Meet Charlie Kirk, a key figure in Donald Trump's campaign

FFormer President Donald Trump will continue his fight to retake Georgia with a rally on Wednesday, this time moderated by influential conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Kirk, 31, gained recognition as co-founder and leader of Turning Point USA, a conservative nonprofit that has reportedly raised tens of millions of dollars to fuel pro-Trump campaigns across college campuses. The Arizona-based organization, launched in 2012 by then-18-year-old Kirk, has been gaining notoriety, particularly since Trump took office in 2016, when the nonprofit joined the campaign. According to the youth organization's website, Turning Point is now active at over 3,500 college and high school campuses in America.

According to June 2023 tax filings, Turning Point's revenue increased from $4.3 million in 2016 to $81.7 million in 2023.

Kirk's work with Turning Point landed him on Forbes' 2018 “30 Under 30” list, led to his frequent guest appearances on Fox News, and gave him the opportunity to be the youngest speaker at the 2016 Republican National Convention (RNC).

Beyond his leadership role at Turning Point, Kirk has developed a large following through his podcast. The Charlie Kirk Show. With over 750 episodes, the show is currently ranked #7 on Apple Podcasts in News and #10 on Spotify in News and is known for Kirk's conservative interpretations of liberal viewpoints. His podcast comments often land him in the news, including in January 2024 when he attacked the “myth” surrounding civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr.

Later that month, he came under fire for saying on the podcast, “If I see a black pilot, I'm going to say, 'Boy, I hope he's qualified.'” These comments struck a chord with many, including black pilots , violent reactions.

As RealClearPolitics first reported, Kirk's comments made enemies within the Republican National Convention, including former RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, who Kirk said was installed by Democrats in 2023 to “infiltrate” the Republican Party. It was reported that McDaniel told Trump about Kirk's MLK Jr. comments.

While McDaniel is no longer RNC chairman, Kirk's influence has remained a tool in Trump's back pocket.

“Charlie Kirk helps. He has his army of young people. These are young patriots“,” Trump said this during his speech at the Turning Point Action Conference in Detroit in June. “We thank you, Charlie.” Turning Point USA's YouTube channel also posts videos of Kirk “destroying” or “shutting down” students on “liberal” college campuses during his numerous speaking tours. Kirk is currently conducting the “You're Being Brainwashed Tour,” where he visits college campuses in swing states to debate college students and encourage them to vote for Trump in November.