Not to be Sanitized 

The Death of Charlie Kirk is tragic and wrong.  Already I am seeing statements that imply Kirk debated in "good faith" and that he was not problematic.  While I deplore the use of violence against him, the record of what he has said and done must not be lost.  

On Violence

Defense of Political Violence: After the attack on Paul Pelosi, Kirk reportedly called the attacker a "patriot." 

Statements on gun deaths: Kirk stated that some gun deaths are a "cost" "worth it" for the protection of the Second Amendment. He has also argued that it is unrealistic to try to eliminate all gun deaths while also allowing widespread gun ownership. (Source: a 2023 statement from a Turning Point USA event in Salt Lake City, Utah)

Inflammatory rhetoric: Kirk has been criticized for using dehumanizing language toward political opponents and other groups, which some argue can lead to violence. For example, he has used terms such as the "transgender agenda" and has made comments about "prowling Blacks" targeting white people.

Support for the January 6th protest: Kirk's organization, Turning Point USA, helped fund buses to transport people to Washington, D.C., for the protest that preceded the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol. He also promoted false claims of election fraud, which critics say fueled the anger that led to the violence.

Views on political discourse: Critics argue that Kirk's rhetoric and the confrontational style of his campus events contribute to a political climate where violence is seen as an acceptable response to disagreement. Some believe that when public discourse becomes so polarized, and opponents are framed as "enemies," it can lead to physical aggression.

Christian Nationalism 

Rallying Christians to political action: Kirk has actively encouraged pastors and Christian leaders to engage in politics. He founded "Turning Point Faith" with the mission to "empower Christians to put their faith into action." This initiative provides resources, such as sermon templates and training, to guide religious leaders toward political activism.

Connecting faith and American identity: Kirk argues that the United States was founded as a Christian nation and that its success is tied to its Christian roots. He has stated that "you cannot have liberty if you do not have a Christian population." He believes that America is in a "spiritual battle" and that politics is a crucial part of this fight.

The "Seven Mountain Mandate": Kirk has referenced the "Seven Mountain Mandate," a concept popular in some Christian circles, which calls for Christians to take control of seven key areas of society: government, media, arts and entertainment, education, business, family, and religion. This demonstrates a belief that Christians should hold dominion over all aspects of public life.

Demonizing political opponents through a religious lens: Kirk often frames political conflicts in religious terms, arguing that the Democratic Party stands for "everything that God hates." This rhetoric presents political opposition as a moral and spiritual evil, thereby justifying a more aggressive and uncompromising political stance.

Promoting a Christian-centric vision for society: Kirk's advocacy for "Christian-only" schools and his statements that a woman's place is in the home, not the workforce, reflect a desire to create a society based on a specific, traditionalist Christian worldview.

Sexism 

Views on feminism and femininity: He has told young women to "trade their feminism for femininity" and has also referred to "toxic feminism."

Advice to young women: At a Turning Point USA event, Kirk encouraged young women to "ditch their professional aspirations and focus on finding a husband to fund being a stay-at-home mom." He asked the audience to raise their hand if they would prefer a good family over a good career, and nearly every hand was raised. He then told the women that everything they do should point towards that goal. He also told the audience, "If you're not married by the age of 30, you only have a 50 percent chance of getting married. And if you don't have kids by the age of 30, then you have a 50 percent chance of having kids. You should know that."

Blaming women for a political event: Kirk was accused of blaming female hiring initiatives in the Secret Service for a past assassination attempt on Donald Trump.

Embracing Christian nationalism: Kirk has embraced notions of Christian nationalism and often made provocative statements on gender, race, religion, and politics. He has also been criticized for perpetuating anti-feminist ideas.

Racism

Calling George Floyd a "scumbag": In a 2021 speech, Kirk referred to George Floyd, the Black man murdered by a Minneapolis police officer, as a "scumbag."

Comments on Black pilots: On a podcast in 2024, Kirk stated, "I'm sorry. If I see a Black pilot, I'm going to be like, 'Boy, I hope he's qualified.'"

Criticism of Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Act: Kirk has called Martin Luther King Jr. "awful" and "not a good person." He has also said that passing the Civil Rights Act of 1965 was a "huge mistake" because it led to what he described as a "permanent" bureaucracy to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Views on immigration: He has opposed certain types of immigration, claiming that Indian immigrants have "displaced American workers" and that "America does not need more visas for people from India."

Blaming "prowling Blacks" for targeting white people: He has stated that "prowling Blacks go around for fun to go target white people — that's a fact."

Opposition to Juneteenth as a federal holiday: Kirk has argued that the decision to make Juneteenth a federal holiday was driven by "anti-American" sentiment and promoted a "neo-segregationist view" that aimed to replace Independence Day.

Immigration

The "Great Replacement" Theory: Kirk has promoted this conspiracy theory, which suggests that non-white immigrants are being brought into Western countries to replace the existing white population. He has accused Democrats of embracing immigration to "diminish and decrease" white demographics in America. He has also used the phrase "we native born Americans are being replaced by foreigner hordes."

Specific groups of immigrants: Kirk has singled out particular groups of immigrants. For example, he has stated that "America does not need more visas for people from India" and claimed that "no form of legal immigration has so displaced American workers as those from India."

"Invasion" Rhetoric: He has used language that describes immigration in terms of an "invasion" that must be stopped. He has also accused immigrants of "importing insidious values into the west."

Opposition to specific policies: Kirk has been a vocal opponent of immigration policies, such as the H-1B visa program for foreign workers. He has argued that such programs are a "total scam" that allow companies to replace American workers with cheaper labor.

Queer Rights 

Gender-affirming care: Kirk has referred to gender-affirming care as "medieval butchery" and has called for "Nuremberg-style trials" for doctors who provide it.

Mass shootings: At a public event, when asked how many transgender Americans had been mass shooters over the past 10 years, Kirk responded, "Too many."

The "transgender agenda": Kirk frequently speaks out against what he calls the "transgender agenda," framing the movement for transgender rights as a negative and dangerous force in society.

Transgender athletes: He is a strong opponent of transgender women competing in women's sports. He has argued that it is "deeply unfair" and has challenged political figures on this issue.

General views on LGBTQ+ people: Kirk has been described as a "divisive provocateur" who made openly bigoted and "unabashedly homophobic" remarks. He has also been a vocal critic of gay marriage.