5 Things To Know About Charlie Kirk

Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was fatally shot on Wednesday while appearing at Utah Valley University.

President Donald Trump confirmed Kirk's death.

Here are five things to know about the 31-year-old Chicago-area native and conservative evangelist:

1. He was a multisport athlete at Wheeling High School and an Eagle Scout

Kirk played multiple sports while attending high school in the northern suburb of Wheeling, where he was the varsity basketball captain, according to The Daily Herald, which reported that Kirk was also an Eagle Scout.

2. He started Turning Point USA from his childhood home

Kirk was still sleeping in his childhood bedroom when the Herald profiled the then-19-year-old in 2013, at which time he had already started Turning Point USA.

Despite being from “an apolitical family,” Kirk volunteered in 2010 for the campaign of former Republican U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk (no relation), and was appearing on Fox News and CNBC, and at the Conservative Political Action Conference while still in his teens, the newspaper reported.

3. Young conservatives trusted him, and Trump thought he was effective

TikTok users under 30 who voted for Trump in 2024 named Kirk as the most-trusted person on the platform, according to The Economist, citing a survey conducted by TikTok.

Trump reportedly attributed young voters’ decreased interest in the Democratic presidential candidate during the 2024 election cycle to Kirk, according to The Economist.

4. He made a point to confront liberals in academia

For years, Kirk was a regular presence on college campuses. Last year, for the social media program “Surrounded,” he faced off against 20 liberal college students to defend his viewpoints, including that abortion is murder and should be illegal.

5. He successfully spread his message

In 2025, Turning Point USA claimed more than 250,000 student members. It had chapters at 850 colleges, according to The Economist.

READ MORE: Conservative Activist Charlie Kirk Shot In Utah: Latest Updates

The Associated Press contributed to this story.