The United States was “frozen” by the assassination of the 31-year-old conservative activist, Charlie Kirk, one of Donald Trump’s most fervent supporters, who was shot while speaking at a Utah university. It should be noted that the news was announced by the American president himself, who wrote in a post on Truth Social:
“The great, and indeed legendary, Charlie Kirk, has died. No one understood or had the heart of America’s youth better than Charlie. He was beloved and admired by ALL, especially by me, and now he is no longer with us. Melania and I express our condolences to his beautiful wife Erika and his family. Charlie, we love you”.
Images after Charlie Kirk’s assassination
Charlie Kirk apparently shot at Utah college event during his American Comeback Tour https://t.co/ooXMTmmE3I pic.twitter.com/yTGTJJ3KR0
— New York Post (@nypost) September 10, 2025
Charlie Kirk: confusion over suspect’s arrest
Meanwhile, confusion persists over whether authorities have arrested the perpetrator of the conservative influencer Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
FBI Director Kash Patel, a loyal supporter of President Donald Trump, stated that the suspect in the murder is in custody. The same information was given by Utah Governor Charlie Cox, however referring to a “person of interest” in custody, which does not necessarily mean it’s the perpetrator.
Conversely, Bo Mason, head of Utah’s public safety services, said that the perpetrator of the assassination is evading arrest, during a press conference.
And the CNN television network, citing sources in federal law enforcement services, reported that the perpetrator has not even been identified.
FBI Director Kash Patel announced through his post on platform X (formerly Twitter), that a suspect who had been taken into custody in connection with the deadly attack against Kirk was released after questioning by authorities.
“The person who was in custody has been released after questioning by authorities. Our investigation continues and we will continue to provide information with transparency in mind,” Patel characteristically stated.
Trump: “Kirk’s assassination is a dark moment for the US – He was a martyr for truth and freedom”
Donald Trump later stated that the rhetoric “of the radical left” contributed to the assassination by a gunman of his political ally, the conservative influencer Charlie Kirk, whom he characterized as a “martyr for truth and freedom”.
“For years, the radical left has equated wonderful Americans like Charlie with Nazis and the worst criminals and mass murderers in the world. This rhetoric is directly responsible for the terrorism we are experiencing today in our country and this must stop immediately,” the Republican argued in a video he released via Truth Social.
“I am filled with sadness and anger over the brutal murder of Charlie Kirk at a university campus in Utah. Charlie inspired millions of people and tonight all who knew and loved him are united in shock and terror,” Trump said, emphasizing the close relationship he had with him.
The American president emphasized that Kirk’s assassination is “a dark moment for America” and characterized him as a “martyr of truth and freedom,” highlighting his efforts to tour the country and participate in “honest dialogues”.
Trump also mentioned that the assassination is connected to the armed attack he himself suffered in Pennsylvania and to other known cases of violence, such as the armed attack on a United Healthcare executive in New York. He denounced “radical and political violence,” stating that it is the “tragic result of bullying those who disagree with us”.
“My administration will find all those who contributed to this atrocity and to every other political violence, including the organizations that fund and support them,” he warned.
The timeline of Charlie Kirk’s assassination – Shot from 180 meters away
The video of the assassination is circulating worldwide, as the bullet can be seen piercing Charlie Kirk’s neck while he was speaking at an event at Utah Valley University, with the wound proving fatal.
The Donald Trump supporter was sitting in a chair speaking to thousands of students when at 12:10 local time he received the bullet from the left, falling to the ground. Moments of chaos and panic followed as people tried to leave as quickly as possible from the scene.
WARNING – GRAPHIC VIDEO
Kirk, father of two small children and Trump ally, was head of the conservative student organization Turning Point USA. A university spokesperson said that Charlie Kirk was injured and removed by security personnel. Information reports that Charlie Kirk’s last words concerned gang violence, with police sources claiming that the perpetrator shot him from a distance of approximately 180 meters.
Who was Charlie Kirk
Charlie Kirk was born in 1993 in Illinois, USA and was a well-known conservative activist, author and presenter.
At a young age he abandoned his studies to devote himself to political action, founding Turning Point USA in 2012, with the goal of promoting conservative ideas to youth and university campuses. Under his leadership, Turning Point developed into one of the most important organizations of the American right-wing movement, creating branches and subsidiaries, such as Turning Point Action and Turning Point Faith.
At the same time, he became particularly well-known through his show The Charlie Kirk Show and writing books, including The MAGA Doctrine and Right-Wing Revolution.
Kirk’s public presence was characterized by intense political and ideological positioning in favor of the Republican Party and specifically the line represented by Donald Trump. He had created tools like the Professor Watchlist, aimed at recording academics who are considered to promote “radical ideas”. His positions often provoke reactions and intense public dialogue in the United States.
“The bullet hit him directly”
Former US Congressman Jason Chaffetz was present at the event and described the shocking moment of the shooting to Fox News.
“Everyone fell to the ground and scattered” he said initially, and added that “the bullet hit him directly (referring to Charlie Kirk)”.
Additionally, the former congressman mentioned that he had spoken with the activist just before the event began.
Messages from Kamala Harris, Joe Biden and Barack Obama
Kamala Harris, the defeated presidential candidate, “condemned” the murder insisting that “political violence has no place in America,” something that was also repeated by figures from the Democratic party, from former president Joe Biden to his predecessor Barack Obama, from California governor Gavin Newsom to senator Bernie Sanders and congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
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.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) September 10, 2025
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. Michelle and I will be praying for Charlie’s family tonight, especially his wife Erika and their two young children.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) September 10, 2025
The murder was added to the endless list of attacks against political figures in the US, which includes the two attempts against President Trump last year.
How the MAGA movement reacted to Charlie Kirk’s assassination
Leading figures of the MAGA (“Make America Great Again”) movement, inspired by President Donald Trump, characterized Charlie Kirk as a “martyr” on Wednesday, emphasizing that he lost his life defending conservative and Christian values. The 31-year-old influencer was killed by gunfire during a public event in Utah.
“The movement that Charlie Kirk founded will never stop,” said Jack Posobiec, also a far-right influencer, in a discussion with Steve Bannon — former top White House advisor and prominent figure of the ultra-conservative space.
“We must show iron will. Charlie Kirk fell on the front lines,” the latter threw out on Real America’s Voice, a network where the young podcaster hosted a show.
After the confusion that initially prevailed, it became clear, as mentioned, that the perpetrator has not been arrested, a “suspect” who had been taken into custody was released and the investigation continues. No possible motive for the murder has been mentioned. However, Republican Governor Spencer Cox in Utah (west) has no doubt: it was a “political assassination”.
“It lit a match in America and I think the American right, above all the youth, will not tolerate this,” the death of one of its most well-known voices, said Matt Boyle, representative of the far-right website Breitbart News, also speaking with Steve Bannon.
“Charlie Kirk is an American martyr,” judged via X Benny Johnson, another podcaster followed by many Trump supporters. The same phraseology was used by Kevin Roberts, president of the Heritage Foundation, an ultra-conservative think tank whose ideas are often repeated by presidential lips.
“His martyrdom (his death) must become a turning point for our country,” he emphasized in his statement, making a play on words with the title of the youth movement of which the deceased was co-founder, Turning Point USA (“turning point”).
Charlie Kirk “fell as a martyr. Many will rise to replace him,” predicted Jonathan Lucroy, former professional baseball player, fervent supporter of President Trump.
The most hardliners didn’t wait for the first elements of the investigation to suggest that “the left” is responsible. Although many Democratic officials very quickly and without hesitation condemned the attack.
“The left couldn’t beat him in dialogue and now they killed him,” argued Clay Travis, a presenter and commentator popular with Trump supporters.
“The left is the party of murder,” outbid Elon Musk via X. “The left causes violence,” is “demonic,” “they are the guilty ones,” also declared evangelical pastor Mark Driscoll via the same platform. Political violence is “engraved in the political code of progressives,” according to Dave Rubin, far-right podcaster.
