Career Timeline of Charlie Kirk: Major Achievements and Milestones

How Charlie Kirk built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

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

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: 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.

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

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.

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.

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".

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.

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.

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: 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.

February 2021: Leaked CNP membership directory

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

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.

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

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: "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.