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Charlie Kirk emerged as one of the United States’ most influential right-wing activists, significantly shaping the hard-right youth movement’s perspectives on critical political matters.
He established Turning Point USA, a political organization dedicated to mobilizing young conservatives. Tragically, Mr. Kirk was fatally shot this month while engaging with students on topics including transgender politics and mass shootings at Utah Valley University. Below is an overview of the key issues he championed and his notable positions:
Gender Identity
Charlie Kirk resonated strongly with conservative Christians concerned about the increasing acceptance of the L.G.B.T.Q. community in America. He frequently voiced strong criticism of gay and transgender rights, as well as the concept of separation of church and state.
He controversially urged students and parents to report university professors they believed were promoting what some on the right term “gender ideology.”
In 2021, Kirk launched TPUSA Faith, an initiative aimed at “uniting the church around primary doctrine and eliminating wokeism from the American pulpit,” according to its official statement.
Gun Control
Mr. Kirk was a vocal and unwavering advocate for gun rights, viewing them as fundamental for personal liberty.
During a 2023 event hosted by TPUSA Faith, a branch of Turning Point USA, he passionately asserted that the Second Amendment serves as a vital safeguard against “a tyrannical government.” He conceded that some gun-related deaths are an unavoidable byproduct of an armed populace but maintained that the societal benefits of gun ownership far surpass these tragic costs.
He famously stated, “I think it’s worth 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.”
For Kirk, the solution to gun violence was straightforward: increasing gun ownership among Americans.
He posed the question, “If our money and our sporting events and our airplanes have armed guards, why don’t our children?”
Race
Charlie Kirk held the contentious belief that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a detrimental force in American politics. He publicly labeled its passage a “mistake,” contending it had been repurposed into an “anti-white weapon.”
He also controversially attributed the law to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whom he frequently and severely criticized, even going so far as to call him an “awful” person. While advocating for a “colorblind society,” Kirk simultaneously blamed the widespread admiration for Dr. King as the root cause of what he perceived as America’s preoccupation with race.
Furthermore, Mr. Kirk was a staunch adversary of affirmative action policies. He directed sharp criticism at Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, disparaging her as a “diversity hire” unqualified for the nation’s highest court.
His strong opposition to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (D.E.I.) initiatives often manifested in statements widely condemned as racist. For instance, in 2024, he controversially remarked, “If I see a Black pilot, I’m going to be like, ‘Boy, I hope he’s qualified.’”
In a 2021 speech in Mankato, Minn., Kirk controversially referred to George Floyd—whose murder by a Minneapolis police officer in 2020 sparked a nationwide racial justice movement—as a “scumbag” undeserving of public attention.
Antisemitism
Charlie Kirk faced recurring accusations of antisemitism, even from within conservative circles. A correction was made on Sept. 11, 2025: An earlier version of this article incorrectly attributed an antisemitic statement to Charlie Kirk on his podcast. He was quoting a statement from a social media post and subsequently critiqued it; it was not his own original statement.
He actively promoted “replacement theory,” a once-marginalized conspiracy theory that falsely claims Jewish people are orchestrating the replacement of white Americans with non-white immigrants. This dangerous ideology was a motivating factor for the perpetrator of the 2018 Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, which claimed the lives of 11 worshippers.
Kirk also alleged that Jewish philanthropists were fueling “anti-whiteness” by financially backing liberal anti-racism initiatives such as the Black Lives Matter movement.
In a 2023 broadcast of his show, he asserted, “The philosophical foundation of anti-whiteness has been largely financed by Jewish donors in the country.”
Shortly thereafter, he further claimed that Jewish individuals held control over “not just the colleges — it’s the nonprofits, it’s the movies, it’s Hollywood, it’s all of it.”
Despite these allegations, Kirk’s supporters frequently defended him by highlighting his strong pro-Israel stance. He consistently advocated for Israel’s actions in Gaza. Following his death, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered condolences, praising Kirk as “a lionhearted friend of Israel” who “stood tall for Judeo-Christian civilization.”
Islam
Charlie Kirk frequently labeled Islam as a threat to the United States, vehemently criticizing what he termed the religion’s “conquest values” that, in his view, “seek to take over land and territory.”
In April, he stated, “America has freedom of religion, of course, but we should be frank. Large dedicated Islamic areas are a threat to America.”
Before the New York City mayoral primary, Kirk controversially linked Zohran Mamdani, a Muslim who secured the Democratic nomination, to Al Qaeda and the 9/11 terrorist attacks in a social media post, which was widely condemned as Islamophobic.
On X in June, Kirk remarked about Mr. Mamdani, “America’s largest city was attacked by radical Islam 24 years ago, and now a similar form of that pernicious force is poised to capture city hall.”
Conversely, Mr. Mamdani shared with The New York Times that the September 11th attacks were a defining childhood experience, leading to him and many New Yorkers being stereotyped due to their religion. He emphasized the importance of remembering the victims and their families on the 24th anniversary of 9/11.
Free Speech
Charlie Kirk consistently identified himself as a staunch proponent of free speech, a principle actively promoted by his organization, Turning Point USA.
Turning Point USA became recognized for its campus events where large rubber beach balls were provided for students to write comments on, symbolizing the exercise of free speech. Kirk also frequently engaged students in debates, advocating for “reasonable disagreements” as part of open discourse.
On numerous occasions, Mr. Kirk invoked the First Amendment to take legal action against universities attempting to restrict his appearances. However, critics often accused Kirk of hypocrisy, citing Turning Point USA’s “Professor Watchlist,” which encouraged students to report professors holding leftist viewpoints, as contradictory to his stated free speech advocacy.
Climate Change
Charlie Kirk frequently downplayed and dismissed concerns surrounding climate change, despite polling data indicating that many young conservative voters view the issue as a priority. He inaccurately asserted a lack of scientific consensus on global warming.
He outright rejected the notion that climate change represents an existential threat to humanity. In December 2024, addressing members of Turning Point UK, the British counterpart of Turning Point USA, he characterized such concerns as “complete gibberish, nonsense and balderdash.”
His podcast recently featured Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who has publicly described global warming as “not incredibly important.”
Stephanie Saul, Clyde McGrady, Audra D. S. Burch, and Dana Goldstein contributed to this report.