Charlie Kirk said about Martin Luther King Jr. that "MLK was awful" and "He's not a good person." He claimed that King said one good thing that he actually didn't believe. Kirk expressed this view during a speech in December 2023 at America Fest, a political event organized by Turning Point USA. He also criticized the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which King's legacy is closely tied to, calling it a "colossal error" and suggesting it led to a permanent diversity, equity, and inclusion bureaucracy that undermines the First Amendment. Kirk's comments mark a sharp departure from his earlier positive descriptions of King as a "hero" and "civil rights icon." He planned to release more critical material about King on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in January 2024. Kirk's remarks have been part of a broader agenda to challenge the legacy of the civil rights leader and the related legislation.