Charlie Kirk

**Charles James Kirk** (October 14, 1993 &ndash; September 10, 2025) was an American  right-wing and conservative political activist, author and media personality. He co-founded Turning Point USA (TPUSA) with Bill Montgomery in 2012. He was known for hosting the radio show *The Charlie Kirk Show*, going on debate tours in colleges and universities across the United States and for being a supporter of President Donald Trump. 

Kirk was shot dead in September 2025 while speaking at Utah Valley University at the age of 31.

## Early life
Charles James Kirk was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs of Arlington Heights and Prospect Heights, Illinois. In high school, Kirk took part in politics, supporting Mark Kirk (no relation) and his U.S. Senate campaign, as well as campaigning against a price increase in his school's cafeteria. He went to Harper College before dropping out to be a political activist full-time.

## Political activism
In 2012, Kirk founded TPUSA, a conservative student organization, after dropping out of college at the age of 18. It quickly grew with backing from donors like Foster Friess. As TPUSA's CEO, Kirk expanded the organization's influence while raising millions in donations. 

In 2019, Kirk founded Turning Point Action, a political advocacy arm, and later formed Turning Point Faith, aimed at mobilizing religious communities on conservative issues. Kirk hosted *The Charlie Kirk Show*, a conservative talk radio program.

He was known as a supporter of President Donald Trump. Kirk supported conservative and pro-Trump causes and COVID-19 misinformation. He spoke out against critical race theory and denied that climate change is real.

Kirk was appointed by President Donald Trump to a commission promoting "patriotic education" in 2020.

After Donald Trump lost the 2020 presidential election, Kirk supported false and disproven claims of fraud in the election. On November 5, 2020, Kirk was the leader of a Stop the Steal protest at the Maricopa Tabulation Centre in Phoenix. After Trump supporters attacked the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021, Kirk said the violent acts were not an insurrection and did not represent Trump supporters.

Kirk also went on many tours in colleges and universities across the United States. In 2024, Kirk visited around 25 college campuses for the "You're Being Brainwashed" tour, trying to get Gen-Z voters to vote for the Republican Party. The tour has been praised as having a "critical role" in helping Donald Trump's election. After the 2024 presidential election, Kirk helped then President-elect Trump in choosing leadership positions for his administration, including cabinet positions.

## Murder
On September 10, 2025, Kirk was shot in the neck while on stage at his "American Comeback tour" at Utah Valley University. Kirk's wife and two young children were at the event. He was then hospitalized in Orem, Utah under critical condition and was presumed dead shortly afterwards at the age of 31. President Donald Trump confirmed his death on Truth Social. In May 2021, Kirk married Erika Frantzve, a podcaster and businesswoman. They had two children, a daughter and a son.

## Honours and achievements
Kirk was included on the 2018 *Forbes 30 Under 30* list for Law & Policy.

He was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Humanities (D.Hum.) from Liberty University in 2019.

A day after Kirk's death, President Donald Trump announced that Kirk would be posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He was given the award on October 14, what would have been Kirk's 32nd birthday. His widow, Erika, accepted it on his behalf.

## References
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