Charlie Kirk

Charles Joseph Kirk was an American conservative activist, radio host, and political commentator who co-founded Turning Point USA (TPUSA) in 2012 at the age of 18 with Bill Montgomery. TPUSA grew into one of the largest conservative youth organizations in the United States, with a presence on over 3,500 college and high school campuses. Kirk hosted "The Charlie Kirk Show," one of the top-rated conservative podcasts and radio shows in the country. He was a vocal supporter of Donald Trump and spoke at the Republican National Convention in 2020. Kirk became known for his combative campus speaking tours and his role in mobilizing young conservative voters. On September 10, 2025, Kirk was fatally shot while speaking at a university event in Utah. His death shocked the political world and led to an outpouring of tributes from across the conservative movement. His wife Erika Kirk subsequently took over as CEO of Turning Point USA.

Born and raised in Arlington Heights, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. Kirk did not attend college, instead choosing to launch Turning Point USA directly out of high school. He has said he was originally planning to attend West Point but was rejected.

Kirk co-founded Turning Point USA at age 18, making him one of the youngest heads of a major political organization in U.S. history. His podcast "The Charlie Kirk Show" regularly ranked in the top 10 on Apple Podcasts. He spoke at the 2020 Republican National Convention. TPUSA's annual AmericaFest conference became one of the largest conservative gatherings in the country.

Married Erika Frantzve on May 8, 2021, at the Trump National Doral resort in Miami. They had two children — a daughter (born ~2022) and a son (born ~2024). His wife Erika took over as CEO of Turning Point USA after his death.