Trump Credits Charlie Kirk for TikTok Strategy

United States President Donald Trump attributed his decision to use TikTok to the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk during an interview on Fox News. Trump recalled Kirk's persistent encouragement to leverage TikTok for political outreach, shaping his content strategy.

Kirk, a prominent conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, tragically passed away in 2025. Trump also mentioned his family's influence, particularly his youngest son Barron.

Kirk's advocacy for TikTok as a political tool left a lasting impact on Trump's approach to social media engagement. The shooting that claimed Kirk's life occurred during an event at Utah Valley University as part of the American Comeback Tour.