Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was shot during an appearance at Utah Valley University on Wednesday. Kirk, 31, has played a significant role in energizing young conservatives and promoting populist conservatism within the Republican Party since the rise of President Donald Trump.
Kirk started Turning Point USA in 2012 with William Montgomery in suburban Chicago. The organization focused on reaching younger audiences and engaging with students on college campuses that typically leaned liberal. Over time, Kirk’s approach attracted support from conservative donors and brought Turning Point to national prominence.
Turning Point’s political arm was active in get-out-the-vote efforts for Trump’s 2024 campaign, aiming to mobilize conservative voters who often do not participate in elections. In the 2024 election, Trump won Arizona—Turning Point’s home state—by five percentage points after losing it narrowly in 2020. The group claims over 250,000 student members and is known for its high-energy events featuring strobe lights and pyrotechnics.
Kirk maintains a strong presence through his podcast, radio show, and public appearances. At a rally with Trump in Georgia last fall, he told attendees: “This is a Christian state. I’d like to see it stay that way.” He also described the contest between Trump and Kamala Harris as “a spiritual battle,” adding that Democrats “stand for everything God hates.”
Last year, Kirk participated in the social media program “Surrounded,” where he debated liberal college students on topics such as abortion. He continues to visit college campuses regularly.
Despite initial skepticism about supporting Trump during the 2016 campaign, Turning Point ultimately endorsed him after he secured the GOP nomination. During that period, Kirk served as a personal aide to Donald Trump Jr.
Kirk is married and has two young children.
