Kari Lake, senior adviser to the U.S. Agency for Global Media, expressed grief and shock over the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA.

Lake, who shared a close friendship with Kirk forged on the campaign trail and at Turning Point events, told Newsmax on Wednesday the loss is a devastating blow to her, Kirk's family, and the conservative movement.

"I'm numb. I'm devastated. I'm hurt. And I'm very, very sad for Erika [Frantzve Kirk] and the children and our state, our country," Lake said. "I'm sad that things have gone so off the rails that we lost such an incredible leader."

She recalled the electrifying atmosphere he created at Turning Point events.

"He made it feel like you were at a rock concert. And you were celebrating America. You were celebrating political involvement."

Lake credited Kirk with transforming a generation of young people who were previously disengaged or "politically brainwashed."

"He took a generation of kids that weren't politically involved ... and he showed them how to be political activists in the best way," she said. "And not only did he show a young generation, he brought their parents along with them. He created the greatest political movement we've ever seen.

"I'm sickened that in front of a group of his generation who he has been inspiring, that he was taken out with an assassin's bullet," she said.

Lake called Kirk "an incredible husband, an incredible father, an incredible son, and an incredible Christian."

"He realized that there was so much more to life than just politics. There was your salvation," she said.

"He got thousands of others to come back to Christ — maybe people who strayed away and have come back."

Although she finds solace in believing Kirk is "with Christ now," Lake said, "Boy, does this world feel like a worse place without him."

GET TODAY NEWSMAX+:

NEWSMAX is the fastest-growing cable news channel in America with more than 30 million people watching!

Reuters Institute reports NEWSMAX is one of the top news brands in the U.S.

You need to watch NEWSMAX today.

Get it with great shows from Rob Schmitt, Greta Van Susteren, Greg Kelly, Carl Higbie, Rob Finnerty – and many more!

Find the NEWSMAX channel on your cable system – Go Here Now

BEST OFFER:

Sign up for NEWSMAX+ and get NEWSMAX, our streaming channel NEWSMAX2 and our military channel World at War.

Find hundreds of shows, movies and specials. Even get Jon Voight’s special series and President Trump’s comedy programs and much more!

Watch NEWSMAX+ on your smartphone or home TV app. Watch NEWSMAX anytime, anywhere!

Start your FREE trial now: NewsmaxPlus.com