Conservative talking head and Turning Point USA (TPUSA) executive director Charlie Kirk was shot and killed on Wednesday while speaking at Utah Valley University.
Viral video clips circulating on social media show the 31-year-old being struck in the throat while seated beneath a tent in the campus courtyard as part of the American Comeback Tour, an event hosted by TPUSA’s Utah Valley chapter. A single shot rings out, and Kirk can be seen reaching up with his right hand as a large volume of blood gushes from the left side of his neck. Witnesses captured scenes of students running from the courtyard as gunfire erupted, with one video showing Kirk slumping before security rushed him from the stage.
Kirk’s death was confirmed to the New York Times by his spokesman, Andrew Kolvet.
The TPUSA press team initially confirmed the incident to Fox News, stating that Kirk had been shot, and noting that at the time his condition was unknown. A spokesperson for Utah Valley University (UVU) police later confirmed that “shots were fired on campus.
“What we know currently is that Charlie Kirk was about 20 minutes into his presentation when we heard shots fired from a nearby building, and to the best of our knowledge, he was hit and taken with his security team away from the premises, and the courtyard was cleared,” a UVU spokesperson told CNBC.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox quickly addressed the incident on X, writing:
“Violence has no place in our public life. Americans of every political persuasion must unite in condemning this act. Our prayers are with Charlie, his family, and all those affected. Those responsible will be held fully accountable.”
Donald Trump, a longtime ally of Kirk’s, took to Truth Social to share his thoughts, writing, “We must all pray for Charlie Kirk, who has been shot. A great guy from top to bottom. GOD BLESS HIM!”
Trump later posted again, saying Kirk was dead, writing, “The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk is dead. No one understood or even had the heart.”
JD Vance described Kirk as “a genuinely good guy and a young father,” while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called him “an incredible Christian, American, and human being,” invoking “the healing hand of Jesus Christ” in his remarks.
Democratic leaders also weighed in on the shooting, with California Governor Gavin Newsom condemning the attack as “disgusting, vile, and reprehensible.”
“The attack on Charlie Kirk is disgusting, vile, and reprehensible. In the United States of America, we must reject political violence in EVERY form,” Newsom wrote.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau was “closely monitoring reports of the tragic shooting involving Charlie Kirk” and confirmed that agents would be dispatched to the scene.
“Our thoughts are with Charlie, his loved ones, and everyone affected,” Patel wrote in a post on X. “Agents will be on the scene quickly and the FBI stands in full support of the ongoing response and investigation.”
At 31, Kirk had become one of the most influential figures in right-wing activism. As the co-founder and executive director of Turning Point USA since 2012, Kirk built a network of conservative college chapters across the nation. He was also a frequent surrogate for Donald Trump, enthusiastically backing him since he clinched the GOP nomination in 2016, helping him amplify false claims that the 2020 election was stolen and reportedly coordinated with the Trump campaign during the 2024 cycle.
Kirk is known for his combative style and use of college tours as platforms to spar directly with critics. He was at UVU to kick off the American Comeback Tour and featured his signature “prove me wrong” table format, where students challenge his views in live debates.
Charlie Kirk’s shooting underscores the escalating climate of political hostility in the U.S. The shooting has united leaders across party lines in condemning violence, though it also exposes how even public university campuses have become battlegrounds for ideological conflict.
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Kirk, the co-founder of Turning Point USA, rose to prominence as a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump. He helped grow a small student group into America First, now considered one of the most influential forces in Republican politics.
Trump posted a lengthy tribute on Truth Social, writing:
“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. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!”
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