Charlie Kirk: Difference between revisions
Created page with "{{Infobox_person | image = File:Charlie-Kirk.png | birth_name = | birth_date = October 14, 1993 | birth_place = Arlington Heights, Illinois | residency = Orem, Utah | occupation = Political activist | education = Wheeling High School | theology = Evangelicalsm | affiliations = wikipedia:Tur..." |
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| occupation = [[wikipedia:Political activist|Political activist]] | | occupation = [[wikipedia:Political activist|Political activist]] | ||
| education = [[wikipedia:Wheeling High School|Wheeling High School]] | | education = [[wikipedia:Wheeling High School|Wheeling High School]] | ||
| theology = [[ | | theology = [[Evangelicalism]] | ||
| affiliations = [[wikipedia:Turning Point USA|Turning Point USA]] (founder)<br> | | affiliations = [[wikipedia:Turning Point USA|Turning Point USA]] (founder)<br> | ||
| spouse = [[wikipedia:Erika Kirk|Erika Lane (Frantzve) Kirk]] | | spouse = [[wikipedia:Erika Kirk|Erika Lane (Frantzve) Kirk]] | ||
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| website = [https://charliekirk.com charliekirk.com] | | website = [https://charliekirk.com charliekirk.com] | ||
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'''Charles James Kirk''' (October 14, 1993 – September 10, 2025) was an American right-wing political activist, author, and media personality. He co-founded the conservative organization Turning Point USA (TPUSA) in 2012 and was its executive director. He was the chief executive officer (CEO) of [[wikipedia:Turning Point Action|Turning Point Action (TPAction)]] and a member of the [[wikipedia:Council for National Policy]] (CNP). The Washington Post described him as "one of the most prominent voices on the right" in his later years. | '''Charles James Kirk''' (October 14, 1993 – September 10, 2025) was an American right-wing political activist, author, and media personality. He co-founded the conservative organization Turning Point USA (TPUSA) in 2012 and was its executive director. He was the chief executive officer (CEO) of [[wikipedia:Turning Point Action|Turning Point Action (TPAction)]] and a member of the [[wikipedia:Council for National Policy|Council for National Policy]] (CNP). The Washington Post described him as "one of the most prominent voices on the right" in his later years. | ||
Kirk was born and raised in the [[wikipedia:Chicago|Chicago]] suburbs of [[wikipedia:Arlington Heights, Illinois|Arlington Heights]] and [[wikipedia:Prospect Heights, Illinois|Prospect Heights, Illinois]]. In high school, Kirk actively engaged in politics, supporting Republican candidate Mark Kirk (no relation) and his U.S. Senate campaign. He briefly attended Harper College before dropping out to pursue political activism full-time, influenced by Tea Party member Bill Montgomery. In 2012, Kirk founded TPUSA, a conservative student organization that quickly grew with backing from donors like [[wikipedia:Foster Friess|Foster Friess]]. | Kirk was born and raised in the [[wikipedia:Chicago|Chicago]] suburbs of [[wikipedia:Arlington Heights, Illinois|Arlington Heights]] and [[wikipedia:Prospect Heights, Illinois|Prospect Heights, Illinois]]. In high school, Kirk actively engaged in politics, supporting Republican candidate Mark Kirk (no relation) and his U.S. Senate campaign. He briefly attended Harper College before dropping out to pursue political activism full-time, influenced by Tea Party member Bill Montgomery. In 2012, Kirk founded TPUSA, a conservative student organization that quickly grew with backing from donors like [[wikipedia:Foster Friess|Foster Friess]]. | ||
Latest revision as of 14:23, 11 September 2025
| Birth Date | October 14, 1993 |
|---|---|
| Birth Place | Arlington Heights, Illinois |
| Residency | Orem, Utah |
| Theology | Evangelicalism |
| Occupation(s) | Political activist |
| Education | Wheeling High School |
| Affiliation(s) | Turning Point USA (founder) |
| Spouse(s) | Erika Lane (Frantzve) Kirk |
| Children | 2 |
| Website | charliekirk.com |
Charles James Kirk (October 14, 1993 – September 10, 2025) was an American right-wing political activist, author, and media personality. He co-founded the conservative organization Turning Point USA (TPUSA) in 2012 and was its executive director. He was the chief executive officer (CEO) of Turning Point Action (TPAction) and a member of the Council for National Policy (CNP). The Washington Post described him as "one of the most prominent voices on the right" in his later years.
Kirk was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs of Arlington Heights and Prospect Heights, Illinois. In high school, Kirk actively engaged in politics, supporting Republican candidate Mark Kirk (no relation) and his U.S. Senate campaign. He briefly attended Harper College before dropping out to pursue political activism full-time, influenced by Tea Party member Bill Montgomery. In 2012, Kirk founded TPUSA, a conservative student organization that quickly grew with backing from donors like Foster Friess.
Kirk expanded the organization's influence through initiatives like the Professor Watchlist and School Board Watchlist, which sought to fire or silence professors for sharing opinions opposed by Turning Point. Critics called this a form of modern day McCarthyism. In 2019, Kirk founded Turning Point Action, a political advocacy arm, and later, with Pentecostal pastor Rob McCoy, formed Turning Point Faith—aimed at mobilizing religious communities on conservative issues. Kirk hosted The Charlie Kirk Show, a conservative talk radio program. A key ally of Donald Trump, Kirk promoted conservative and Trump-aligned causes. He received criticism for a variety of controversial statements, especially regarding his opposition to gun control, abortion, LGBTQ rights, his criticism of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Martin Luther King Jr., and his promotion of Christian nationalism, COVID-19 views, and claims of electoral fraud in 2020.
On September 10, 2025, Kirk was shot and killed while speaking at TPUSA event The Great American Comeback on the campus of Utah Valley University.
