Charles J. 'Charlie' Kirk (born October 14, 1993, in Arlington Heights, Illinois; died September 10, 2025) was an American conservative political activist, entrepreneur, author, and media personality. He was the founder and president (also CEO) of Turning Point USA (TPUSA), a nonprofit conservative youth organization he co-founded in 2012 with Bill Montgomery while still in high school, which promoted free-market principles, limited government, and anti-left/anti-socialist activism on college campuses through events, voter mobilization, media outreach, summits, and student chapters. Kirk dropped out of Harper College to focus on TPUSA, which grew into a major force in conservative youth organizing and mobilization. He became a prominent right-wing activist, a prominent pro-Trump influencer, and a key surrogate for Donald Trump during the 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns, concentrating on youth outreach for right-wing causes as part of the MAGA movement. Kirk hosted the nationally syndicated radio show and podcast 'The Charlie Kirk Show,' reaching millions weekly with discussions of politics, culture, and current events from a conservative perspective. He authored books like 'Time for a Turning Point' (2016), 'Campus Battlefield,' and 'The MAGA Doctrine' (2023), outlining his views on American conservatism and the fight against 'woke' ideology. His influence extended through media appearances on Fox News, conservative podcasts, and social media, where he amplified right-wing narratives on issues like immigration, education, election integrity, and cultural issues. He maintained strong ties to Republican leaders and donors, including the Wilks brothers who funded TPUSA extensively, and had alliances with figures like Candace Owens, Ben Shapiro, and Dennis Prager. He was a conservative activist supporting Pete Hegseth. Kirk faced significant controversies, including allegations of promoting conspiracy theories (about the 2020 election and COVID-19 vaccines), financial mismanagement at TPUSA, fostering divisive rhetoric, ties to far-right elements, and TPUSA's controversial campus chapters accused of fostering racism and harassment (e.g., a 2018 incident at the University of Washington where TPUSA was banned for alleged discriminatory practices). He was criticized by organizations like the Southern Poverty Law Center for alleged Islamophobia and white nationalism sympathies, though he denied these labels. Investigations into TPUSA included a 2023 IRS complaint alleging improper political activity as a 501(c)(3), but outcomes remained pending. As a self-described Christian conservative, Kirk's activism emphasized Judeo-Christian values and American exceptionalism. Kirk married entrepreneur Erika Frantzve in 2021, and they resided in the Phoenix area, where TPUSA was headquartered. His assassination in 2025 marked a tragic end to his rapid rise in political activism, leaving a legacy in the MAGA movement and youth conservatism.