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Pilots and qualifications: In a January 2024 episode of his podcast, Kirk said, "If I see a Black pilot, I'm going to be like, 'Boy, I hope he's qualified'". The comment came during a segment criticizing DEI initiatives in the airline industry.
Customer service: In a January 2024 podcast episode, Kirk remarked, "If I'm dealing with somebody in customer service who's a moronic Black woman, I wonder is she there because of her excellence, or is she there because of affirmative action?".
"Prowling Blacks": In May 2023, Kirk claimed on his show that "prowling Blacks go around for fun to go target white people".
"Brain processing power": Kirk claimed that prominent Black women like Michelle Obama and Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson "lacked the brain processing power" to understand complex topics, and only succeeded through affirmative action.
George Floyd and Martin Luther King Jr.: He made disrespectful comments about Black leaders. During a 2021 speech, Kirk called George Floyd a "scumbag". In December 2023, he referred to Martin Luther King Jr. as "awful" and "not a good person".
Civil Rights Act of 1964: Kirk repeatedly referred to the Civil Rights Act as a "huge mistake," calling it an "anti-white weapon".
White nationalist rhetoric: Kirk promoted the "Great Replacement" conspiracy theory, which alleges a plot to replace white Americans with nonwhite immigrants.
Promotion of extremists: Turning Point USA (TPUSA), the conservative youth organization Kirk founded, has a history of attracting white nationalists and featuring speakers with extremist views. In 2022, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) documented racist and homophobic incidents involving TPUSA members.
Criticism from within conservative circles: In 2023, Kirk drew criticism from fellow conservatives, including Ben Domenech of The Federalist, over antisemitic remarks. Kirk later attempted to clarify his comments and was given a prime speaking slot at the 2024 Republican National Convention.