Amid a large crowd of students at Utah University, conservative activist and close friend of President Donald Trump, Charlie Kirk, was murdered. As he addressed students from a podium on the campus, a bullet struck his neck.
Charlie Kirk was touring various states as part of
The American Comeback Tour
, addressing students. It was during this tour that he reached Utah University. A staunch supporter of Trump's Republican Party, Kirk played a pivotal role in garnering the youth vote for Trump in the 2024 presidential election.
Reports indicate that Charlie Kirk was shot around 12 PM on Wednesday. A single bullet hit his neck, leading to his death.
Meanwhile, Indian student Sameer Masi, studying at Utah University, was recording Charlie Kirk's speech on his iPhone when the shooting occurred. Sameer posted a video on Facebook, expressing that he saw blood on the table and witnessed people fleeing to save their lives. It was all horrifying.
Trump Mourns His Friend’s Death
President Trump is deeply saddened by the murder of his friend Charlie. He blamed the Radical Left for this tragedy. In a video message, Trump described Kirk's murder as an outrageous crime and a black day for America, noting that Kirk was a true patriot, much admired among youth and a fervent debater with open viewpoints.
He mentioned that Charlie inspired millions and those who knew and loved him are in shock. Trump held the rhetoric of the Radical Left responsible for Kirk's murder. He stated that for years, the Radical Left has compared extraordinary Americans like Charlie to Nazis and some of the worst killers and criminals globally. Such rhetoric is directly accountable for the terrorism evident in our nation today, which must be stopped immediately.
Search for the Shooter Continues Across America
President Trump is deeply grieved by his friend's murder. He expressed his commitment to leave no stone unturned in apprehending the shooter. Despite initiating a door-to-door search campaign, no arrests have been made yet. Earlier, a suspect was detained by the police but was released after questioning.
To honor Kirk, President Trump announced that the national flag would be flown at half-mast until Sunday.
Who Was Charlie Kirk and What Were His Controversial Ties?
Charlie Kirk was the executive director of Turning Point USA (TPUSA), a student organization aimed at promoting conservative ideologies in liberal American colleges. At 32, he was among Trump's closest allies and one of America's most high-profile conservative activists and media personalities.
Kirk's father was an architect. He studied at a Chicago college but left to pursue politics. In 2020, Kirk wrote 'The Maga Doctrine', which discussed Trump’s 'Make America Great Again'. Kirk and his team played a crucial role in rallying support for Trump and Republican candidates in the past presidential elections.
Known for his controversial statements, Kirk was often targeted by liberals due to his far-right viewpoints. His comments on slavery, abortion, misogynistic remarks, and racial issues were frequently contentious.
His podcast, The Charlie Kirk Show, was regarded as one of the most controversial podcasts, focusing on themes like racism, gender, immigration, LGBTQ+ rights, abortion, the COVID-19 vaccine, and historical issues like slavery and civil rights.
In March 2024, Kirk posted on Instagram stating, 'The 'Great Replacement' is not a theory, it's a reality,' claiming that the white population was deliberately being replaced by black immigrants. He reiterated this, leading to accusations of racism.
Kirk criticized the 1964 Civil Rights Act that ended racial discrimination, describing it as excessive government intervention. He also questioned Martin Luther King Jr. by labeling him a federalism opponent, which was seen as undermining the historic impacts of slavery and racial equality movements.
He invited a guest on his podcast who described slavery as a part of civilization. Furthermore, at the Turning Point Faith event, he claimed birth control makes women aggressive, hence should not be allowed. His life was filled with controversial remarks, especially about women.
