History of Charlie Kirk in Timeline

Charlie Kirk is a prominent American conservative activist, author, and media personality. He is best known as the co-founder and executive director of Turning Point USA (TPUSA), a conservative advocacy group for young Americans. Kirk also serves as CEO of Turning Point Action, Turning Point Academy, and Turning Point Faith, as well as president of Turning Point Endowment. He is also a member of the Council for National Policy. Through these organizations, Kirk promotes conservative viewpoints and engages in political activism.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

1964: Civil Rights Act

Kirk criticized the Civil Rights Act of 1964, calling its passage a "huge mistake" and alleging that it had created a "permanent DEI-type bureaucracy".

1988: Erika Frantzve's birth

In 1988, Erika Frantzve, who would later marry Charlie Kirk, was born.

October 14, 1993: Birth of Charles James Kirk

Charles James Kirk was born on October 14, 1993. He is an American conservative political activist, author, and media personality.

2010: Volunteered for Mark Kirk's U.S. Senate campaign

In 2010, during his junior year at Wheeling High School, Kirk volunteered for the successful U.S. Senate campaign of Illinois Republican Mark Kirk.

2012: Co-founded Turning Point USA

In 2012, Charlie Kirk co-founded Turning Point USA (TPUSA) with Bill Montgomery and serves as its executive director.

2012: Erika Frantzve Wins Miss Arizona USA

In 2012, Erika Frantzve, who would later marry Charlie Kirk, won the Miss Arizona USA pageant competition.

2012: Founded TPUSA

In 2012, Kirk founded TPUSA, a conservative student organization, after being encouraged to engage in political activism full-time by Tea Party member Bill Montgomery.

2012: Founded Turning Point USA after meeting Bill Montgomery and Foster Friess

In 2012, after meeting Bill Montgomery and subsequently Foster Friess at the Republican National Convention, Kirk founded Turning Point USA (TPUSA) and secured funding for the organization.

2015: Stated West Point rejection

In 2015, Kirk stated he was rejected from the United States Military Academy in West Point.

October 2016: Participated in pro-Trump Fox News event

In October 2016, Charlie Kirk participated in a Fox News event with Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and Lara Trump that promoted Donald Trump.

2016: Addressed the Republican National Convention

In 2016, Charlie Kirk addressed the Republican National Convention. During the convention, he stated he would vote for Donald Trump and assisted with travel and media arrangements for Donald Trump Jr.

2016: Published 'Time for a Turning Point'

In 2016, Charlie Kirk co-wrote, with Brent Hamachek, the book Time for a Turning Point: Setting a Course Toward Free Markets and Limited Government for Future Generations, which was published by Simon & Schuster.

Time for a Turning Point: Setting a Course Toward Free Markets and Limited Government for Future Generations

Check it on Amazon

2016: Human trafficking arrests

In 2016, according to Justice Department statistics there were 1,952 human trafficking arrests.

2017: Claimed West Point statement was sarcasm

In 2017, Kirk told The New Yorker that he was being sarcastic when he stated he was rejected from the United States Military Academy in West Point.

2017: Formed Turning Point Endowment Inc.

Turning Point Endowment Inc. was formed in 2017, which is a self-described "supporting organization" whose mission is to support and benefit Turning Point USA's charitable purposes and long-term vitality.

July 7, 2018: Falsely claimed increase in human trafficking arrests

On July 7, 2018, Kirk falsely claimed on social media that Justice Department statistics showed an increase in human trafficking arrests from 1,952 in the year 2016 to 6,087 in the first half of 2018.

December 2018: Falsely claimed protesters in French yellow vests movement chanted "We want Trump."

In December 2018, Kirk falsely claimed that protesters in the French yellow vests movement chanted "We want Trump."

2018: Relatively secular regarding LGBT issues

According to a 2024 NBC News report, Charlie Kirk was relatively secular regarding LGBT issues in 2018, before shifting towards more socially conservative stances.

2018: Spoke at ACT for America conference

In 2018, Charlie Kirk spoke at the annual conference of the anti-Muslim group ACT for America.

2018: Listed on Forbes 30 Under 30

In 2018, Charlie Kirk was listed on the Forbes 30 Under 30 in Law & Policy.

2018: Published 'Campus Battlefield'

In 2018, Charlie Kirk wrote the book Campus Battlefield: How Conservatives Can WIN the Battle on Campus and Why It Matters, with a foreword by Donald Trump Jr.

2018: Kirk repeated something he'd been told about West Point rejection

In 2018, Kirk told the Chicago Tribune that "he was just repeating something he'd been told," about his rejection from the United States Military Academy in West Point.

May 2019: Awarded honorary degree from Liberty University

In May 2019, Charlie Kirk was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Humanities (D.Hum.) from Liberty University.

May 2019: Preparing to launch Turning Point Action

In May 2019, it was reported that Kirk was preparing to launch Turning Point Action, a 501(c)(4) entity designed to target Democrats.

July 2019: Became chairman of Students for Trump

In July 2019, Charlie Kirk became chairman of Students for Trump after it was acquired by Turning Point Action. He then launched a campaign to recruit one million students for Donald Trump's 2020 reelection campaign.

July 2019: Turning Point Action acquired Students for Trump

In July 2019, Kirk announced that Turning Point Action had acquired Students for Trump along with "all associated media assets".

October 2019: Kirk claimed he never said he was rejected from West Point

At a New Hampshire Turning Point event featuring Rand Paul in October 2019, Kirk claimed that he never said he was rejected from the United States Military Academy in West Point.

November 2019: Co-founded 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, owned and housed by Liberty University.

2019: Founded Turning Point Action

In 2019, Kirk founded Turning Point Action, a political advocacy arm, expanding his influence in political activism.

August 2020: Commented on campus closures

At an August 2020 meeting of the Council for National Policy, Charlie Kirk stated that Democrats had made a "foolish thing" by shutting down college campuses, claiming it would reduce voter fraud opportunities.

August 2020: Falwell resigned, students raise objections

In August 2020, Jerry Falwell resigned as president of Liberty University. Students and alumni raised objections about the Falkirk Center's aggressive political tone, considering it inconsistent with the university's mission.

September 2020: Council for National Policy Member

In September 2020, Kirk was the William F. Buckley, Jr. Council Member of the Council for National Policy (CNP).

October 2020: Began hosting "The Charlie Kirk Show"

In October 2020, Kirk began hosting a daily three-hour radio talk show, called "The Charlie Kirk Show", on Salem Media's "The Answer" radio channel.

November 5, 2020: Led 'Stop the Steal' protest

On November 5, 2020, immediately after Donald Trump lost the presidential election, Charlie Kirk promoted false claims of election fraud. He led a "Stop the Steal" protest at the Maricopa Tabulation Center in Phoenix.

2020: COVID-19 misinformation and controversies

In 2020, Charlie Kirk made several controversial and false statements regarding COVID-19. He alleged the WHO covered up information, was briefly banned from Twitter for falsely claiming hydroxychloroquine was "100% effective" and that Michigan's governor threatened doctors using it. He also described social distancing prohibitions in churches as a "Democratic plot against Christianity" and falsely asserted Wuhan authorities were burning patients. Kirk also stated he would not abide by mask requirements, questioning the science behind them.

2020: Spread false information about COVID-19

In 2020, Charlie Kirk spread false information and conspiracy theories about COVID-19 on social media. He referred to COVID-19 as the "China virus," a statement that was retweeted by then-President Trump.

2020: Social influencer in Giuliani's plan

In 2020, Charlie Kirk was considered a "big name" social influencer in Rudy Giuliani's communications plan to overturn the 2020 election.

2020: Published 'The MAGA Doctrine'

In 2020, Charlie Kirk's book The MAGA Doctrine: The Only Ideas That Will Win the Future was published.

2020: Unsuccessful Trump Reelection Campaign Recruitment

In 2020, Charlie Kirk's effort to recruit one million students for the Trump reelection campaign was unsuccessful. TPUSA and the Trump campaign blamed each other for the overall decline in youth support for Trump.

2020: Trump re-election campaign

In 2020, Kirk launched an unsuccessful campaign to recruit one million students for the Trump re-election campaign, leading to TPUSA and the Trump campaign blaming each other for an overall decline in youth support for Trump.

2020: TPUSA finances investigated by ProPublica

In 2020, ProPublica investigated the finances of TPUSA and reported on misleading financial claims, audits and leader enrichment. In 2020, Turning Point USA had $39.2 million in revenues.

2020: Falkirk Center spent money on political Facebook ads

In 2020, the Falkirk Center spent at least $50,000 on political Facebook advertisements promoting Trump and Republican candidates.

January 5, 2021: Turning Point Action sent buses to D.C. protest

On January 5, 2021, Charlie Kirk wrote on Twitter that Turning Point Action and Students for Trump were sending more than 80 "buses of patriots to D.C. to fight for this president" for the January 6th protest. Publix heiress Julie Fancelli gave Kirk's organizations $1.25 million to fund the buses, and Kirk paid $60,000 for Kimberly Guilfoyle to speak at the Trump rally.

February 2021: Leaked CNP membership directory

In February 2021, the CNP's September 2020 membership directory was leaked.

May 2021: Marriage to Erika Frantzve

In May 2021, Charlie Kirk married Erika Frantzve, a podcaster and businesswoman.

May 2021: Urged parents to protest at school board meetings

In May 2021, Charlie Kirk tweeted encouraging parents to protest at school board meetings against mask mandates and the teaching of critical race theory.

July 2021: Promoted misleading claims about COVID-19 vaccines

In July 2021, Charlie Kirk promoted misleading claims regarding the efficacy and safety of COVID-19 vaccines. He appeared on Fox News' Tucker Carlson show and called student mandatory vaccine requirements "medical apartheid".

October 5, 2021: Called George Floyd a scumbag

On October 5, 2021, during the Minnesota leg of the "Exposing Critical Racism Tour", Kirk called George Floyd a "scumbag."

October 2021: Began "Exposing Critical Racism Tour"

In October 2021, Kirk began the "Exposing Critical Racism Tour" of campuses and off-campus venues to fight "racist theories".

October 2021: Commented on Democrats' vision for America

In October 2021, on his podcast, Charlie Kirk stated that Democrats wanted Americans to live in a society with no cultural identity, sexual anarchy, and no private property. He later released a statement on the Claremont Institute website expanding on his remarks after social media backlash.

November 2021: Advocated for state power to stop teachers from indoctrinating children with critical race theory

In a November 2021 Fox News article, Kirk wrote that state power should be used to stop teachers from indoctrinating children with critical race theory.

December 7, 2021: The Charlie Kirk Show podcast ranked highly

As of December 7, 2021, The Charlie Kirk Show podcast was ranked as the 21st most popular podcast on Apple Podcasts.

2021: Liberty University did not renew Kirk's contract and renamed Falkirk Center

In 2021, Liberty University did not renew Charlie Kirk's one-year contract for the Falkirk Center, and the university renamed the organization "Standing for Freedom Center".

2021: TPUSA announced Turning Point Academy

In 2021, TPUSA announced the creation of Turning Point Academy, an online academy targeted at students in schools with "anti-American ideas."

2021: Founded Turning Point Faith

In 2021, after Liberty University did not renew Kirk's contract, Kirk founded Turning Point Faith, an organization dedicated to recruiting pastors and church leaders for political issues.

February 2022: Southern border more important than Ukrainian border

At the February 2022 Conservative Political Action Conference, Charlie Kirk stated that "The southern border matters a lot more than the Ukrainian border" and that the situation on the southern border should be called an invasion.

February 2022: Characterized Russia-Ukraine conflict as a 'border dispute'

In February 2022, after Russia invaded Ukraine, Charlie Kirk characterized the conflict as a "border dispute" and spread false claims from Russian state media that Ukraine was firing mortar shells at a Russian separatist enclave.

August 2022: Birth of First Child

In August 2022, Charlie Kirk and Erika Frantzve welcomed their first child, a daughter.

December 2022: Warned the RNC to listen to grassroots voters

In December 2022, Charlie Kirk warned the Republican National Committee that they needed to listen to their grassroots voters or face the consequences of ignoring them.

2022: Published 'The College Scam'

In 2022, Charlie Kirk's book, The College Scam: How America's Universities Are Bankrupting and Brainwashing Away the Future of America's Youth was published.

The College Scam: How America's Universities Are Bankrupting and Brainwashing Away the Future of America's Youth

Check it on Amazon

2022: Commented on 'Biblical model' for women's romantic relationships

In 2022, at the TPUSA Young Women's Leadership Summit, Charlie Kirk described the "biblical model" for women in romantic relationships as a partner who is "a protector and a leader" and suggested women who want to meet conservative men should start a Turning Point USA chapter.

2022: Twitter account flagged under 'do not amplify'

In 2022, journalist Bari Weiss released a report of internal Twitter documents, alleging that Twitter was censoring conservative personalities. Charlie Kirk's Twitter account was flagged under "do not amplify", meaning algorithms would not highlight his tweets.

2022: Partnership for Turning Point Academy ended

In 2022, the partnership between TPUSA and Arizona education firm StrongMind to open Turning Point Academy ended after StrongMind received backlash.

February 2023: Podcast contained false and misleading statements

A February 2023 Brookings Institution study found that Charlie Kirk's podcast contained the second-highest proportion of false, misleading, and unsubstantiated statements among 36,603 episodes produced by 79 prominent political podcasters.

December 2023: Described Martin Luther King Jr. as "awful"

In December 2023, Kirk described Martin Luther King Jr. as "awful" and condemned the Civil Rights Act of 1964 at AmericaFest.

January 2024: Kirk said that a "myth" had been created around King which had "grown totally out of control"

In January 2024, Kirk said that a "myth" had been created around King which had "grown totally out of control" and that King was currently "the most honored, worshiped, even deified person of the 20th century" despite "most people" supposedly disliking him during his life.

March 2024: Charlie Kirk's Great Replacement Theory post

In March 2024, Charlie Kirk posted on Instagram stating that "The ‘Great Replacement’ is not a theory, it’s a reality." He also shared a screenshot from a Fox News story about illegal immigration under the Biden administration. Kirk defended Elon Musk after Musk was criticized for endorsing an antisemitic post referencing the Great Replacement Theory.

May 2024: Birth of Second Child

In May 2024, Charlie Kirk and Erika Frantzve's second child, a son, was born.

2024: Shift towards more socially conservative stances.

In 2024, Charlie Kirk shifted towards more socially conservative stances, and has argued there is an "LGBTQ agenda", and opposes gay marriage.

2024: Released 'Right Wing Revolution'

In 2024, Charlie Kirk's book, Right Wing Revolution: How to Beat the Woke and Save the West, was released.

Right Wing Revolution: How to Beat the Woke and Save the West

Check it on Amazon

2024: Podcast Download Statistics

In 2024, it was reported that Kirk's podcast is being downloaded between 500,000 and 750,000 times each day. It is currently ranked No. 13 on Apple Podcasts for news.

2024: Blamed DEI programs for aviation issues and made controversial comments about Black pilots

In January 2024, Kirk blamed DEI programs for national aviation issues and said, "If I see a Black pilot, I'm going to be like, 'Boy, I hope he's qualified.'" His comments resulted in conflict with the Republican National Committee.

2024: "You're being brainwashed" tour

Prior to the 2024 presidential election, Kirk visited around 25 college campuses for the "You're being brainwashed" tour. According to Turning Point Action, the tour produced around two billion viral views on social media.

February 2025: Signed with Trinity Broadcasting Network

In February 2025, Charlie Kirk signed with Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) to host a weekday talk show, Charlie Kirk Today.

March 2025: Appointed to the United States Air Force Academy Board of Visitors

In March 2025, President Trump appointed Kirk to the United States Air Force Academy Board of Visitors.

May 2025: Opposed expansion of anti-BDS laws

In May 2025, Charlie Kirk voiced opposition to a bipartisan proposal that would expand anti-BDS laws, stating concerns about the influx of people who "hate America" and emphasizing the importance of free speech.

June 2025: Opposed U.S. involvement in Iran-Israel War

In June 2025, Charlie Kirk voiced his opposition to the involvement of the United States in the Iran–Israel War.

2025: Islamophobic Comments on Muslim Political Candidates

In 2025, following Zohran Mamdani's victory in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary, Charlie Kirk made Islamophobic comments. He connected Mamdani to the 9/11 attacks and accused Muslims of wanting to destabilize Western civilization. He also condemned Omar Fateh, a Muslim mayoral candidate in Minneapolis, as part of an "attempted Islamic takeover of America."