Charlie Kirk's Death Prompts Outpouring Of Shock, Grief And Condemnations Of Political Violence

WASHINGTON — Top Republicans and Democrats mostly coalesced to mourn blimpish activistic Charlie Kirk and condemn politically motivated unit aft he was shot and killed Wednesday astatine a Turning Point USA arena astatine Utah Valley University.

Calling Kirk "great, and moreover legendary," President Donald Trump announced his decease connected Truth Social connected Wednesday afternoon.

"No 1 understood aliases had nan Heart of nan Youth successful nan United States of America amended than Charlie," Trump wrote. "He was loved and admired by ALL."

White House officials had huddled earlier successful nan day arsenic they tried to get much accusation connected nan shooting and Kirk's condition, a consciousness of daze permeating a building wherever Kirk, 31, was well-respected and viewed arsenic a beardown state of Trump's. At slightest 1 expletive could beryllium heard arsenic officials unopen nan doorway to nan room wherever they gathered.

After Kirk's decease was announced, flags supra nan White House were lowered to half-staff. Eric Trump, nan president's son, besides said flags would beryllium flown astatine half-staff at each Trump properties.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat and predominant Trump professional who hosted Kirk connected his podcast this year, decried nan shooting connected X soon aft it occurred.

"The onslaught connected Charlie Kirk is disgusting, vile, and reprehensible," Newsom wrote. "In nan United States of America, we must cull governmental unit successful EVERY form."

Kirk, who co-founded Turning Point, which organizes and mobilizes young blimpish activists, died aft he was rushed to a hospital. He had been speaking astir wide shooting incidents involving trans group erstwhile he was changeable successful nan neck. Gruesome video of nan onslaught quickly proliferated connected societal media.

While immoderate politicians utilized nan shooting to make governmental points — including Republicans accusing liberals of inciting unit pinch rhetoric and Democrats arguing for tighter weapon regulations — astir stuck to much unifying messages offering prayers for Kirk and his family, condemnations of unit aliases both.

Vice President JD Vance posted a prayer connected X: “Eternal remainder assistance unto him, O Lord.” In an earlier message, sent soon aft Kirk was shot, he praised Kirk for engaging successful unfastened speech pinch friends and critics alike.

“If you really watch Charlie’s events — arsenic opposed to nan clone summaries — they are 1 of nan fewer places pinch unfastened and honorable speech betwixt near and right,” Vance wrote. “He would reply immoderate mobility and talk to everyone.”

Former Vice President Kamala Harris, nan 2024 Democratic nominee for president, wrote connected X: "I americium profoundly disturbed by nan shooting successful Utah. Doug and I nonstop our prayers to Charlie Kirk and his family.

"Let maine beryllium clear: Political unit has nary spot successful America. I condemn this act, and we each must activity together to guarantee this does not lead to much violence," she added.

In nan contiguous aftermath, it was not clear who changeable Kirk. But immoderate elected officials and salient figures were speedy to constituent fingers and effort to people governmental points.

"Conservative, liberal, immoderate you are, you shouldn’t beryllium changeable for your beliefs," Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., told NBC News. "And I dream that each azygous Democrat crossed nan state will guidelines up and admit that they person a problem wrong their party."

Mace rejected nan thought that Republicans mightiness beryllium arsenic responsible for nan killing of Minnesota authorities Rep. Melissa Hortman, a Democrat, successful June.

"Some raging leftist lunatic put a slug done [Kirk's] neck, and you want to talk astir Republicans correct now?" she said. "No. No, not astatine all. No this is connected — nan Democrats ain this."

Similarly, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., who credited Kirk pinch getting her engaged successful politics, blamed progressives and nan media for his death.

"EVERY DAMN ONE OF YOU WHO CALLED US FASCISTS DID THIS," she wrote connected X. "You were excessively engaged doping up kids, cutting disconnected their genitals, inciting group unit by supporting orgs that utilization minorities, protecting criminals, and stirring hate. YOU ARE THE HATE you declare to fight. Your words caused this. Your dislike caused this."

Billionaire Elon Musk, a erstwhile Trump management charismatic and nan proprietor of X, wrote, "The Left is nan statement of murder." He posted nan connection earlier Kirk's decease was confirmed.

Some starring Democrats denounced weapon unit successful nan hours aft Kirk's shooting, amplifying their long-articulated position that firearms should beryllium much heavy regulated, while others stayed distant from governmental and argumentation pronouncements.

"Condemning different perfectly disgraceful enactment of weapon violence," Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., wrote connected X. "My thoughts & prayers are w/ Charlie Kirk & his family successful this unspeakable infinitesimal & we are each grateful for first responders who instantly jumped into action."

Likewise, erstwhile Rep. Gabby Giffords, D-Arizona, who survived an assassination effort much than a decade agone and who runs an eponymous nonprofit statement dedicated to ending weapon violence, pointed to nan truth that figures connected nan near and nan correct person been changeable and killed this year.

"This summer, America has seen aggregate politically-motivated assassinations — first of a Democratic legislator, now of a Republican activistic — because vulnerable group turned to guns to definitive their disagreements," Giffords said successful a statement. "Both parties person been targeted, and some parties stock a civilized and patriotic work to return meaningful action to extremity weapon crime from claiming much lives."

Trump survived an assassination effort astatine a run rally successful Pennsylvania successful July 2024 aft a sniper's slug deed him successful nan ear. In a abstracted incident, a man accused of attempting to assassinate him astatine 1 of his play clubs successful September 2024, is connected proceedings successful Florida.

The Republican politician of Utah, wherever Kirk was killed, and nan Democratic politician of Arizona, wherever he lived, called, respectively, for justness and calm.

"Working pinch nan FBI and Utah rule enforcement, we will bring to justness nan individual responsible for this tragedy," Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said aft having spoken to Trump.

"This calamity is not astir who Charlie Kirk supported politically," Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs said. "It is astir nan devastating nonaccomplishment of a father, a neighbor, and an Arizonan who called this authorities home, and whose life was trim short by senseless violence. We must guidelines together successful rejecting violence, lowering nan somesthesia of our politics, and recommitting ourselves to nan values of civility, respect, and organization that American populist requires."