Charlie Kirk, a prominent figure in the United States’ right-wing activist circles, significantly influenced the hard-right youth movement through his strong stances on various political issues.
He founded Turning Point USA, an organization dedicated to mobilizing young conservatives. Tragically, Kirk was fatally shot while engaging with students on topics like transgender politics and mass shootings at Utah Valley University. The investigation into his death remains active, with authorities yet to identify a suspect.
Below is a detailed look at some of the key issues Kirk championed and his positions on them:
Gender Identity
Kirk resonated with conservative Christians concerned by the increasing acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community in America. He voiced strong opposition to gay and transgender rights, and to the principle of separation of church and state.
He actively urged students and parents to report educators believed to be promoting what he and others on the right termed “gender ideology.”
In 2021, he established TPUSA Faith, an initiative aimed at “uniting the church around primary doctrine and eliminating wokeism from the American pulpit,” as stated on its platform.
Gun Control
A staunch advocate for gun rights, Charlie Kirk consistently defended the Second Amendment.
During a 2023 TPUSA Faith event, part of Turning Point USA, he argued for the Second Amendment as essential for self-defense against a tyrannical government. He acknowledged that gun deaths are an unavoidable tragedy in an armed society but maintained that the advantages of gun ownership surpassed these unfortunate 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.”
Kirk proposed a straightforward solution to gun violence: arm more Americans. He questioned, “If our money and our sporting events and our airplanes have armed guards, why don’t our children?”
Race
Charlie Kirk viewed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as a detrimental force in American politics, describing its enactment as a “mistake” that he claimed had transformed into “an anti-white weapon.”
He attributed the law to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and was highly critical of the civil rights leader, labeling him an “awful” person. Kirk stated his preference for a colorblind society, but argued that the reverence for Dr. King contributed to what he perceived as America’s preoccupation with race.
Furthermore, Kirk was a firm opponent of affirmative action. He sharply criticized Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, dismissing her as a “diversity hire” lacking the necessary qualifications for the nation’s highest court.
His rejection of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (D.E.I.) initiatives extended to remarks widely condemned as racist. In 2024, he infamously commented, “If I see a Black pilot, I’m going to be like, ‘Boy, I hope he’s qualified.’”
During a 2021 speech in Mankato, Minnesota, Kirk controversially referred to George Floyd—whose 2020 murder by a Minneapolis police officer in 2020 sparked a widespread racial justice movement—as a “scumbag” undeserving of public attention.
Antisemitism
Charlie Kirk faced recurring accusations of antisemitism, even from within conservative circles.
He advocated for “replacement theory,” a once-marginal conspiracy theory alleging that Jewish people are attempting to substitute white Americans with non-white immigrants. This very ideology fueled the shooter responsible for the deaths of 11 worshipers at a Pittsburgh synagogue in 2018.
Kirk also claimed that Jewish philanthropists actively promoted anti-whiteness by funding liberal anti-racism initiatives, such as the Black Lives Matter movement.
On his program in 2023, he asserted, “The philosophical foundation of anti-whiteness has been largely financed by Jewish donors in the country.”
Shortly thereafter, he controversially accused Jewish people of exerting control over a wide array of institutions: “not just the colleges — it’s the nonprofits, it’s the movies, it’s Hollywood, it’s all of it.”
Despite these accusations, Kirk’s supporters frequently defended him by highlighting his strong backing of Israel. Kirk consistently supported Israel’s military actions in Gaza. Following his death, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly mourned him as “a lionhearted friend of Israel” who “stood tall for Judeo-Christian civilization.”
Islam
Kirk often characterized Islam as a threat to the United States, frequently criticizing what he perceived as the religion’s “conquest values” aimed at territorial expansion.
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 a 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, drawing widespread accusations of Islamophobia. He remarked in June on social media, “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,” referring to Mamdani.
Mamdani, who was a child during the September 11 attacks, noted that the event was formative for him and led to him, like many other New Yorkers, being profiled due to his religion. He also emphasized the importance of honoring the victims and their families on the 24th anniversary of 9/11.
Free Speech
Charlie Kirk identified as a staunch proponent of free speech, and Turning Point USA was well-known for its vigorous advocacy in this area.
The organization engaged in unique campus activities, such as placing large inflatable beach balls for students to write comments on, symbolizing their free speech rights. Kirk himself frequently invited students to engage in debates, encouraging “reasonable disagreements.”
He notably invoked the First Amendment in lawsuits against universities attempting to restrict his appearances. However, critics often accused Kirk of hypocrisy regarding his free speech stance, citing Turning Point USA’s “Professor Watchlist,” which encouraged students to identify and report professors holding leftist views.
Climate Change
Despite polls indicating that many young conservative voters consider climate change a priority, Charlie Kirk consistently downplayed its importance. He falsely claimed a lack of scientific consensus on global warming.
He outright dismissed the notion of climate change as an existential threat to humanity, famously calling it “complete gibberish, nonsense and balderdash” to members of Turning Point UK in December 2024.
His podcast recently hosted Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who has publicly stated that global warming is “not incredibly important.”
Reporting contributed by Stephanie Saul, Clyde McGrady, Audra D. S. Burch, and Dana Goldstein.
Correction
A correction was issued on September 11, 2025: An earlier version of this article mischaracterized an antisemitic statement by Charlie Kirk on an episode of his podcast. He was quoting and then critiquing a social media post, not expressing his own view.
When errors are identified, we issue corrections. Please report any inaccuracies to our newsdesk.
About the Authors
Ashley Ahn is a breaking news reporter for The Times, based in New York.
Maxine Joselow covers climate policy for The Times.
This article originally appeared in print on September 12, 2025, on page A14 of the New York edition, under the headline: “Planting Flag Of Far Right On Big Issues Dividing U.S.”