Charley Kirk, a right organizer and commentator, was shot and killed at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday aft...
Charley Kirk, a right organizer and commentator, was shot and killed at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday afternoon. President Trump made the announcement. In a social media post, the president, who was close to Kirk, talked about how many young people liked him and how sad he was.
"The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. 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," Mr. Trump said on Truth Social.
To honor Kirk, the president also told flags to be flown at half-staff until Sunday evening.
Late Wednesday night, Mr. Trump put out a video message about Kirk in which he blamed the "radical left" for his death. On Truth Social, he said in a video, "For years, people on the far left have compared good Americans like Charlie to Nazis and the world's worst mass murderers and criminals." There was disagreement in Congress about how to honor Kirk's death on the House floor, but both Democrats and Republicans said, "This kind of rhetoric is directly responsible for the terrorism that we're seeing in our country today, and it must stop right now." Mike Johnson, the speaker, tried to hold a moment of silence for Kirk. Then, the House gallery said that Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado asked for a point of order. She shared an X post that said she had asked for a moment of prayer. A Democrat yelled "No!" and other politicians who looked like Democrats replied. Boebert and Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, a Florida Republican, then spoke up. Someone yelled, "There was just a shooting in Colorado!" and someone else said, "Pass some gun laws!" Johnson kept telling them to calm down, and he later talked about what happened on Fox News. "A motion was made on the floor to have a vocal prayer, and it turned into an argument," he said. "You know, that's where our politics are in the country right now. We have got to turn the heat down a little bit. We got to have civil discourse."
"The great tragic irony about this, one of the tragedies, is that Charlie represented that, the best of it," he said. "He's the guy that was the champion out on the front lines having the debate, but he he loved the people that disagreed with him .... He loved it, and he loved the debate." "That's what's so important for us to remember," he said. "We shouldn't regard one another as enemies. We're fellow Americans, and we should have vigorous debate, but it cannot lead to political violence. It's just too much."
Vice President JD Vance wrote a long ode to Kirk on X late Wednesday night. He said that Kirk pushed "in public and private" for President Trump to choose him as his running mate last year, after being friends with the conservative broadcaster for eight years, according to Vance.
While Vance was running for the Senate in 2022, Kirk helped him. During his run for the White House in 2024, "some of our most successful events were organized not by the campaign, but by TPUSA (Turning Point USA)." Vance also says that Kirk "didn't just help us win in 2024, he helped us staff the whole government."
"Charlie Kirk was a true friend. The kind of guy you could say something to and know it would always stay with him," Vance says.
He ends with, "And now that Charlie is in heaven, I'll ask him to talk to big man directly on behalf of his family, his friends, and the country he loved so dearly. You ran a good race, my friend. We've got it from here."
Biden says, "This kind of violence has no place in our country."
In a social media post, former President Joe Biden spoke out against the attack on Kirk.
"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," he wrote in a post for X.
Bush says that Kirk's death was "despicable violence."
The killing was called "despicable violence" by former President Barack Obama in a post on X.
"We don't yet know what motivated the person who shot and killed Charlie Kirk, but this kind of despicable violence has no place in our democracy," he said. "Michelle and I will be praying for Charlie's family tonight, especially his wife Erika and their two young children."
He says "violence and vitriol must be purged from the public square"
Before he became president, George W. Bush said in a statement, "Today, a young man was killed in cold blood while expressing his political views. It happened on a college campus, where the free exchange of opposing ideas should be sacred."
"Violence and vitriol must be purged from the public square. Members of other political parties are not our enemies; they are our fellow citizens. May God bless Charlie Kirk and his family, and may God guide America toward civility," he added.
"Serious introspection" is what Bill Clinton wants.
It was "saddened and angered" former President Bill Clinton, who wrote on social media about the killing.
"I hope we all go through some serious introspection and redouble our efforts to engage in debate passionately, yet peacefully," said he.
She says that Kirk's children will now be raised "with stories instead of memories" as Melania Trump mourns his death.
Mrs. Trump thought about what Kirk's death will mean to his children as they grow up.
"Charlie's children will be raised with stories instead of memories, photographs instead of laughter, and silence where their father's voice should have echoed," she wrote on X.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox says he is "heartbroken" over Kirk's death and promises that justice will be done.
Republican Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said that he and his wife are "heartbroken" about Kirk's death and are hoping for his wife and two children. Kirk was a conservative campaigner.
"I just got off the phone with President Trump. Working with the FBI and Utah law enforcement, we will bring to justice the individual responsible for this tragedy," he said in a post on X.
As Sen. John Hoffman of Minnesota put it, "America is broken."
Minnesota state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were hurt in the June shootings that killed former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband. On Wednesday, Hoffman said in a statement, "America is broken, and political violence threatens our lives and democracy."
"The assassination of Charlie Kirk today is only the latest act that our country cannot continue to accept," the statement said. "Our leaders of both parties must not only tone down their own rhetoric, but they must begin to call out extreme, aggressive and violent dialog that foments these attacks on our republic and freedom. We also call on leaders of both parties to take immediate action to prevent gun violence. Our prayers are with the Kirk family, our state and our country."
There is "boundless energy and great love for his country" in Kirk, says Sen. Mike Lee.
CBS News reported that Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah talked to President Trump about Kirk and that the president told him, "I'm sure they'll stay after him" and "they need to catch this guy."
"Whether you agree with him or not, you have to respect his boundless energy, his commitment to making the world a better place," Lee said.
Lee wrote on X that Kirk was a "American patriot.” He said that Kirk inspired many young people to stand up for the values that make our country great.
He wrote on X that Kirk's death was "a cowardly act of violence, an attack on freedom fighters like Charlie, the students who gathered for civil debate, and all Americans who peacefully strive to save our nation."
Furthermore, "the terrorists will not win," he said. "Charlie will. Please join me in praying for his wife Erika and their children. May justice be swift."
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson says Kirk will be missed a lot.
Louisiana Republican Mike Johnson, who is Speaker of the House, told reporters that Kirk was "a close friend" and "confidant."
"We will miss him very much," he said. "And we need every political leader to decry the violence and do it loudly."
Eric Trump says that flags on Trump buildings will be flown at half-staff.
Eric Trump said that Kirk is a "dear friend" to the whole Trump family. He said that to honor him, all Trump sites would fly their flags at half-staff.
Jr. Donald Trump: "I love you, brother"
Kirk was good friends with Donald Trump Jr. He wrote on social media, "I love you brother. You gave so many people the courage to speak up, and we will never be silenced."
Trump Jr. wrote in a long follow-up post, "There is no doubt that Charlie's work and his voice helped my father win the presidency." "He changed the direction of this nation...I know Charlie's legacy doesn't end here. He poured into millions of young people who will carry forward the torch he lit. He built something that will outlast him, because it was grounded in faith, in truth, and in courage. And as his friend, I will never forget him. I'll honor him by loving boldly, speaking truth without fear, and continuing his spirit of courage. His fight lives on in all of us who loved him. This is an unimaginable loss."
Gabby Giffords was "horrified" to hear that Kirk had been shot.
A former U.S. congresswoman from Arizona named Gabby Giffords was shot and seriously hurt in 2011. In a post on X, she said, "I'm horrified to hear that Charlie Kirk was shot at an event in Utah. Democratic societies will always have political disagreements, but we must never let America become a country that deals with those disagreements with violence."
The killing was a "political assassination" according to Rep. Steve Scalise.
Representative Steve Scalise, a Republican from Louisiana, told Fox News that Kirk's death "brings back a lot of emotions" from 2017. That's when Scalise was shot while practicing with other GOP lawmakers for the annual congressional baseball game in Virginia.
Four other people, two Capitol Police officers and two former congressional workers, were hurt in the attack in 2017.
In his speech, Scalise called Kirk's death a "political assassination."
After Kirk was shot, Scalise said, "There are some people who think that political violence is a way to shut other people down. That is not what America is, and it can't ever become that."
The Republican from Kentucky and Chair of the House Oversight Committee, James Comer, called the killing "awful."
James Comer, the chairman of the GOP House Oversight Committee in Kentucky, said he saw the video of the killing and thought it was "awful."
"It's just, it's just terrible. I mean, I think we've been saying for months now the political temperature is too high in America, and we've got to tone it back," Comer told CBS. "And political violence is on the rise. And, you know, I know that most of my colleagues and myself included are getting a lot more threatening calls, and it's just, it's a terrible environment now and again. I just feel awful for Charlie Kirk and his young family."
Kirk was very important to "the right to speak freely and share your beliefs," said GOP Rep. Virginia Foxx of North Carolina.
Republicans from North Carolina's Rep. Virginia Foxx told CBS News at the Capitol, "There's no room for violence, and it's terrible." She said she was glad that people from both parties had spoken out against the attack on Kirk and that the House Oversight Committee had taken a moment to pray for her.
Foxx told CBS News that Kirk stood for "a very important group of people in our culture" and that he was "very proud of the fact that he doesn't have a college degree."
"He means a lot, and not just to the conservative movement and that part of our culture. He means a lot to the right to speak freely, share your beliefs, and feel safe in our country, and it's really sad." Nobody should have to deal with violence, no matter how left or right you are. It's not right."
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, GOP: "There aren't really words"
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican from Georgia, said of Kirk's death, "There really aren't words." She also told reporters that it would be "hard for anybody to fill his shoes."
"Charlie Kirk leaves behind a huge legacy," she said.
Texas GOP Rep. Chip Roy says Kirk's death "is going to be one of those things that, you know, changes some things."
On the far right, Republican Chip Roy said of Kirk, "This is a guy that you can disagree with him—I disagreed with him on most things." But Roy respected that "he was trying to open up dialog and engage in civil discourse across college campus, appeal even those that disagree with them."
According to Roy, Kirk's death "is going to be one of those things that you know changes some things."
He told reporters at the Capitol, "I haven't quite figured out how or what, but you know, this one hits."
"It shouldn't have to come to that for us to be able to freely and passionately talk about what we believe in." That's the thing... We're all here for something bigger than ourselves. Charlie lived it when he tweeted three days ago about his faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. I know where he is.
He cited "a country that's turning its back on our collective faith as a nation," stating "this is why we're seeing a breakdown and our ability to band together. We got to do something about that."
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of the GOP says Democrats are to blame.
A Republican from Florida named Rep. Anna Paulina Luna said that Democrats were to blame for Kirk's death. "They did cause this — that type of rhetoric. You calling people fascists? You basically saying that we're Nazis, taking away people's rights. Charlie Kirk was literally murdered," she said. The police do not have a suspect in their hands.
Putting the blame for bloodshed on political parties or groups "doesn't help," says Raskin.
"Putting the blame for this kind of violence on political parties or political factions" doesn't help, according to Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland.
"I certainly resisted that when I heard people doing that after the killings in Minnesota or after Paul Pelosi was attacked," Raskin said, referring to the killing earlier this year of a Democratic lawmaker and her husband in Minnesota and the brutal attack with a hammer on Paul Pelosi, who is married to former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
"There's no reason for us to get into that the violence against political leaders is unacceptable in a free, democratic society, and it is a threat to democracy. So we all have to denounce it. We all have to reject it, and we should all resist the temptation just to point fingers that take us nowhere," said Raskin. "We should be rejecting gun violence and political violence in all of their forms, regardless of who the target is."
The killing is "reprehensible" according to Nancy Pelosi.
In a post on X, Democrat and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi spoke out against the shooting, calling it "reprehensible."
"Political violence has absolutely no place in our nation," she said, adding we should "hold the entire UVU community in our hearts as they endure the trauma of this gun violence."
In 2022, someone broke into Pelosi's San Francisco home and hit her husband Paul Pelosi with a hammer. Pelosi has often spoken out against political violence.
Americans are being asked to "engage with each other" by Gov. Gavin Newsom of California.
Gavin Newsom, the governor of California, wrote on social media that Kirk's death is "a reminder of how important it is for all of us, across the political spectrum, to foster genuine discourse on issues that deeply affect us all without resorting to political violence." Newsom had Kirk on his podcast earlier this year.
"The best way to honor Charlie's memory is to continue his work: engage with each other, across ideology, through spirited discourse. In a democracy, ideas are tested through words and good-faith debate — never through violence," said Newsom. "Honest disagreement makes us stronger; violence only drives us further apart and corrodes the values at the heart of this nation."