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Charlie Kirk is the Founder and President of Turning Point USA, the largest and fastest growing conservative youth activist organization in the country with over 250,000 student members, over 150 full-time staff, and a presence on over 2,000 high school and college campuses nationwide. Charlie is also the Chairman of Students for Trump, which aims to activate one million new college voters on campuses in battleground states in the lead up to the 2020 presidential election. His social media reaches over 100 million people per month and according to Axios, he is one of the "top 10 most engaged" Twitter handles in the world. He is also the host of “The Charlie Kirk Show,” which regularly ranks among the top news shows on Apple podcast charts.
Charlie Kirk Defends Faith, Trump, and Biblical Creation in Intense University Debate Exchange
Charlie Kirk faces pointed questions about evolution, biblical creation, and Donald Trump's alignment with gospel values in this university debate segment. The exchange reveals Kirk's approach to open-handed versus closed-handed theological issues, his comparison of Trump to biblical figure Samson, and his defense of supporting flawed leaders. Kirk navigates questions about personhood, the sanctity of life, and whether Christian values align with Trump's presidency, offering insights into how he reconciles faith with political support.
The segment opens with a heartfelt tribute from Angel Studios, expressing deep gratitude for Charlie Kirk's support throughout the company's journey. A representative from Angel Studios shares how Kirk stood by them during both challenging times and moments of success, describing his impact as profound and lasting. The tribute acknowledges Kirk's extensive network of connections and the meaningful role Angel Studios played within that web of relationships.
Evolution, Creation, and Biblical Authority
The debate begins with questions about Kirk's beliefs regarding evolution and the sanctity of life. When asked if he accepts evolution and believes humans evolved from primates, Kirk offers a nuanced response. He states he doesn't know definitively but believes in the biblical account of creation while acknowledging abundant scientific research showing adaptation and species change.
Kirk explains that a person can be a theist and believe God ushered evolution, leaving room for interpretations by those more knowledgeable in the field. He emphasizes this question is completely irrelevant to his core theology. When pressed about whether he's willing to accept evolution as fact based on evidence, Kirk clarifies he's not declaring it a fact but remains open to having his mind moved by data.
He points to what he calls the fine-tuning problem of existence, arguing that atheists must reckon with evidence suggesting intelligent design. Kirk maintains his belief that scriptures are true and that the Genesis creation account allows for the possibility that God created the heavens and earth and either allowed species to evolve or designed humans directly. He notes uncertainty about whether this design happened over a long period or immediately, deferring to those with greater expertise.
Personhood, Image-Bearing, and the Sanctity of Life
The questioner challenges Kirk on personhood, asking how he reconciles belief in the sanctity of life with evolution if humans aren't fundamentally different from animals. Kirk responds by citing Genesis 1:26-27, explaining that scriptures say God created humans male and female distinctly as the only creatures made in the image of God. While God called animals good, they are not image-bearers according to biblical text.
Kirk elaborates on the Hebrew word "bara" used for "create," noting it's unclear whether this means created instantly or over a long period. He finds no contradiction in saying God could have created instantly or through a process of adaptation and species change. He describes how very smart Christians hold positions on both sides of this issue.
Closed-Hand Versus Open-Hand Theology
Kirk introduces an important theological framework distinguishing between closed-hand and open-hand theological issues. Closed-hand issues include non-negotiable beliefs like the resurrection of Christ and the Trinity. Open-hand issues include matters like eschatology, the Eucharist, or the creation account where faithful Christians can disagree. The creation account falls into the open-hand category given the biblical verbiage, allowing for either interpretation.
Trump, Gospel Values, and Biblical Comparisons
The conversation shifts to Donald Trump and whether he embodies gospel values. Kirk makes a striking comparison between Trump and Samson from the Bible, noting both had great hair before elaborating on the serious parallel. He describes Samson as a man willing to fight for a cause greater than himself despite moral troublings and missteps.
Kirk provides biblical context by listing flawed leaders throughout scripture. He mentions King David, Abraham, and notably Moses, who murdered someone in Egypt and had to flee to Midian. Kirk points out that Moses is one of the most revered figures in Judaism despite being a murderer, while Trump has never murdered anybody. He emphasizes that all people are flawed with original sin.
Reconciling Faith and Political Support
When asked specifically about humility, compassion, and forgiveness as gospel values, Kirk acknowledges that Trump is far more magnanimous than people give him credit for, though no one fully embodies all gospel values. He identifies truth-telling as a value Trump does fulfill, noting the gospel places fundamental importance on the spoken word.
Kirk refuses to spend time defining every moral decision Trump has or hasn't made, stating he is equally a sinner as Trump and that all fall short of the glory of God. However, he praises Trump's willingness to rise to the occasion for something greater than himself, calling his endurance through assassination attempts and facing potential federal prison time one of the most courageous actions from an elected official in Western history.
Would Jesus Vote for Trump?
When asked the provocative question of whether Jesus would have voted for Trump, Kirk first notes that Jesus intentionally didn't vote and didn't care about the Roman guard, citing the teaching to "render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and unto God what is God's." He acknowledges it's a somewhat silly question but engages with it.
Kirk argues that Jesus taught "don't touch children," so he would love that Trump repealed Roe versus Wade and that the current government focuses on child sex trafficking. He references Jesus's teachings like "sin no more" and "love your neighbor" as principles that should be embodied in public policy decisions. Kirk concludes by emphasizing that Jesus is divine and would not fill out a ballot.
