History of Charlie Kirk in Timeline
Charles James "Charlie" Kirk was a prominent American right-wing political activist, entrepreneur, and media personality. He co-founded Turning Point USA (TPUSA) in 2012, a conservative student organization, and served as its executive director. Kirk hosted "The Charlie Kirk Show" podcast and authored several books. A staunch supporter of Donald Trump and the MAGA movement, he held significant influence within the Republican Party.
1 day ago : Erika Kirk recounts seeing Charlie after 'assassination' and his legacy.
Erika Kirk describes seeing her husband, Charlie, in the hospital following his 'assassination.' She highlights his incredible achievements and role as a uniting force. A Fox News documentary will feature Turning Point USA.
1964: Criticism of Civil Rights Act
Charlie Kirk became known for his controversial positions, including his criticism of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
October 14, 1993: Birth of Charlie Kirk
On October 14, 1993, Charles James Kirk was born. He became a right-wing political activist, entrepreneur, and media personality.
April 26, 2009: Obama administration acknowledged the WHO's declaration of a public health emergency
On April 26, 2009, the Obama administration acknowledged the WHO's declaration of a public health emergency during the swine flu pandemic. At the time, there were fewer than 280 cases of H1N1 infection reported in the U.S.
2010: Volunteer Work and Media Appearance
In 2010, during his junior year, Charlie Kirk volunteered for Mark Kirk's U.S. Senate campaign and began listening to The Rush Limbaugh Show. He also wrote an essay for Breitbart News and appeared on Fox Business at age 17.
May 2012: Meeting Bill Montgomery and Founding TPUSA
In May 2012, Charlie Kirk met Bill Montgomery at Benedictine University, leading to the co-founding of Turning Point USA a month later. Kirk also secured funding from Foster Friess at the Republican National Convention in 2012.
2012: Co-founding of Turning Point USA
In 2012, Charlie Kirk co-founded Turning Point USA (TPUSA), a conservative student organization.
2012: Rejection from West Point and Enrollment at Harper College
In 2012, Charlie Kirk was rejected from West Point and enrolled at Harper College. He later withdrew to focus on Turning Point USA.
2012: Father Donated to Romney Campaign
In 2012, Charlie Kirk's father was a major donor to the Mitt Romney presidential campaign.
2015: Enrollment at King's College
In 2015, Charlie Kirk enrolled part-time at King's College in New York City, taking online classes but did not receive a college degree.
2015: Kirk applied for US Military Academy
In 2015, Charlie Kirk stated he had applied for nomination to the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York, but was not accepted, and attributed the reason to a less-qualified candidate.
October 2016: Kirk participated in a Fox News event with the Trumps
In October 2016, Charlie Kirk participated in a Fox News event alongside Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and Lara Trump, with a pro-Donald Trump slant.
2016: Kirk falsely claimed increase in human trafficking arrests
In 2016, Kirk shared the false 2018 number regarding increase in human trafficking arrests, which originated from 8chan.
2017: Kirk claimed he was being sarcastic about not being accepted into the US Military Academy
In 2017, Charlie Kirk told The New Yorker that he was being sarcastic when he said that "the slot he considered his went to 'a far less-qualified candidate of a different gender and a different persuasion'" in relation to not being accepted into the US Military Academy.
February 2018: Kirk spoke for the National Rifle Association in Parkland, Florida
In February 2018, following the Parkland school shooting, Charlie Kirk spoke for the National Rifle Association in Parkland, Florida.
July 2018: Kirk Falsely Claimed Increase in Human Trafficking Arrests
In July 2018, Charlie Kirk falsely claimed on social media that U.S. Justice Department statistics showed an increase in human trafficking arrests. He deleted the tweet after a fact-checker debunked the claim.
December 2018: Kirk Falsely Claimed "We want Trump" Chants by Yellow Vests
In December 2018, Charlie Kirk falsely claimed that protesters in the French yellow vests movement chanted "We want Trump". These claims were later repeated by Trump.
2018: Kirk's Stance on Separation of Church and State
In 2018, Charlie Kirk told Dave Rubin, "We do have a separation of church and state, and we should support that."
2018: Kirk repeats he'd been told about not being accepted into the US Military Academy
In 2018, Charlie Kirk told the Chicago Tribune that "he was just repeating something he'd been told" in relation to not being accepted into the US Military Academy.
May 2019: Launch of Turning Point Action
In May 2019, Charlie Kirk prepared to launch Turning Point Action, aimed at electing more conservatives.
July 2019: Acquisition of Students for Trump
In July 2019, Charlie Kirk announced that Turning Point Action had acquired Students for Trump and launched a campaign to mobilize the youth vote for Trump's reelection in 2020.
July 2019: Kirk became chairman of Students for Trump
In July 2019, Charlie Kirk became chairman of Students for Trump, which Turning Point Action had acquired.
October 2019: Kirk Denied Ever Making Claim About Military Academy Rejection
At a New Hampshire Turning Point event featuring Rand Paul in October 2019, Charlie Kirk claimed he never said he had applied for nomination to the U.S. Military Academy in West Point and was not accepted because of a less-qualified candidate.
November 2019: Co-founding of the Falkirk Center
In November 2019, Charlie Kirk and Jerry Falwell Jr. co-founded the Falkirk Center for Faith and Liberty, a right-wing think tank funded by Liberty University.
November 22, 2019: Kirk's statement on marriage
On November 22, 2019, Charlie Kirk stated his belief that "marriage is one man, one woman," while also suggesting that gay people should be allowed to participate in the conservative movement. This statement reflects a nuanced, albeit traditional, view on marriage while advocating for inclusion within the conservative sphere.
2019: Kirk met Rob McCoy
In 2019, Charlie Kirk met Rob McCoy, a pastor, who convinced him that America's founding documents were derived from the Bible.
2019: Professor Watchlist Suspension
In 2019, the Professor Watchlist, published by TPUSA, was briefly suspended by its web host.
March 3, 2020: Kirk released his book The MAGA Doctrine
On March 3, 2020, Charlie Kirk released his book "The MAGA Doctrine", in which he described the Republican Party as a Trump-remade populist party, no longer conservative.
April 2020: Kirk Amplifies Trump's Message
In April 2020, The New York Times reported that Charlie Kirk, aided by Donald Trump Jr., amplified and helped shape President Trump's message, while navigating the line between mainstream conservatism and misinformation.
August 2020: Kirk on Democrats Closing Campuses
At an August 2020 Council for National Policy meeting, Charlie Kirk stated that Democrats shutting down college campuses would reduce ballot harvesting and voter fraud opportunities.
August 2020: Falwell's Resignation
In August 2020, Jerry Falwell resigned as president of Liberty University.
September 2020: Kirk was the William F. Buckley Jr. Council Member of the Council for National Policy (CNP)
In September 2020, Charlie Kirk held the position of William F. Buckley Jr. Council Member of the Council for National Policy (CNP), a conservative activist and donor network.
October 2020: Launch of The Charlie Kirk Show
From October 2020 until his death, Charlie Kirk hosted The Charlie Kirk Show on Salem Media Group's "The Answer" radio channel.
November 5, 2020: Kirk led a Stop the Steal protest in Phoenix
On November 5, 2020, Charlie Kirk led a Stop the Steal protest at the Maricopa Tabulation Center in Phoenix, following the 2020 U.S. presidential election.
2020: Promotion of Electoral Fraud Claims
In 2020, Charlie Kirk promoted false claims of electoral fraud, aligning with controversial narratives.
2020: Kirk refused to abide by mask requirements
In 2020, Charlie Kirk refused to abide by mask requirements, claiming that "the science around masks is very questionable".
2020: Kirk spread misinformation about COVID-19
In 2020, Charlie Kirk spread false information and conspiracy theories about COVID-19 on social media, criticized Democrats' criticism of Trump's withdrawal of WHO funding, and called COVID-19 the "China virus". He also alleged the WHO covered up information about the pandemic. He was briefly banned from Twitter after falsely claiming hydroxychloroquine was effective in treating the virus.
2020: ProPublica Investigation
In 2020, ProPublica investigated TPUSA's finances, revealing misleading claims and enrichment of leaders, including Kirk's salary increase and condo purchase. Turning Point USA had $39.2 million in revenue.
2020: Mobilizing Youth Vote for Trump Reelection
Turning Point Action mobilized the youth vote for the 2020 Trump reelection campaign. The unsuccessful effort led TPUSA and the 2020 Trump campaign to blame each other for an overall decline in Trump's youth support.
January 5, 2021: Buses to D.C. Protest
On January 5, 2021, Charlie Kirk tweeted about sending buses of "patriots" to Washington, D.C. to protest. Julie Fancelli donated $1.25 million to fund the buses to the January 6 event, and Kirk paid $60,000 for Kimberly Guilfoyle to speak at the rally.
February 2021: CNP's September 2020 membership directory leaked
In February 2021, the September 2020 membership directory of the Council for National Policy (CNP), which identified Charlie Kirk as a member, was leaked.
July 2021: Kirk promoted misleading claims about COVID-19 vaccines
In July 2021, Charlie Kirk promoted misleading claims about the efficacy and safety of COVID-19 vaccines. He also called mandatory requirements for students to take the COVID-19 vaccine "medical apartheid" and urged parents to protest at school board meetings against mask-wearing.
2021: Founding of Turning Point Faith
In 2021, Charlie Kirk and Rob McCoy founded Turning Point Faith to encourage church leaders to be active in political issues, aiming to return American society to Christian values.
2021: Kirk promoted the Seven Mountain Mandate
In 2021, Charlie Kirk cited "Occupy until I come", aligning himself with the Seven Mountain Mandate, which asserts that Christians should dominate seven areas of society.
2021: Falkirk Center Renamed
In 2021, Liberty University renamed the Falkirk Center to the Standing for Freedom Center after not renewing Kirk's contract in late 2020.
2021: Launch of Turning Point Academy Announced
In 2021, TPUSA announced it would launch Turning Point Academy as an online alternative to schools. StrongMind initially partnered with TPUSA, but the partnership ended after backlash.
2021: TPUSA Online Growth
In 2021, TPUSA's monthly online average grew to 111,000 unique visitors.
December 2022: Announcement of the Mount Vernon Project
In December 2022, Charlie Kirk announced the Mount Vernon Project, an initiative by Turning Point Action to remove non-grassroots conservatives from the Republican National Committee.
December 2022: Appearance Before January 6 Committee
In December 2022, Charlie Kirk appeared before the U.S. House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack and pleaded the Fifth Amendment. His team provided 8,000 pages of records. Ali Alexander blamed Kirk and TPUSA for financing travel to the Save America rally.
December 2022: Kirk urged the Republican National Committee to listen to grassroots voters
In December 2022, Charlie Kirk urged the Republican National Committee to listen to their grassroots voters, warning of a "stunted and muted Republican Party" if they were ignored.
2022: Controversies and Twitter Files
In 2022, Charlie Kirk called for bailing out the attacker of Nancy Pelosi's husband. Also in 2022, Bari Weiss released "The Twitter Files", alleging Twitter's censorship of conservative personalities, including Kirk's account being flagged under "do not amplify".
2022: Kirk called the separation of church and state a "fabrication"
In 2022, Charlie Kirk called the separation of church and state in the United States a "fabrication".
2022: Partnership with Dream City Christian School
In 2022, Turning Point partnered with Dream City Christian School, which received $900,000 in Arizona school voucher funds in the 2022-2023 school year.
February 2023: Brookings Institution Study
A February 2023 Brookings Institution study found Kirk's podcast contained the second-highest proportion of false, misleading, and unsubstantiated statements among political podcasters.
April 2023: Kirk at a TPUSA event in Salt Lake City
During an April 2023 TPUSA event in Salt Lake City, Utah, Charlie Kirk stated it's worth having some gun deaths every year to protect the Second Amendment and other God-given rights.
October 2023: Kirk calls for Ilhan Omar's deportation
In October 2023, Charlie Kirk called U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar a "terrorist sympathizer" and called for her deportation.
2023: Kirk called for the imprisonment or death penalty of Joe Biden
In 2023, Charlie Kirk called for the imprisonment or the death penalty of Joe Biden for "crimes against America."
2023: Kirk on Western Civilization
In 2023, Charlie Kirk gave a speech in which he asserted the superiority of Western civilization due to the role of Christianity.
2023: School Voucher Funds Received
In the 2022-2023 school year, Dream City Christian School received $900,000 in Arizona school voucher funds.
April 1, 2024: Kirk Calls for National Ban on Gender-Affirming Care and Imprisonment of Doctors
On April 1, 2024, Charlie Kirk called for Donald Trump to propose a nationwide ban on gender-affirming care for transgender individuals. Additionally, he advocated for the imprisonment of doctors who provide such care and suggested "Nuremberg-style" trials for them. He also promoted misinformation regarding violence allegedly committed by transgender people.
April 2024: Kirk created a TikTok account
In April 2024, Charlie Kirk created a TikTok account, reversing his previous skepticism about the platform. He gained popularity by posting videos of himself talking to college students during campus tours, with some videos reaching 50 million views.
June 8, 2024: Kirk criticizes Ms. Rachel's Pride Month Post
On June 8, 2024, Charlie Kirk criticized YouTuber Ms. Rachel for quoting the Bible verse "love thy neighbor" in a post celebrating Pride Month. Kirk argued that she was being selective, referencing Leviticus 18 and suggesting that the Bible also supports the stoning of men who lay with other men.
September 2024: Kirk argued that abortion is murder
In September 2024, Charlie Kirk participated in a debate, hosted by Jubilee Media, in which he argued that abortion is murder and should be illegal, with no exceptions.
November 2024: Trump Jr. joined 1789 Capital
In November 2024, after Donald Trump's 2024 election victory, Donald Trump Jr. joined 1789 Capital, a MAGA business investment firm where Charlie Kirk was an early investor.
2024: Kirk comments on the Christian Nation
In 2024, Charlie Kirk said that the constitutional crisis stems from not having a Christian nation, asserting that liberty requires a Christian population. He declared, "This is a Christian state. I'd like to see it stay that way."
2024: Podcast Downloads
In 2024, Charlie Kirk's podcast was downloaded between 500,000 and 750,000 times each day.
January 2025: Kirk keeps Jewish sabbath
In January 2025, Charlie Kirk stated that he had been observing a "Jewish sabbath" since 2021, abstaining from using his phone from Friday night to Saturday night, viewing it as a Christian commandment.
March 2025: Trump appointed Kirk to the U.S. Air Force Academy Board of Visitors
In March 2025, Charlie Kirk was appointed to the U.S. Air Force Academy Board of Visitors by Donald Trump.
April 2025: Kirk expresses concerns about free speech
In April 2025, Charlie Kirk voiced his apprehension that the Trump administration's crackdowns on college campuses over pro-Palestinian protests could threaten free speech and be used as a weapon against antisemitism. He cautioned against using antisemitism as a justification for censorship or imprisonment, fearing it could lead to the suppression of various forms of speech.
May 2025: Kirk opposes anti-BDS bill
In May 2025, Charlie Kirk voiced his opposition to a bipartisan bill aimed at expanding anti-BDS laws, which penalize the boycott of Israel. He argued that the bill would likely exacerbate antisemitism and reinforce the narrative that Israel controls the U.S. government.
July 15, 2025: Kirk conducted extensive interviews about Jeffrey Epstein
On July 15, 2025, Charlie Kirk conducted extensive interviews about Jeffrey Epstein on his podcast and pressured Trump's administration to release more information. By this point, he was a prominent figure in the MAGA movement.
July 2025: Kirk blames Texas flood deaths on DEI
In July 2025, Charlie Kirk blamed the high death toll of the Central Texas floods on DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives, suggesting a connection between the two.
July 2025: Kirk warns against hatred of Jews
In July 2025, Charlie Kirk cautioned his followers against hating Jews, describing it as "evil" and "demonic." He asserted his strong support for Israel and opposition to antisemitism. Kirk also faced accusations of antisemitism from various individuals and organizations, including the Anti-Defamation League, which criticized him for providing a platform for extremists and conspiracy theorists.
August 2025: Kirk Called for Elimination of Jasmine Crockett's Congressional District
In August 2025, Charlie Kirk called for the elimination of Jasmine Crockett's congressional district as part of the 2025 Texas redistricting, citing an "attempt to eliminate the white population in this country".
August 2025: Kirk advocates for legalizing the burning of Pride and BLM flags
In August 2025, Charlie Kirk discussed the burning of Pride flags, stating that people arrested for burning Pride or Black Lives Matter flags should have their convictions overturned. He argued that it should be legal to burn these flags in public.
August 2025: Kirk defends Israel
In August 2025, Charlie Kirk emphasized his unwavering support for Israel, citing his history of defending the country and his belief in the scriptural land rights granted to Israel. He also expressed his commitment to fighting for Israel and reiterated pro-Israeli talking points regarding the Gaza war, blaming Hamas for civilian deaths and denying that Israel was starving Palestinians.
August 2025: Kirk disagrees with Trump's decision to send aid to Ukraine
In August 2025, Charlie Kirk expressed his disagreement with Donald Trump's decision to provide additional military aid to Ukraine, questioning the rationale behind it unless it facilitated a peace settlement. He referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a "CIA puppet" and "gangster" who had no interest in ending the war.
September 9, 2025: Kirk Claims White Individuals Are More Likely to Be Attacked by Black Individuals
On September 9, 2025, Charlie Kirk, while discussing the killing of Iryna Zarutska, claimed that white individuals are more likely to be attacked by black individuals, even on a per capita basis. He accused Democrats of spreading a false narrative about relentless assaults against Black people by white people.
September 10, 2025: Death of Charlie Kirk
On September 10, 2025, Charlie Kirk was assassinated, leading to widespread reactions and discussions about political violence.
September 10, 2025: Assassination at TPUSA Event
On September 10, 2025, Charlie Kirk was shot and killed while speaking at a TPUSA public debate event at Utah Valley University. His death garnered international attention.
September 2025: Carlson claims Kirk disliked Netanyahu
In September 2025, Tucker Carlson claimed that Charlie Kirk was a supporter of Israel but disliked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and was dismayed by events in Gaza. Carlson added that Kirk disapproved of Netanyahu using the United States to wage wars on behalf of Israel.
December 2025: Kirk's book "Stop, in the Name of God" to be released
In December 2025, Charlie Kirk's book titled "Stop, in the Name of God: Why Honoring the Sabbath Will Transform Your Life" is slated for release by Winning Team Publishing.
2025: Kirk links Islam to the decline of America and criticizes a Muslim mayoral candidate
In 2025, Charlie Kirk wrote that "Islam is the sword the left is using to slit the throat of America." Following Zohran Mamdani's victory in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary, Kirk referenced the 9/11 attacks and implied a connection between Mamdani's Muslim faith and the attacks, sparking controversy and accusations of Islamophobia.
2025: Continued Leadership of Turning Point USA
Until his death in 2025, Charlie Kirk remained the executive director and public face of Turning Point USA. TPUSA expanded to over 2,000 college and high school chapters.
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