Changes

In October 2016, Kirk participated in a [[Fox News]] event along with [[Donald Trump Jr.]], [[Eric Trump]], and [[Lara Trump]] that had a pro-[[Donald Trump]] tone. A Turning Point staff member wrote on Facebook that students who attended the event would have their expenses covered. The event led tax experts to say the organization's conduct may have violated its tax-exempt status, a charge disputed by Turning Point.<ref name=auto/>

In October 2016, Kirk participated in a [[Fox News]] event along with [[Donald Trump Jr.]], [[Eric Trump]], and [[Lara Trump]] that had a pro-[[Donald Trump]] tone. A Turning Point staff member wrote on Facebook that students who attended the event would have their expenses covered. The event led tax experts to say the organization's conduct may have violated its tax-exempt status, a charge disputed by Turning Point.<ref name=auto/>

== Founder Late Charlie Kirk ==

== Founder the Late Charlie Kirk ==

[[File:Charlie Kirk by Gage Skidmore 2.jpg|thumb|upright|The group's founder, Charlie Kirk]]

[[File:Charlie Kirk by Gage Skidmore 2.jpg|thumb|upright|The group's founder, Charlie Kirk]]

The group's founder was Charlie Kirk, in the wake of his assassination, his widow [[Erika Kirk]] is the current leader. Charlie Kirk, grew up in [[Prospect Heights, Illinois]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Kirk, Charlie, and Hamachek, Brent|title=Time for a Turning Point: Setting a Course Toward Free Markets and Limited Government for Future Generations|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=838mDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA4&lpg=PA4&dq=%22charlie+kirk%22+%22PRospect+heights%22&source=bl&ots=hj6VPuzx8q&sig=zaJYp1kUnpHy4Moz09-a4yNOpPY&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj3w4bwiqHYAhUmxlQKHW9dB_oQ6AEIQjAG#v=onepage&q=%22charlie%20kirk%22%20%22PRospect%20heights%22&f=false|publisher=Simon and Schuster|year=2016|page=4}}</ref> Kirk became politically active during high school. In his junior year of school in 2010, Kirk volunteered for the successful U.S. Senate campaign of Illinois Republican [[Mark Kirk]] (to whom he is not related).<ref name="perfect-storm">{{cite news|title=Perfect storm launches 19-year-old Wheeling native into political punditry|url=http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130429/news/704299942/|work=Daily Herald|date=April 29, 2013}}</ref>

The group's founder was Charlie Kirk, in the wake of his assassination, his widow [[Erika Kirk]] is the current leader. Charlie Kirk, grew up in [[Prospect Heights, Illinois]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Kirk, Charlie, and Hamachek, Brent|title=Time for a Turning Point: Setting a Course Toward Free Markets and Limited Government for Future Generations|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=838mDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA4&lpg=PA4&dq=%22charlie+kirk%22+%22PRospect+heights%22&source=bl&ots=hj6VPuzx8q&sig=zaJYp1kUnpHy4Moz09-a4yNOpPY&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj3w4bwiqHYAhUmxlQKHW9dB_oQ6AEIQjAG#v=onepage&q=%22charlie%20kirk%22%20%22PRospect%20heights%22&f=false|publisher=Simon and Schuster|year=2016|page=4}}</ref> Kirk became politically active during high school. In his junior year of school in 2010, Kirk volunteered for the successful U.S. Senate campaign of Illinois Republican [[Mark Kirk]] (to whom he is not related).<ref name="perfect-storm">{{cite news|title=Perfect storm launches 19-year-old Wheeling native into political punditry|url=http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130429/news/704299942/|work=Daily Herald|date=April 29, 2013}}</ref>

In 2012 when he was a high school senior, Kirk wrote an essay for ''[[Breitbart News]]'' alleging liberal bias in high school textbooks leading to an appearance on the [[Fox Business Network]]. At a subsequent speaking engagement at [[Benedictine University]]'s "Youth Empowerment Day," Kirk met Bill Montgomery, a retiree more than 50 years his senior, who was then a [[Tea Party movement|Tea Party]]-backed legislative candidate. Montgomery encouraged Kirk to get engaged in political activism full-time. He subsequently founded Turning Point USA. At the [[2012 Republican National Convention]], Kirk met [[Foster Friess]], a prominent Republican donor, and persuaded him to finance the organization.<ref name="atlantic">{{cite news|author=Nelson, Rebecca|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/03/the-21-year-old-becoming-a-major-player-in-conservative-politics/451110/|title=The 21-Year-Old Becoming a Major Player in Conservative Politics|date=March 25, 2015|newspaper=[[The Atlantic Monthly]]}}</ref>

In 2012 when he was a high school senior, Kirk wrote an essay for ''[[Breitbart News]]'' alleging liberal bias in high school textbooks leading to an appearance on the [[Fox Business Network]]. At a subsequent speaking engagement at [[Benedictine University]]'s "Youth Empowerment Day," Kirk met Bill Montgomery, a retiree more than 50 years his senior, who was then a [[Tea Party movement|Tea Party]]-backed legislative candidate. Montgomery encouraged Kirk to get engaged in political activism full-time. He subsequently founded Turning Point USA. At the 2012 [[Republican National Convention]], Kirk met [[Foster Friess]], a prominent Republican donor, and persuaded him to finance the organization.<ref name="atlantic">{{cite news|author=Nelson, Rebecca|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/03/the-21-year-old-becoming-a-major-player-in-conservative-politics/451110/|title=The 21-Year-Old Becoming a Major Player in Conservative Politics|date=March 25, 2015|newspaper=[[The Atlantic Monthly]]}}</ref>

According to Kirk, he dreamed of attending the [[United States Military Academy]] in [[West Point, New York]], but his application was rejected.<ref name=":1" /> According to ''[[The New Yorker]]'',

According to Kirk, he dreamed of attending the [[United States Military Academy]] in [[West Point, New York]], but his application was rejected.<ref name=":1" /> According to ''[[The New Yorker]]''.

Kirk took general education classes at [[Harper College]], a local [[community college]]. He founded Turning Point USA while studying at Harper.<ref name="perfect-storm"/>

Kirk took general education classes at [[Harper College]], a local [[community college]]. He founded Turning Point USA while studying at Harper.<ref name="perfect-storm"/>

Kirk addressed the [[2016 Republican National Convention]]. In an interview with ''[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]'' magazine during the convention, Kirk said that while he "was not the world's biggest Donald Trump fan," he would vote for him, and that Trump's candidacy made Turning Point's mission more difficult.<ref name="Wired RNC">{{cite news|title=At the Republican Convention, Millennials Search for Signs of the Future|url=https://www.wired.com/2016/07/republican-convention-millennials-search-signs-future/|work=Wired|date=July 20, 2016}}</ref> ''[[The Dallas Morning News]]'' described Kirk as leading the "millennial assault" for [[Donald Trump]]'s 2016 presidential campaign.<ref name="DMN">{{cite news|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2016/11/11/two-young-dallas-guns-helped-deliver-white-house-trump|title=How two Dallas young guns helped deliver the White House to Trump|date=November 11, 2016|work=Dallas Morning News}}</ref>

Kirk addressed the 2016 [[Republican National Convention]]. In an interview with ''[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]'' magazine during the convention, Kirk said that while he "was not the world's biggest Donald Trump fan," he would vote for him, and that Trump's candidacy made Turning Point's mission more difficult.<ref name="Wired RNC">{{cite news|title=At the Republican Convention, Millennials Search for Signs of the Future|url=https://www.wired.com/2016/07/republican-convention-millennials-search-signs-future/|work=Wired|date=July 20, 2016}}</ref> ''[[The Dallas Morning News]]'' described Kirk as leading the "millennial assault" for [[Donald Trump]]'s 2016 presidential campaign.<ref name="DMN">{{cite news|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2016/11/11/two-young-dallas-guns-helped-deliver-white-house-trump|title=How two Dallas young guns helped deliver the White House to Trump|date=November 11, 2016|work=Dallas Morning News}}</ref>

Kirk wrote the 2018 book ''Campus Battlefield: How Conservatives Can WIN the Battle on Campus and Why It Matters''. In a review for ''[[The Weekly Standard]]'', Adam Rubenstein described the book as a "hot mess", "nothing more a marketing pitch for TPUSA" and said the "thin" book was "stuffed with reprintings of his tweets and quotes from others."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.weeklystandard.com/adam-rubenstein/charlie-kirks-book-campus-battlefield-is-a-joke|title=Charlie Kirk's ''Campus Battlefield'' Is a Hot Mess|date=2018-10-10|work=The Weekly Standard|access-date=2018-10-10|language=en}}</ref>

Kirk wrote the 2018 book ''Campus Battlefield: How Conservatives Can WIN the Battle on Campus and Why It Matters''. In a review for ''[[The Weekly Standard]]'', Adam Rubenstein described the book as a "hot mess", "nothing more a marketing pitch for TPUSA" and said the "thin" book was "stuffed with reprintings of his tweets and quotes from others."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.weeklystandard.com/adam-rubenstein/charlie-kirks-book-campus-battlefield-is-a-joke|title=Charlie Kirk's ''Campus Battlefield'' Is a Hot Mess|date=2018-10-10|work=The Weekly Standard|access-date=2018-10-10|language=en}}</ref>

In 2018, Kirk praised Kanye West for getting involved in politics and advocating for President Trump. Later that year when [[Taylor Swift]] endorsed a Democrat in the Tennessee Senate race, Kirk condemned her endorsement and told her to "stay away from politics."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/fox-guests-want-taylor-swift-to-shut-up-but-love-kanyes-maga-embrace|title=Fox Guests Want Taylor Swift to Shut Up, but Love Kanye’s MAGA Embrace|last=Wilstein|first=Matt|date=2018-10-08|work=The Daily Beast|access-date=2018-10-11|language=en}}</ref> Kirk suggested, without evidence, that Swift had not written her endorsement.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=http://uk.businessinsider.com/charlie-kirk-fox-and-friends-says-taylor-swift-didnt-write-statement-endorsing-democratic-politicians-2018-10?r=US&IR=T|title=Conservative activist says on 'Fox and Friends' that Taylor Swift didn't write her own Instagram post endorsing Democratic politicians|work=Business Insider|access-date=2018-10-15|language=en}}</ref> Kirk said it was "ridiculous" for Swift to accuse Republican [[Marsha Blackburn]] of being hostile to LGBT rights and women's rights; Blackburn has a well-documented history of anti-LGBT positions, which Swift cited in her endorsement.<ref name=":3" />

In 2018, Kirk praised Kanye West for getting involved in politics and advocating for President Trump. Later that year when [[Taylor Swift]] endorsed a Democrat in the Tennessee Senate race, Kirk condemned her endorsement and told her to "stay away from politics."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/fox-guests-want-taylor-swift-to-shut-up-but-love-kanyes-maga-embrace|title=Fox Guests Want Taylor Swift to Shut Up, but Love Kanye’s MAGA Embrace|last=Wilstein|first=Matt|date=2018-10-08|work=The Daily Beast|access-date=2018-10-11|language=en}}</ref> Kirk suggested, that Swift had not written her endorsement.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=http://uk.businessinsider.com/charlie-kirk-fox-and-friends-says-taylor-swift-didnt-write-statement-endorsing-democratic-politicians-2018-10?r=US&IR=T|title=Conservative activist says on 'Fox and Friends' that Taylor Swift didn't write her own Instagram post endorsing Democratic politicians|work=Business Insider|access-date=2018-10-15|language=en}}</ref> Kirk said it was "ridiculous" for Swift to accuse Republican [[Marsha Blackburn]] of being hostile to women's rights; Blackburn has a well-documented history of anti-LGBT positions, which Swift cited in her endorsement.<ref name=":3" />

In December 2018, Kirk claimed that protesters in [[Yellow vests movement|France's "yellow vests" movement]] chanted "We want Trump." Kirk's false claims were later repeated by President Trump. The videos in support of the claim were from a far-right protest in London, not from the yellow vest movement in France.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://factcheck.afp.com/no-french-protesters-are-not-chanting-we-want-trump|title=No, French protesters are not chanting, 'We want Trump'|date=2018-12-04|website=AFP Fact Check|language=en|access-date=2018-12-08}}</ref> He also claimed that Cuba has 15 years lower life expectancy than the United States, while in fact it has a higher life expectancy, and that 85% of all jobs in the private sector in USA come from small businesses, while that number is less than 50%.<ref>{{cite web|title=Debunking Charlie Kirk's Arguments At Politicon 2018 In Debate vs Hasan Piker|author=Anton Dybal|url=https://askepticalhuman.com/politics/2018/10/23/debunking-charlie-kirks-arguments-at-politicon-2018-in-debate-vs-hasan-piker|work=Askepticalhuman.com}}</ref>

In December 2018, Kirk claimed that protesters in [[Yellow vests movement|France's "yellow vests" movement]] chanted "We want Trump." Kirk's statements were later repeated by President Trump. The videos in support of the claim were from a protest in London, not from the yellow vest movement in France.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://factcheck.afp.com/no-french-protesters-are-not-chanting-we-want-trump|title=No, French protesters are not chanting, 'We want Trump'|date=2018-12-04|website=AFP Fact Check|language=en|access-date=2018-12-08}}</ref> He also stated that Cuba has lower life expectancy than the United States, while it may have a higher life expectancy, and that most of all jobs in the private sector in USA come from small businesses, while that number is less than 50%.<ref>{{cite web|title=Debunking Charlie Kirk's Arguments At Politicon 2018 In Debate vs Hasan Piker|author=Anton Dybal|url=https://askepticalhuman.com/politics/2018/10/23/debunking-charlie-kirks-arguments-at-politicon-2018-in-debate-vs-hasan-piker|work=Askepticalhuman.com}}</ref>

Cultural critic [[James Wolcott]] has described Kirk as a [[Tucker Carlson]] "Mini-Me".<ref>[[James Wolcott|Wolcott, James]] (February 6, 2019) [https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2019/02/james-wolcott-on-the-shelf-life-of-a-deplorable "James Wolcott on the Shelf Life of a Deplorable"] ''[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]''</ref>

Cultural critic [[James Wolcott]] has described Kirk as a [[Tucker Carlson]] "Mini-Me".<ref>[[James Wolcott|Wolcott, James]] (February 6, 2019) [https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2019/02/james-wolcott-on-the-shelf-life-of-a-deplorable "James Wolcott on the Shelf Life of a Deplorable"] ''[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]''</ref>