Charlie Kirk | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Kirk in 2024 | ||||||||||
| Born | October 14, 1993 | |||||||||
| Occupation | Political activist | |||||||||
| Years active | 2012–present | |||||||||
| Organizations | Turning Point USA, Turning Point Action | |||||||||
| Political party | Republican | |||||||||
| Spouse |
Erika Frantzve (m. 2021) | |||||||||
| Children | 2 | |||||||||
| Awards | Full list | |||||||||
YouTube information | ||||||||||
| Channel | ||||||||||
| Years active | 2018–present | |||||||||
| Genre | ||||||||||
| Subscribers | 2.28 million[1] | |||||||||
| Total views | 694 million[1] | |||||||||
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Last updated: Oct 6, 2024 | ||||||||||
| This article is part of a series on |
| Conservatism in the United States |
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Charles J. Kirk (born October 14, 1993)[2][3] is an American conservative political activist, author, podcast/radio talk show host and YouTuber. With Bill Montgomery, he co-founded Turning Point USA in 2012, for which Kirk serves as executive director. He is the chief executive officer (CEO) of Turning Point Action, Turning Point Academy, and Turning Point Faith; president of Turning Point Endowment; and a member of the Council for National Policy.
Kirk was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs of Arlington Heights and Prospect Heights, Illinois. In high school, Kirk actively engaged in politics, supporting Mark Kirk's U.S. Senate campaign and campaigning against a price increase in his school's cafeteria. He briefly attended Harper College before dropping out to pursue political activism full-time, influenced by Tea Party member Bill Montgomery. In 2012, Kirk founded TPUSA, a conservative student organization that quickly grew with backing from donors like Foster Friess.
As TPUSA’s CEO, Kirk has expanded the organization’s influence through initiatives like the Professor Watchlist and School Board Watchlist, 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 hosts "The Charlie Kirk Show," a conservative talk radio program.
Kirk has gained notoriety for his promotion of conservative and Trump-aligned causes, as well as his stance on issues like the COVID-19 response, critical race theory, and climate change. Known for opposing liberal education, Kirk chaired the 1776 Commission under T to promoteting “patriotic education.” Married to Erika Frantzve, Kirk remains a key figure in conservative circles, known for his provocative activism and influence among young Republicans. Kirk has written four books.
- ^ a b "About Charlie Kirk". YouTube.
- ^ Liberty University [@libertyu] (May 10, 2019). "Congratulations to our honorary doctorate recipients Mr. Anthony A. Nobles and Mr. Charles J. Kirk!" (Tweet). Retrieved January 16, 2022 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Turning Point USA - Happy Birthday To One Of America's Greatest Freedom Fighters, Charlie Kirk! 🇺🇸". Facebook. Retrieved April 21, 2023.