Charlie Kirk
Charlie Kirk was an American conservative political activist and founder of Turning Point USA, a prominent youth-focused political organization, until his assassination in 2025.
Kirk built one of the largest conservative youth movements in the United States starting as a teenager, turning campus organizing into a media and political operation with national reach.
Founding Turning Point USA
Kirk co-founded Turning Point USA in 2012 at just 18 years old, building it over the following decade into one of the largest conservative student organizations in the country, with chapters on hundreds of college campuses.
A Media Presence
Beyond campus organizing, Kirk hosted a widely followed talk radio and podcast program, and became a frequent commentator and campaign surrogate closely aligned with the Republican Party and the Trump political movement.
Campus Debate Tours
Kirk was known for touring college campuses to hold open debates with students who disagreed with him, a format that generated significant social media attention and became a signature part of his public persona.
Assassination
Kirk was shot and killed on September 10, 2025, while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University, an event that triggered a massive surge in public attention and national debate over political violence.
Aftermath
Following his death, leadership of Turning Point USA passed to his widow, Erika Kirk, and his assassination became one of the most searched news events of 2025.
