History of Charlie Kirk in Timeline
Charlie Kirk is an American right-wing political activist, entrepreneur, and media personality. He is known for co-founding the conservative organization Turning Point USA (TPUSA) in 2012, where he served as executive director. Kirk also published books and hosted 'The Charlie Kirk Show.' He is a prominent figure in the MAGA movement within the Republican Party and is regarded as an icon of contemporary conservatism.
1950: Implied Stance on Taking Taiwan
In 2025, Charlie Kirk mentioned that we probably should have taken Taiwan in 1950 right after World War II.
1964: Civil Rights Act of 1964
Charlie Kirk condemned the Civil Rights Act of 1964 calling its passage a 'huge mistake'.
1964: Criticism of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Charlie Kirk voiced criticism of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, aligning with his broader conservative stances. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
October 14, 1993: Birth of Charles James Kirk
On October 14, 1993, Charles James Kirk was born. He would later become a prominent right-wing political activist, entrepreneur, 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 U.S. Senate campaign of Illinois Republican Mark Kirk. During his junior year, he also began listening to The Rush Limbaugh Show.
2011: Reference to the Military Intervention in Libya
In 2025, Charlie Kirk made reference to the 2011 military intervention in Libya stating that, "Libya has been a catastrophe. Libya has been a disaster ever since we removed Gaddafi ... Gaddafi voluntarily denuclearized, and then he got sodomized in the streets of Libya, and we still have troops in Libya.
May 2012: Speech at Benedictine University and Meeting Bill Montgomery
In May 2012, 18-year-old Kirk gave a speech at Benedictine University's "Youth Government Day" and met Bill Montgomery, who encouraged him to pursue political activism full-time. This event was a turning point in Kirk's career.
2012: Co-founded Turning Point USA
In 2012, Charlie Kirk co-founded Turning Point USA (TPUSA), a conservative organization, and became its executive director. This marked a significant career milestone for Kirk.
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: Rejection from West Point
In 2012, Kirk applied to the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York, but was rejected. He was accepted to Baylor University but instead enrolled at Harper College.
2012: Father Donates to Romney Campaign
In 2012, Kirk's father was a major donor to the Mitt Romney presidential campaign. This highlighted the family's involvement in conservative political circles.
2015: Enrolled part-time at King's College
In 2015, Kirk was enrolled part-time at King's College in New York City, where he took online classes. He never received a college degree during his lifetime.
2016: Publication of "Time for a Turning Point"
In 2016, Charlie Kirk co-wrote the book "Time for a Turning Point: Setting a Course Toward Free Markets and Limited Government for Future Generations" with Brent Hamachek, published by Post Hill Press.
2016: Opposition to the Paris Agreement
In 2016, Charlie Kirk opposed the Paris Agreement on climate change.
2017: Admission of TPUSA Accepting Fossil Fuel Funding
In 2017, Charlie Kirk admitted that Turning Point USA (TPUSA) had accepted funding from the fossil fuel industry.
2018: Listed on Forbes 30 Under 30
In 2018, Charlie Kirk was listed on the Forbes 30 Under 30 in Law & Policy.
2018: Publication of "Campus Battlefield"
In 2018, Charlie Kirk wrote the book "Campus Battlefield: How Conservatives Can WIN the Battle on Campus and Why It Matters", published by Post Hill Press, with a foreword by Donald Trump Jr.
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, reports indicated that Kirk was preparing to launch Turning Point Action, a 501(c)(4) entity designed to elect more conservatives. This marked a significant expansion of TPUSA's activities.
July 2019: Acquisition of Students for Trump
In July 2019, Kirk announced that Turning Point Action had acquired Students for Trump along with "all associated media assets". He became chairman and launched a campaign to mobilize the youth vote for the 2020 Trump reelection campaign.
November 2019: Co-founded the Falkirk Center for Faith and Liberty
In November 2019, 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: Marriage Definition
On November 22, 2019, Charlie Kirk stated his belief that "marriage is one man, one woman", while also advocating for the inclusion of gay individuals within the conservative movement.
2019: Visit to Jerusalem
During a visit to Jerusalem in 2019, Charlie Kirk told an audience, "I'm very pro-Israel ... and my whole life I have defended Israel".
2019: Professor Watchlist Briefly Suspended
In 2019, the Professor Watchlist, published by TPUSA, was briefly suspended by its web host. Critics say this and the School Board Watchlist threaten academic freedom.
August 2020: Jerry Falwell Jr. Resigns from Liberty University
In August 2020, Jerry Falwell Jr. resigned as president of Liberty University. This event had implications for the Falkirk Center.
October 2020: Launched 'The Charlie Kirk Show'
In October 2020, Kirk launched 'The Charlie Kirk Show', a daily three-hour radio talk show on Salem Media Group's "The Answer" radio channel. It became a popular podcast.
2020: Promotion of False Claims of Electoral Fraud
In 2020, Charlie Kirk promoted false claims of electoral fraud, aligning himself with Trumpist stances and contributing to controversies surrounding the U.S. presidential election.
2020: Publication of "The MAGA Doctrine"
In 2020, Charlie Kirk wrote "The MAGA Doctrine: The Only Ideas That Will Win the Future", which was published by Harper Collins. The book received mixed reviews.
2020: Campaign to mobilize youth vote
In 2020, Kirk launched a campaign to mobilize the youth vote for the Trump reelection campaign. The campaign was ultimately unsuccessful.
2020: ProPublica Investigation of TPUSA's Finances
In 2020, ProPublica investigated TPUSA's finances and found "misleading financial claims," that audits were not independent, and that leaders had enriched themselves. Kirk's salary increased significantly, and he bought an $855,000 condo. TPUSA had $39.2 million in revenue.
January 5, 2021: Turning Point Action Sends Buses to D.C.
On January 5, 2021, the day before the Capitol attack, Kirk announced that Turning Point Action and Students for Trump were sending buses of patriots to D.C. to "fight for this president". Julie Fancelli provided $1.25 million to fund the buses. Kirk also paid Kimberly Guilfoyle $60,000 to speak at the rally.
May 2021: Marriage to Erika Frantzve
In May 2021, Charlie Kirk married Erika Kirk (née Frantzve), a businesswoman and podcaster.
2021: Partnership with Rob McCoy to Launch TPUSA Faith
In 2021, Charlie Kirk partnered with California pastor Rob McCoy to launch TPUSA Faith to mobilize conservative Christians to vote Republican.
2021: Liberty University Renamed the Falkirk Center
In 2021, Liberty University renamed the Falkirk Center to the Standing for Freedom Center, after not renewing Kirk's contract in late 2020.
2021: TPUSA Announces Online Academy
In 2021, TPUSA announced the launch of an online academy as an alternative to schools with "anti-American ideas", called Turning Point Academy, intending to cater to families seeking an "America-first education".
2021: TPUSA Online Visitors
In 2021, TPUSA's monthly online average grew to 111,000 unique visitors. This indicates the growing online presence of the organization.
2021: Promotion of Climate Change Denial in TPUSA Video
In 2021, a Turning Point USA video featuring Charlie Kirk claimed there is "no factual data to back up global warming" and that scientists do not know the cause.
2021: Founded Turning Point Faith
In 2021, after Liberty University did not renew Kirk's contract, Kirk and Rob McCoy founded Turning Point Faith to encourage pastors and church leaders to be active in politics.
February 2022: Comments on Southern Border vs. 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 called for Republican leaders to recognize the situation at the southern border as an invasion.
August 2022: Birth of Daughter
In August 2022, Charlie Kirk and Erika Kirk had a daughter.
December 2022: Announced the Mount Vernon Project
In December 2022, Kirk announced the Mount Vernon Project, an initiative by Turning Point Action to remove members from the Republican National Committee who were not "grassroot conservatives".
December 2022: Testified Before January 6 Committee
In December 2022, Kirk appeared before the U.S. House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack and pleaded the Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination. Ali Alexander blamed Kirk and TPUSA for financing travel to the Save America rally.
2022: Publication of "The College Scam"
In 2022, "The College Scam: How America's Universities Are Bankrupting and Brainwashing Away the Future of America's Youth" was published.
2022: Warning that Climate Activism Would Erode American Sovereignty
In 2022, Charlie Kirk warned that climate activism would erode American sovereignty and private property, describing it as a Trojan Horse for Marxism.
2022: Controversies Surrounding Twitter Account
In 2022, Kirk's Twitter account was flagged under "do not amplify", limiting its reach on the platform. Also in 2022, Kirk called for a patriot to bail out of jail the man who attacked Nancy Pelosi's husband.
2022: Partnership with Dream City Christian School
In 2022, Turning Point partnered with Dream City Christian School, a private school in Arizona. In the 2022-2023 school year, the school received $900,000 in Arizona school voucher funds.
February 2023: Brookings Institution Study
In February 2023, a Brookings Institution study found that Kirk's podcast contained the second-highest proportion of false, misleading, and unsubstantiated statements among prominent political podcasters.
November 2023: Remarks on Jewish Communities and Anti-Whiteness
In November 2023, Charlie Kirk stated that Jewish communities were promoting the same type of hatred against whites that they purportedly wanted to stop. He also claimed that Jewish donors largely financed the philosophical basis of anti-whiteness.
2023: Dream City Christian School Received School Voucher Funds
In the 2022-2023 school year, Dream City Christian School, which partnered with Turning Point, received $900,000 in Arizona school voucher funds. This occurred as part of their ongoing collaboration.
2023: Promotion of Conspiracy Theory
Shortly after the October 7 attacks on Israel in 2023, Charlie Kirk promoted a conspiracy theory alleging the Israeli government knew that Hamas was going to launch the attack.
April 2024: Created TikTok account
In April 2024, Charlie Kirk created a TikTok account after previously expressing skepticism. His account gained popularity after he posted numerous videos of himself talking to college students on his campus tours, with some videos garnering as many as 50 million views.
May 2024: Birth of Son
In May 2024, Charlie Kirk and Erika Kirk had a son.
June 8, 2024: Criticism of Ms. Rachel's Pride Month Post
On June 8, 2024, Charlie Kirk criticized YouTuber Ms. Rachel on The Charlie Kirk Show for a Pride Month post that quoted the Bible verse "love thy neighbor". Kirk argued she was being selective and referenced Leviticus 18, which mentions stoning for those who lay with another man. Kirk also called being gay an "error" and likened the LGBTQ pride movement to encouraging drug addicts.
November 2024: Apology to the Russian People
In November 2024, Charlie Kirk issued an "apology" to the Russian people, asserting that most Americans do not want war with Russia and that those who do are a minority losing power.
November 2024: Donald Trump Jr. joined 1789 Capital
In November 2024, Donald Trump Jr. joined 1789 Capital, an investment firm in which Kirk was an early investor, after Trump won the 2024 election.
2024: Achieved Goal of Shifting Youth Vote
By 2024, TPUSA achieved its goal of shifting the youth vote at least 10 points toward Republicans, as mentioned by Kirk in an interview with Gavin Newsom in March 2025.
2024: Support for Crackdowns on Pro-Palestinian Protests
In 2024, Charlie Kirk backed Republican crackdowns on the pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses and activist deportations during the second Trump presidency.
2024: Release of "Right Wing Revolution"
In 2024, Charlie Kirk's book "Right Wing Revolution: How to Beat the Woke and Save the West" was released.
2024: Podcast Download Numbers
In 2024, Kirk's podcast was downloaded between 500,000 and 750,000 times each day, according to TPUSA internal data, demonstrating its popularity.
February 2025: Signed with Trinity Broadcasting Network
In February 2025, Charlie Kirk signed with the Trinity Broadcasting Network to host a weekday talk show, Charlie Kirk Today.
March 2025: Appointed to U.S. Air Force Academy Board of Visitors
In March 2025, Trump appointed Charlie Kirk to the U.S. Air Force Academy Board of Visitors.
March 2025: Interview with Gavin Newsom
In March 2025, during an interview with Gavin Newsom, Kirk discussed the ideological imbalance on college campuses and TPUSA's goal to shift the youth vote toward Republicans.
April 2025: Concerns over Crackdowns on Campuses
In April 2025, Charlie Kirk voiced concerns that the Trump administration's crackdowns on campuses, in response to pro-Palestinian protests, threatened free speech and weaponized antisemitism.
May 1, 2025: Skepticism over U.S. Intelligence Community
On May 1, 2025, during The Charlie Kirk Show, Charlie Kirk expressed skepticism regarding the U.S. intelligence community's claims about Iran's nuclear capabilities. He questioned trusting them so quickly after past misrepresentations.
May 2025: Opposition to Anti-BDS Laws
In May 2025, Charlie Kirk opposed a bipartisan bill to expand anti-BDS laws, arguing that it would "only create more antisemitism, and play into growing narratives that Israel is running the U.S. government."
June 2025: Playing the Middle Way amid MAGA Movement Infights
Prior to the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites in June 2025, amidst infights over foreign policy within the MAGA movement, Charlie Kirk played the middle way between criticizing U.S. involvement while maintaining "full and complete trust" in Trump.
July 15, 2025: Interviewed about Jeffrey Epstein and pressured Trump's administration
On July 15, 2025, Kirk conducted extensive interviews about Jeffrey Epstein on his podcast and pressured Trump's administration to release more information. By then, Kirk was one of the most prominent figures in the MAGA movement.
July 2025: Warnings Against Hatred of Jews and Accusations of Antisemitism
In July 2025, Charlie Kirk cautioned his followers against hating Jews, denouncing it as "evil" and "demonic." He highlighted his long record of support for Israel and opposition to antisemitism. Nevertheless, Kirk was also accused of antisemitism, with the Anti-Defamation League claiming he provided a platform for extremists and far-right conspiracy theorists.
August 2025: Statements Supporting Israel
In August 2025, Charlie Kirk asserted his strong defense of Israel, stating his belief in the scriptural land rights given to Israel and pledging to "fight for" Israel. He often repeated pro-Israeli talking points about the Gaza war.
August 2025: Disagreement with Trump's Decision to Send Military Aid to Ukraine
In August 2025, Charlie Kirk expressed his disagreement with Trump's decision to send more military aid to Ukraine, questioning why they would support it after opposing it under Biden. He also referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a "CIA puppet" and a "gangster."
August 2025: Called for the elimination of Jasmine Crockett's congressional district
In August 2025, Kirk called for the elimination of Jasmine Crockett's congressional district as a part of the 2025 Texas redistricting, justifying the erasure of her district by claiming she was a part of an "attempt to eliminate the white population in this country".
September 9, 2025: Accusations About Attacks
On September 9, 2025, Charlie Kirk, while discussing the killing of Iryna Zarutska, claimed Democrats spread a "false narrative" of relentless assaults against Black people by white people, asserting white individuals are more likely to be attacked by Black individuals.
September 10, 2025: Death of Charles James Kirk
On September 10, 2025, Kirk was assassinated while speaking at a TPUSA public debate event at Utah Valley University. His death led to international attention and condemnation of political violence. Trump announced that Kirk would posthumously receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
September 10, 2025: Assassination at TPUSA debate
On September 10, 2025, Kirk was assassinated while speaking at a TPUSA public debate event on the Utah Valley University campus. The assassination sparked international attention, and he was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
September 11, 2025: Posthumous Award of Presidential Medal of Freedom
A day after Charlie Kirk's death, on September 11, 2025, President Trump announced that Kirk would be posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
September 14, 2025: Public Vigil at John F. Kennedy Center
On September 14, 2025, a public vigil was held for Charlie Kirk at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, attended by Trump administration officials and Republican lawmakers.
September 2025: Tucker Carlson's Claims About Kirk's Views on Israel and Netanyahu
In September 2025, conservative political commentator Tucker Carlson claimed that Charlie Kirk loved Israel but disliked Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and was "appalled by what was happening in Gaza," especially Netanyahu's use of the United States for Israel's wars.
September 21, 2025: Memorial Service at State Farm Stadium
On September 21, 2025, a memorial service was held for Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium in Arizona, with a total turnout of nearly 100,000 people. Prominent figures were in attendance, and his widow Erika publicly forgave his killer.
December 2025: Scheduled Release of "Stop, in the Name of God"
Charlie Kirk's book, titled "Stop, in the Name of God: Why Honoring the Sabbath Will Transform Your Life", is slated to be released by Winning Team Publishing in December 2025.
2025: Statements on Taking Taiwan
In 2025, Charlie Kirk told his listeners, "I would say, sadly if we took Taiwan, it would probably start a nuclear war. Our leaders have largely mishandled China. We probably should have taken it in 1950 right after World War II."
2025: Executive Director of Turning Point USA
In 2025, Kirk remained the executive director, chief fundraiser, and public face of Turning Point USA until his death. In 2025, TPUSA reported having chapters at more than 2,000 college and high school campuses.
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