Who Was Charlie Kirk? Meet the Late Turning Point USA Founder

Conservative commentator Charlie Kirk has died at age 31 after being shot at an event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday, September 10.

“It’s with a heavy heart that we, the Turning Point USA leadership team, write to notify you that early this afternoon, Charlie went to his eternal reward with Jesus Christ in Heaven,” read a statement from Turning Point, released on Wednesday evening.

Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was an influential voice in the conservative movement and close ally of President Donald Trump. He was speaking at the Orem, Utah, university as part of his American Comeback Tour and was answering a question about mass shootings at the time of the incident.

“The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead,” Trump wrote via Truth Social. “No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!”

Keep scrolling for more about the late conservative activist.

What Was Charlie Kirk’s Background?

Kirk grew up in the Chicago suburb of Prospect Heights and became active in conservative politics while in high school, volunteering for Republican senator Mark Kirk (no relation) and railing against what he believed to be liberal bias in high school textbooks.

He founded the nonprofit Turning Point USA in 2012 at age 18 alongside businessman and activist Bill Montgomery.

“The organization’s mission is to identify, educate, train and organize students to promote the principles of fiscal responsibility, free markets and limited government,” the organization’s website reads.

Charlie Kirk Is Survived by His Wife and 2 Kids

Kirk married wife and former Miss Arizona USA Erika Frantzve in 2012. The two welcomed a daughter in August 2022 and a son in May 2024.

What Were Charlie Kirk’s Political Beliefs?

Kirk was a staunch conservative and supporter of President Trump in each of his presidential campaigns.

Throughout his career, Kirk championed many mainstream conservative social values, including being against abortion, gay marriage and gender-affirming care.

He also promoted a number of debunked political conspiracies, like Trump’s claim that the 2020 presidential election was stolen. During the COVID-19 pandemic in July 2020, Kirk made it known that he did not support mask mandates. “Do not force me to wear a mask, it’s that simple. I’m not gonna do it, I’m not,” he said on an episode of his podcast, according to Politico. He was also banned briefly from Twitter in March 2020 for claiming that hydroxychloroquine was “100% effective” in treating the coronavirus.

Charlie Kirk Was a Podcast Host and Author

Kirk hosted “The Charlie Kirk Show,” which ranked No. 9 on Apple Podcasts under its News category. He also wrote or cowrote five books covering conservative politics with a focus on young people and college students.

Charlie Kirk Was Known for His ‘Prove Me Wrong’ Tables

The conservative pundit was known for his “prove me wrong” tables, where he would challenge those with opposing views to debate him on particular issues. Kirk was holding such an event at Utah Valley at the time of the shooting.