Charles Schwendener Kirk (October 14, 1993 – September 10, 2025) was an American conservative political activist, author, and media personality. He co-founded the conservative student organization Turning Point USA (TPUSA) in 2012 and was its executive director. He was the chief executive officer of Turning Point Action (TPAction) and a member of the Council for National Policy (CNP). In his later years, he was one of the most prominent voices of the populist MAGA movement and exemplified the growth of Christian nationalism in the Republican Party.
Kirk was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs of Arlington Heights and Prospect Heights. He briefly attended Harper College before leaving to pursue political activism full-time. Under his leadership, TPUSA developed several affiliate groups, including Turning Point Action and Turning Point Faith, the latter aimed at mobilizing religious communities around conservative issues. Kirk also hosted The Charlie Kirk Show, a conservative talk radio program.
Kirk expanded TPUSA's influence through initiatives such as the Professor Watchlist and School Board Watchlist, which critics...