Charlie Kirk, full name Charles James Kirk (October 14, 1993 – September 10, 2025), was an American conservative political activist, author, and media personality. He co-founded the conservative organization Turning Point USA (TPUSA) in 2012 and served as its executive director. Kirk was a prominent voice of the populist MAGA movement and a key ally of former U.S. President Donald Trump. Known for his conservative activism, he was involved in several controversial political initiatives and stances, including opposition to gun control, abortion, and LGBTQ rights, as well as spreading misinformation on COVID-19 and electoral fraud claims. Tragically, Kirk was shot and killed while speaking at a public event at Utah Valley University in September 2025.
He was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs of Arlington Heights and Prospect Heights, Illinois, where he became involved in politics at a young age. Kirk briefly attended Harper College before dedicating himself full-time to political activism. His organization TPUSA became a major force in mobilizing young conservatives across the U.S., and he hosted his own conservative talk radio program called The Charlie Kirk Show.
His assassination in September 2025 during a TPUSA event shook the political landscape and triggered a major law enforcement investigation.
