Charlie Kirk, a prominent conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, has died after being shot during an event at Utah Valley University, as announced by President Donald Trump on social media.
The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead, the president wrote on Truth Social. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie.
Kirk was shot shortly after he began speaking at a rally. Eyewitness reports indicate that the gunfire originated from a distance of about 200 yards away at the Losee Center. Students present reported a moment of chaos immediately following the gunshot, which was captured on multiple videos.
During the event, Kirk was discussing gun violence in America when the single shot rang out, jolting him back in his chair as the audience scattered in panic. Health Secretary Robert Kennedy and California Governor Gavin Newsom spoke out against the attack, with Newsom labeling it disgusting, vile, and reprehensible.
The incident was condemned broadly, with responses coming from politicians across the political spectrum, emphasizing a collective rejection of political violence. Former Utah congressman Jason Chaffetz described the scene as one where people hit the deck following the gunfire.
As the news spread, members of Trump's press office also displayed shock, marking this event as a significant moment in the ongoing discourse around political safety in the United States.
