OREM, Utah — Charlie Kirk, the dynamic co-founder of Turning Point USA and a prominent voice in the conservative movement, was fatally shot Wednesday afternoon during a speaking engagement at Utah Valley University.
The 31-year-old activist, known for his fervent advocacy of conservative values and his close ties to President Donald Trump, was struck by a sniper’s bullet while addressing a crowd as part of his organization’s “The American Comeback Tour.” The shocking act of violence has sent ripples through the political landscape, prompting widespread condemnation and reigniting debates over political rhetoric and safety in public discourse.
“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!” Trump wrote.
Video posted from the event appeared to show Kirk being shot as he spoke to the crowd from under a white pop-up tent. After the shot, the crowd dispersed, with onlookers shouting, “Run, run, run!”
Support and calls for prayers poured in across social media, including from President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.
“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 tweeted.
The shooting occurred at approximately 12:20 p.m., according to a statement made by Ellen Treanor, Associate Vice President, Strategic Communication Management at Utah Valley University, to Fox News.
“We had a speaker, Charlie Kirk, who was invited by a student group, Turning Point USA, who was speaking on campus today at noon,” the statement said.
“At about 12:20 shots were fired from a building about 200 yards from the speaker. To the best of our knowledge, the individual was hit and was taken away immediately by his security personnel,” Treanor said. “The campus is closed for the rest of the day and our campus police has a suspect and custody.”
Seconds before Charlie Kirk was shot, he was heard on video answering a question about transgender mass shooters in America.
Here’s a look at the exchange:
Audience member: “Do you know how many transgender Americans have been mass shooters over the last 10 years?”
Kirk: “Too many.”
The same audience member went on say the number is five, and proceeded to ask if Kirk knows how many mass shooters there have been in America over the last 10 years.
Kirk: “Counting or not counting gang violence?”
Seconds later, the sound of a pop is heard, and the crowd screams as Kirk gets shot and recoils in his seat.
President Trump wrote on social media: “We must all pray for Charlie Kirk, who has been shot. A great guy from top to bottom. GOD BLESS HIM!”
In a statement on X, Vice President J.D. Vance wrote: “Say a prayer for Charlie Kirk, a genuinely good guy and a young father.”
Utah Senator Mike Lee posted to X shortly after news of the shooting broke, writing, “I am tracking the situation at Utah Valley University closely. Please join me in praying for Charlie Kirk and the students gathered there.”
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth wrote: “Prayers for Charlie Kirk. An incredible Christian, American, and human being. May the healing hand of Jesus Christ be upon him.”
Pennsylvania Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro condemned the attack, calling the shooting in a post “horrifying.”
“Political violence has no place in our county,” Shapiro posted. “We must speak with moral clarity,” Shapiro said.
Echoing other governors, Maryland Democratic Gov. Wes Moore said he condemns the shooting “in the strongest possible terms. As I have said in the past and as I will continue to say: Political violence is never acceptable. Ever.”
Former Vice President Kamala Harris said the events of today “deeply disturbed” her, adding that “we all must work together to ensure this does not lead to more violence.”