Orem (USA) – Trump activist and podcaster Charlie Kirk (31) was gunned down at a public event in the USA. He died shortly thereafter. The US President (79) himself confirmed this on his online service, Truth Social.
As CNN and other broadcasters previously reported, at least one shot was fired while Kirk was giving a speech at Utah Valley University in the US state of Utah.
President Trump confirms victim's death
"The great, even legendary, Charlie Kirk has passed away," President Trump declared, confirming the death."No one understood or had a better sense of the youth of the United States of America than Charlie. He was loved and admired by all, especially me, and now he is no longer with us. Melania and I extend our deepest condolences to his beautiful wife, Erika, and his family. Charlie, we love you!"
The president ordered flags to be flown at half-mast until Sunday. The flag in front of the White House has already been lowered to half-staff.
Shot in the middle of a speech
Kirk is considered one of the most well-known right-wing activists in the US and was close to Trump. He had his own podcast,"The Charlie Kirk Show."
In videos posted on social media, Kirk can be seen speaking into a handheld microphone while sitting under a white tent. A single gunshot rings out, and Kirk immediately bleeds from the neck and falls backward. The stunned onlookers can be heard gasping and screaming before people begin to run away.
Arrested man not the perpetrator
A university spokesperson said a shot was fired from a nearby building. Police initially arrested a suspect, but it later turned out he was not the perpetrator, reports the Associated Press.
A perpetrator has not yet been identified. There is also no evidence of the firearm.
California Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the attack in the strongest possible terms."The attack on Charlie Kirk is disgusting, abhorrent, and reprehensible," Newsom wrote on the online service X, representing the Democratic Party."In the United States of America, we must reject political violence in any form."
The attack took place at this event
Kirk had spoken at a major event organized by his nonprofit political organization. An online petition calling on the university administration to ban Kirk from the event received nearly 1,000 signatures.
