Charlie Kirk has spent over a decade building influence as a leading conservative activist, rallying young voters to support Republican causes. Follow his path to political prominence and the impact he now holds in shaping the party’s future.

Washington

Charlie Kirk, a prominent conservative activist, has played a significant role in motivating young people to support Republican causes. He founded Turning Point USA at the age of 18, focusing on engaging high school and college students, particularly on liberal-leaning campuses. The organization has since grown to over 250,000 student members and is known for its events centered on Christian conservative values.

Kirk's influence expanded as he opened the 2020 Republican National Convention and became a leading force behind President Trump's re-election efforts, organizing rallies and encouraging youth voter turnout. Despite his frequent visits to the White House, Kirk continues to engage with students through campus debates, shaping political conversations among the younger generation.

Tracing Charlie Kirk's path to political influence

Today, President Trump called the conservative activist an inspiration to millions. The influential 31-year-old had been credited with helping the president win a second term. CBS Chief White House Correspondent Nancy Cordes reports on the rise of Charlie Kirk. You guys are the beginning portion of the greatest political comeback in American history. For more than a decade, Charlie Kirk has been the leading conservative activist, motivating young people to back Republicans. I want Trump to be president. Kirk burst onto the political scene in 2012, launching Turning Point USA. He was just 18 years old with high hopes of boosting high school and college Republicans across often liberal-leaning campuses. We need to get on the college campuses, we need to get in the classrooms and challenge the ideals that are crumbling our democracy. The organization gained traction with its signature upbeat events centered on Christian conservative ideals. The nonprofit now boasts more than 250,000 student members. At just 26, Kirk opened the 2020 Republican National Convention. I see the angst of young people as well as the challenges facing new parents. Four years later, he was a leading force behind Trump's re-election, holding rallies and events to drive a wave of conservative young men to the polls. If you say, I don't know if I could live under a Kamala Harris presidency, we need to do something about it. We need to go chase the ballots. And while Kirk was a frequent visitor to the White House, he still embraced where he got his start, college campuses. While touring, he was known for debating liberal students, delighting in the open discussion of ideas. Healthcare costs are exploding because we don't actually address the root cause. He didn't always change opinions. I care about excellence, not diversity, because I do not believe diversity is a strength. I believe unity is a strength. I believe the pursuit of higher purposes is a strength. Does that make sense? But he did help shape the political conversation for a new generation. Nancy Cordes, CBS News, the White House.

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Breakdown