EGN NEWS DESK
Former President Donald Trump will proceed his battle to win again Georgia by way of a rally on Wednesday, this time hosted by influential conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Kirk, 31, gained recognition for co-founding and main Turning Point USA, a conservative non-profit which has reportedly raised tens of tens of millions of {dollars} to push pro-Trump campaigns throughout faculty campuses. The Arizona-based group, based in 2012 by a then 18-year outdated Kirk, has grown in fame, notably since Trump first took workplace in 2016, at which level the nonprofit latched onto the marketing campaign. Now, Turning Point boasts exercise in over 3,500 faculty and highschool campuses in America, in keeping with the youth group’s web site.
According to June 2023 tax filings, Turning Point’s income has skyrocketed from $4.3 million in 2016 to $81.7 million in 2023.
Kirk’s work with Turning Point landed him on the 2018 Forbes “30 underneath 30” listing, led to his frequent visitor spots on Fox News, and gave him the chance to be the youngest speaker on the 2016 Republican National Convention (RNC).
Beyond his management at Turning Point, Kirk has constructed a big following together with his podcast, The Charlie Kirk Show. Over 750 episodes sturdy, the present is at the moment ranked #7 in Apple podcasts in information and #10 on Spotify in information, and is understood for Kirk’s conservative take-ons of liberal viewpoints. He usually lands within the information for his podcast feedback, together with an occasion in January 2024, the place he attacked the “fable” surrounding civil rights chief Martin Luther King Jr.
Later that month, he got here underneath hearth for stating on the podcast: “If I see a Black pilot, I’m gonna be like ‘boy, I hope he’s certified.’” These feedback prompted sturdy responses from many, together with Black pilots.
First reported by RealClearPolitics, Kirk’s feedback made him enemies inside the Republican National Convention, together with earlier RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel, who in 2023 Kirk mentioned was planted by the Democrats to “infiltrate” the Republican party. It was reported that McDaniel instructed Trump about Kirk’s MLK Jr. feedback.
While McDaniel is not RNC Chair, Kirk’s affect has remained a instrument in Trump’s again pocket.
“Charlie Kirk helps. He’s acquired his military of younger individuals. These are younger patriots,” Trump mentioned whereas talking on the Turning Point Action Conference in Detroit in June. “We thanks, Charlie.” Turning Point USA’s YouTube channel additionally posts movies of Kirk “destroying” or “shut[ting] down” college students on “liberal” faculty campuses throughout his many talking excursions. Currently, Kirk is finishing up the “You’re Being Brainwashed Tour,” the place he’s visiting faculty campuses in swing states to debate faculty college students, encouraging them to vote for Trump in November.
