who was charlie kirk?

Charlie Kirk (October 14, 1993 – September 10, 2025) was an American conservative political activist, author, and media personality. He co-founded the student organization Turning Point USA (TPUSA) in 2012 and served as its executive director. Kirk was a prominent voice in the populist MAGA movement, closely allied with former President Donald Trump. Born in the Chicago suburbs, Kirk briefly attended Harper College before dedicating himself full- time to political activism. Under his leadership, TPUSA became the largest conservative youth movement in the U.S., promoting conservative values on college campuses and among young voters. He was known for his confrontational style, strong opposition to gun control, abortion, and LGBTQ rights, and promotion of Christian nationalism and Trump-aligned causes. Kirk hosted a daily conservative talk show, The Charlie Kirk Show, and was influential in mobilizing young voters, including voters of color, in recent elections. He was tragically shot and killed at age 31 while speaking at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University in 2025, an incident that drew widespread attention and condemnation of political violence. He is remembered as a powerful conservative figure who reshaped youth engagement in politics and was a major force in American right-wing activism during his life.