Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Charlie Kirk

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

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.

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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".

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: Spoke at ACT for America conference

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

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.

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.

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: 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."