Charles James Kirk (1993–2025) was an American right-wing political activist, entrepreneur, and media personality who co-founded the conservative student organization Turning Point USA (TPUSA) in 2012 and served as its executive director until his assassination. Born in the Chicago suburbs, he dropped out of college to build the organization into a major force for the Republican Party, becoming a key ally of Donald Trump and a prominent voice of the MAGA movement, in addition to hosting The Charlie Kirk Show. He advocated for hardline conservative positions—including opposition to abortion, gun control, and DEI programs—but drew significant controversy for his criticism of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Martin Luther King Jr., as well as his promotion of COVID-19 misinformation and false claims about electoral fraud. On September 10, 2025, Kirk was fatally shot by a sniper while speaking at a TPUSA debate event at Utah Valley University, an assassination that sparked international condemnation of political violence and intense partisan dispute. Nearly 100,000 people attended his memorial service at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on September 21, highlighting his profound and polarizing impact on the American political landscape.