- Charlie Kirk was a key figure in promoting Trump and the MAGA movement among younger Americans
- He opposed gun control, saying gun deaths were 'worth it' to preserve Second Amendment rights
- He posted about the "China virus" in 2020 - a phrase that was later adopted by President Trump
Charlie Kirk, who died on Wednesday after being shot during an appearance at Utah Valley University, was one of the most high-profile conservative activists and media personalities in the United States. A close ally of President Donald Trump, 31-year-old Kirk was credited with playing a key role in convincing younger Americans to support Trump in last year's election. He was valued in Republican circles for his keen understanding of the party's MAGA (Make America Great Again) movement.
A prominent radio host and podcaster, Kirk also had many critics, who often accused him of promoting controversial--and at times conspiratorial beliefs-- against Liberal viewpoints on subjects like climate change, gun control, LGBTQ+ rights and the civil rights movement. The right-wing activist regularly hosted open-air debates on US college campuses, fielding rapid-fire questions in a signature "Prove Me Wrong" format to debate college students on various topics to promote the conservative narrative -- just like he was doing on Wednesday when he was assassinated.
Here's A Look At Some Of Kirk's Controversial Takes On Public Issues
On Gun control: In 2023, Kirk said that gun deaths were "worth it" to ensure the preservation of Second Amendment rights in the US-- which is the right to keep and bear arms.
"It's worth it to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year, so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights...That is a prudent deal," he said during an appearance at the Salt Lake City campus of Awaken Church on April 5, 2023.
Ironically, Kirk was answering a question about gun violence when he was shot dead.
On Civil Rights: In another 2023 event, Kirk had called civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr "awful" and "not a good person" as he decried the Civil Rights Act of 1965, which outlawed discrimination based on race, religion, colour, sex and national origin, and prohibited segregation.
"I have a very, very radical view on this, but I can defend it, and I've thought about it," Kirk said. "We made a huge mistake when we passed the Civil Rights Act in the 1960s," he said at a December 2023 political conference hosted by his Turning Points USA group. He claimed that the law ushered in a "permanent" bureaucracy meant to promote diversity, equity and inclusion.
Conspiracy Theories: In March 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the right-wing activist posted about the "China virus" - a phrase that was later adopted by President Trump in his first term.
In a 2021 interview with Tucker Carlson, Kirk also reportedly compared pandemic vaccine requirements to apartheid. In a February 2024 Instagram post, he also talked about the "great replacement" -- a widely debunked conspiracy theory-- suggesting undocumented immigrants entering the United States to replace white Americans.
Provocative Remarks: Kirk was known for provocative statements on race that he used to court Gen Z voters.
"I'm sorry. If I see a Black pilot, I'm going to be like, 'Boy, I hope he's qualified,'" Kirk said during a 2024 podcast episode with fellow rightwing activist Jack Posobeic.
Kirk staunchly opposed the enactment of Juneteenth as a federal holiday. He said the move to elevate the date was motivated by "anti-American" sentiment that promoted "a neo-segregationist view" that he claimed sought to supplant Independence Day.
About Charlie Kirk
Kirk was 18 years old when he co-founded Turning Point in suburban Chicago in 2012 with William Montgomery, a Tea Party activist. They aimed to take their ideas for low taxes and limited government to college campuses. Turning Point enthusiastically backed Trump after he clinched the GOP nomination for president in 2016. Kirk served as a personal aide to the then-candidate's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., during the general election campaign.
The Trump connection helped fuel Turning Point's rise to prominence. Soon, Kirk was a regular presence on cable TV, where he leaned into the culture wars and heaped praise on the president.
Contributions to the group doubled and then tripled - eventually climbing to $79.2 million in 2022, according to an analysis of publicly available tax filings. The group states that it now has a presence on nearly 4,000 high school and college campuses, operating as a conservative lifestyle brand that promotes hundreds of online influencers.
