Career Timeline of Charlie Kirk: Major Achievements and Milestones

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

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.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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: 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.

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: 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.

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: 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: 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Stop, in the Name of God: Why Honoring the Sabbath Will Transform Your Life

Check it on Amazon

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.