Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Charlie Kirk

A closer look at the most debated and controversial moments involving Charlie Kirk.

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.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

1964: Criticism of Civil Rights Act

Charlie Kirk became known for his controversial positions, including his criticism of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

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.

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 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.

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 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: Professor Watchlist Suspension

In 2019, the Professor Watchlist, published by TPUSA, was briefly suspended by its web host.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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".

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."

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.

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.

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."

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 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 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.

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.