Charlie Kirk, Pro-Trump Activist, Shot Dead at Utah University Event
Charlie Kirk, a prominent conservative activist and close ally of former U.S. President Donald Trump, was fatally shot during a university event in Utah in what authorities believe was a targeted assassination. He was 31.
Trump announced Kirk’s death in a post on his Truth Social platform on Wednesday.
“The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead,” Trump wrote. “No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us.”
Trump said flags across the country would be lowered to half-mast until Sunday in Kirk’s honor. In a later video address from the White House, he blamed the killing on what he described as the rhetoric of the political left.
“It is long past time for all Americans and the media to confront the fact that violence and murder are the tragic consequence of demonising those with whom you disagree, day after day, year after year, in the most hateful and despicable way possible,” Trump said.
The Attack
Utah officials confirmed that Kirk was killed with a single gunshot in what they believe was a deliberate act.
Videos shared online showed Kirk addressing a large crowd at Utah Valley University, about 40 miles south of Salt Lake City, when a shot rang out. He was seen clutching his neck and collapsing as the audience fled in panic.
Eyewitness Jeb Jacobi, a Turning Point USA volunteer, described the scene:
“I was on the third row from the bottom. I saw Charlie collapse in a pool of blood, and he was dragged off and carried over to the car. It was shocking to see,” he told Al Jazeera.
“People were panicking, people were screaming, people were running in all different directions. I started panicking. I called my family, I called my parents, I called my aunt, my sister. I talked to everyone.”
Utah Governor Spencer Cox condemned the killing as a “political assassination.”
“This is a dark day for our state. It is a tragic day for our nation,” Cox said. “Charlie Kirk was first and foremost a husband and dad to two young children. He believed in the power of free speech and debate to shape ideas and to persuade people.”
National Reaction
Prominent Democrats also joined in condemning the violence. Former Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama both issued statements.
“There is no place in our country for this kind of violence. It must end now. Jill and I are praying for Charlie Kirk’s family and loved ones,” Biden said.
California Governor Gavin Newsom called the shooting “disgusting, vile, and reprehensible,” adding:
“In the United States of America, we must reject political violence in EVERY form.”
Investigation
Utah’s Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason said authorities were searching for a suspect dressed in dark clothing who may have fired from a rooftop.
“The only information we have on the possible shooter comes from closed-circuit TV here on campus. We’re analyzing it, but it’s security camera footage, so the quality is limited,” Mason explained.
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that one person detained earlier had been released after questioning.
“Our investigation continues and we will continue to release information in the interest of transparency,” Patel stated.
Political Violence Context
Kirk, often described as a “rock star” among young conservatives, was instrumental in mobilizing support for Trump, especially on college campuses. His events frequently drew large crowds and heated exchanges with critics.
The shooting follows a string of politically motivated attacks in the United States, including last year’s attempted assassination of Trump and the murder of a Democratic state lawmaker and her husband in June.
Moments before the fatal shot, Kirk had been discussing gun violence with an audience member:
Audience member: “Do you know how many transgender Americans have been mass shooters over the last 10 years?”
Kirk: “Too many.”
Audience member: “Do you know how many mass shooters there have been in America over the last 10 years?”
Kirk: “Counting or not counting gang violence?”
At that moment, a gunshot was fired.
Attendee Larissa Olson, 24, said security had not screened those entering the event.
“I hadn’t fully processed what happened until we were in the lockdown room, and my husband said he thought he saw Charlie Kirk and blood. It all happened so fast,” Olson said.
“This was such a horrible experience, and violence is not the answer. I pray for his family, children, and everybody else that had to witness such a tragedy.”
Controversy Before the Event
Kirk’s visit to Utah Valley University had already been controversial. An online petition opposed his appearance, accusing him of promoting ideas contrary to values of “understanding, acceptance, and progress.”
The university defended the event, citing its commitment to free speech and open dialogue.
Turning Point USA, the group Kirk co-founded in 2012, became a major conservative youth movement backed by influential donors. Initially aligned with traditional Republican causes, Kirk shifted to embrace Trump’s populist agenda, campaigning vigorously for him in both 2020 and 2024.
In an interview published days before his death, Kirk reflected on his mission:
“This is where you have to try to point them towards ultimate purposes and towards getting back to the church, getting back to faith, getting married, having children. That is the type of conservatism that I represent, and I’m trying to paint a picture of virtue of lifting people up, not just staying angry.”
Source: Al Jazeera
