President Donald Trump released a video message in honor of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, who was killed Wednesday at an event in Utah.
“To my great fellow Americans, I am filled with grief and anger at the heinous assassination of Charlie Kirk on a college campus in Utah,” Trump’s statement began. “Charlie inspired millions, and tonight, all who knew him and loved him are united in shock and horror.”
Earlier Wednesday, Trump confirmed via Truth Social that Kirk had died after being shot at a Q&A event at Utah Valley University.
Kirk was answering politically charged questions from students, when he was shot. The Deseret News reporters who were covering the event described hearing a shot ring out and seeing blood spill from Kirk’s neck before chaos in the crowd erupted.
Kirk was most well-known for founding Turning Point USA, one of the largest conservative youth organizations in the country. He is credited with helping turnout young voters to support Trump in last November’s election.
Trump, in his message Wednesday evening, said Kirk was a “patriot” who devoted his life to open debate and the United States.
Kirk was at the Utah university as the first stop in his “The American Comeback Tour,” where he hosted a familiar “Prove Me Wrong” debate session with college students. He was scheduled to go to several other universities in the coming days, including Utah State University.
“He fought for liberty, democracy, justice and the American people,” Trump said. “He’s a martyr for truth and freedom, and there’s never been anyone who was so respected by youth.”
Trump said his prayers are with Kirk’s wife, Erika, and his two young children.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox addressed the media Wednesday afternoon, declaring the shooting a “political assassination.”
Kirk, who was a popular podcast and cable news host, was a staunch supporter of Trump’s. The president and Cox declared that flags would be flown at half mast until Sunday in his honor.
Trump called on the American people and the media to “confront the fact that violence and murder” over political disagreements is wrong.
“Those on the radical left have compared wonderful Americans like Charlie to Nazis and the world’s worst mass murderers and criminals,” Trump 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.”
“Tonight, I ask all Americans to commit themselves to the American values for which Charlie Kirk lived and died: the values of free speech, citizenship, the rule of law and the patriotic devotion and love of God,” he later said.
Trump closed his message by saying a shooter tried to silence Kirk, but his legacy will live on for generations.
