Charlie Kirk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charlie Kirk
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Kirk in July 2025
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| Born |
Charles James Kirk
October 14, 1993 |
| Died | September 10, 2025 (aged 31) Orem, Utah, U.S.
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| Cause of death | Gunshot wound |
| Occupation | |
| Years active | 2012–2025 |
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| Political party | Republican |
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| Spouse(s) |
Erika Frantzve
(m. 2021) |
| Children | 2 |
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Charles James Kirk (October 14, 1993 – September 10, 2025) was an American conservative political activist, author, and media personality. He was known for co-founding the student organization Turning Point USA (TPUSA) in 2012. He was also the head of Turning Point Action and a member of the Council for National Policy. In his later years, he became a leading voice in the MAGA movement within the Republican Party.
Kirk grew up in the suburbs of Chicago. He attended Harper College for a short time but left to focus on his work as a political activist. He started Turning Point USA to get more young people involved in conservative politics. He also hosted The Charlie Kirk Show, a popular conservative talk radio program.
Kirk was seen as a key figure in getting young people interested in voting and conservative ideas. He believed in traditional values and the importance of being a positive part of the community. He was a close ally of former President Donald Trump and promoted causes that aligned with Trump's goals.
On September 10, 2025, Kirk was shot and killed while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University. His death received attention from all over the world. Many leaders spoke out against political violence after the event.
Contents
Early life and education
Charles James Kirk was born on October 14, 1993, in Arlington Heights, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. His mother was a mental health counselor, and his father was an architect. Kirk was a member of the Boy Scouts of America and earned the rank of Eagle Scout.
When he was in high school, he volunteered for the U.S. Senate campaign of Republican Mark Kirk (who is not related to him). He also wrote an essay for the website Breitbart News about what he saw as a liberal bias in his school's textbooks. This led to him appearing on the Fox Business television channel.
After high school, Kirk attended Harper College but left after one semester to become a full-time political activist. He met Bill Montgomery, an older activist who encouraged him. Soon after, Kirk founded Turning Point USA to get young people involved in politics. He met Foster Friess, a major donor, who helped fund the new organization.
Organizations
Turning Point USA and Turning Point Action
Kirk was the leader and public face of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) from its start in 2012 until his death. He co-founded the group when he was 18 years old. TPUSA grew into a large media operation with the help of conservative donors. The organization's goal is to promote conservative ideas among young people, especially on college campuses.
One of TPUSA's projects was the Professor Watchlist, a list of college professors that the group believed were too liberal. Some people criticized the watchlist, saying it could harm academic freedom.
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In 2019, Kirk also launched Turning Point Action, a related group that focused more on political campaigns. Turning Point Action took over the "Students for Trump" organization and launched a campaign to get one million students to support the 2020 Trump reelection campaign.
On January 5, 2021, Kirk announced on Twitter that Turning Point Action was sending buses of supporters to a protest in Washington, D.C. The next day, some protesters entered the U.S. Capitol building. Kirk later said that the people who were violent did not represent most Trump supporters.
Media career
From 2020 until his death, Kirk hosted The Charlie Kirk Show, a daily three-hour radio talk show. His podcast was very popular, with hundreds of thousands of downloads each day. He also hosted a streaming show called "Turning Point Live" aimed at younger audiences.
In 2024, Kirk created a TikTok account. He posted many videos of himself talking with college students during his campus tours. Some of these videos were viewed tens of millions of times. In 2025, he also began hosting a weekday talk show on the Trinity Broadcasting Network.
Books
Kirk wrote several books about his political ideas. His books include:
- Time for a Turning Point (2016)
- Campus Battlefield (2018)
- The MAGA Doctrine (2020)
- The College Scam (2022)
- Right Wing Revolution (2024)
Political views and activism
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Kirk was a well-known conservative and a strong supporter of Donald Trump. He first spoke at the 2016 Republican National Convention. At first, he was not a big fan of Trump, but he later became one of his most important allies. He often helped Donald Trump Jr. with media and travel during the 2016 campaign.
Kirk believed that the Republican Party had changed to become a more populist party under Trump's leadership. He was a key figure in the MAGA movement. After Trump won the 2024 election, Kirk helped the president-elect by suggesting people for important government positions.
Kirk was known for his strong and outspoken opinions on many topics, including politics, culture, and history. His views often created a lot of debate and were considered controversial by many people. He was a supporter of the right to own guns and believed that Christian values were important for the country. He enjoyed engaging in discussions with students on college campuses who had different viewpoints.
Personal life
In May 2021, Kirk married Erika Kirk (born Erika Frantzve), a businesswoman and podcaster who was Miss Arizona USA in 2012. They had two children, a daughter born in 2022 and a son born in 2024.
Kirk was an evangelical Christian. In his later years, he became a supporter of Christian nationalism, the idea that the United States should be a Christian nation. He helped start an organization called Turning Point Faith to encourage church leaders to become more involved in politics.
Death
On September 10, 2025, Kirk was on stage at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, for a TPUSA event. While he was speaking, he was fatally shot. The event was attended by about 3,000 people.
Kirk was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. He was 31 years old. The FBI began an investigation into the shooting.
His death was reported around the world. President Trump and many other political leaders from both parties expressed their sadness. Trump ordered all U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff in his honor.
Legacy and recognition
In 2018, Kirk was listed on the Forbes magazine "30 Under 30" list for Law & Policy. In 2019, he received an honorary doctorate degree from Liberty University.
A day after his death, on September 11, 2025, President Trump announced that Kirk would be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, one of the highest honors for a civilian in the United States.
See also
In Spanish: Charlie Kirk para niños
