Right-wing conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot dead during an event at a university in Utah. Police are still searching for the shooter. US President Donald Trump paid tribute to Kirk with an emotional text and ordered flags to be flown at half-mast for several days.
Well-known right-wing conservative US activist Charlie Kirk has died following an assassination attempt. US President Donald Trump and authorities announced this on Wednesday. Kirk had been shot shortly before during an event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, and taken to a hospital. At approximately 12:10 p.m. (local time), the university announced on Platform X that Kirk was shot. Security personnel took Kirk away.
Trump wrote on his online service"Truth Social": "The great, even legendary Charlie Kirk is dead. No one understood or had a better feel for the youth of the United States of America than Charlie." Kirk was "loved and admired by all," "especially me." The US President ended his post with the words: "Charlie, we love you!" In another post, Trump announced that he had ordered all American flags in the USA to be flown at half-staff until 6 p.m. (Eastern Time) on Sunday"in honor of Charlie Kirk, a truly great American patriot."
According to authorities, one person was taken into custody. However, according to recent information from investigators, this person is not the suspect. Police are still searching for the shooter, authorities said.
Videos circulating online show Kirk speaking into a microphone under a white tent bearing the words"The American Comeback." Suddenly, a gunshot is heard. Kirk reaches up with his right hand as a large amount of blood spurts from the left side of his neck. Onlookers scream, some run away. The AP news agency was able to verify the authenticity of the videos.
The 31-year-old Kirk was one of the most well-known Christian conservative activists in the US and was close to Trump. He had his own podcast,"The Charlie Kirk Show," and reached an audience of millions on social media. At 18, he founded the youth activist organization Turning Point USA, which targets students and now has more than 850 campus chapters.
The organization advocates for the dissemination of right-wing conservative and evangelical views in schools and universities. Observers credit Kirk with playing a key role in the Republican effort to gain more support among young people in the US. Kirk was married to podcaster Erika Frantzve, with whom he has two young children.
Kirk is “a great guy from head to toe,” Trump writes
Immediately after the assassination, US President Donald Trump called on everyone to pray for Kirk. He wrote on Truth Social, calling Kirk"a great guy from head to toe." US Vice President J.D. Vance also asked on the X platform:"Please say a prayer for Charlie Kirk, a truly good guy and young father." US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth posted on X: "May the healing hand of Jesus Christ rest upon him."
Utah Governor Spencer Cox said he was being informed by authorities about the incident."Those responsible will be held accountable. Violence has no place in our public life. Americans of all political persuasions must unite to condemn this act. Our prayers are with Charlie, his family, and all those affected," said Cox, a Republican.
California Governor Gavin Newsom strongly condemned the attack even before news of Kirk's death broke."The attack on Charlie Kirk is disgusting, abhorrent, and reprehensible," Newsom wrote on X, representing the Democratic Party."In the United States of America, we must reject political violence in any form."
