ advocates. It follows September 2023 assassination of TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University, which heightened security concerns for campus speakers.

Newsweek

The main actors are Chloe Cole, a 21-year-old transgender activist opposing gender-affirming care for minors; TPUSA, group that booked the event; University of Washington, represented by Victor Balta; Antifa, which Cole says formed a “militia” to disrupt the talk; and President Donald Trump, who called Antifa a “major terrorist organization” on Truth Social.

Newsweek

LGBTQ+ advocates record seven transgender killings in the United States in 2026, including the UW victim; a 22-year-old transgender student, Murry Foust, remains missing in Kentucky.

Newsweek

Balta told Newsweek, “The national TPUSA organization made the decision to cancel the event Wednesday. I know that some groups were organizing protests related to the event, but I am not aware of any threats being made directly or any threats reported to the university.” TPUSA said, “University of Washington chapter of Turning Point USA condemns this horrific act of violence in the strongest possible terms. No one should ever be subjected to such senseless brutality. Our thoughts and condolences are with the victim’s family and friends.”

Newsweek

Cole accused students of attempting to link the murder to her rhetoric, claiming they were using the tragedy to target her, while university said no threats were reported, contradicting her claim of over 200 calls. Accounts dispute source and severity of the threats.

Newsweek

Sources differ on the volume of threats. Cole says she received over 200 explicit calls for violence, while the university reports no threats were directly reported to campus officials.

Newsweek

• “I received over 200 explicit calls for violence from various groups and some individuals against me and the UW chapter.” — Chloe Cole, activist

Newsweek

• “There were local Antifa groups that were actually scheduling these large-scale protests, and there were so many people who I saw online, just out in the open, who were saying things like, 'I hope you get Kirked.’” — Chloe Cole

Newsweek

• “Antifa has assembled a local ‘militia,’ in their own words, to shut down this event.” — Chloe Cole (video on X)

Newsweek

• “Truth will always win. Christ will always prevail. God created each and every single one of us in his image, and there were only two sexes. That is the exact message I was going to take to the University of Washington tomorrow.” — Chloe Cole

Newsweek

Cole will seek to reschedule the UW talk, and TPUSA reaffirmed its free-speech commitment. The murder investigation remains active, and Trump’s Antifa terrorist designation may shape actions.

Newsweek