President Donald Trump weighed in on the upcoming charges for the suspect accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk last week in Utah.
Trump, speaking to reporters Tuesday morning, noted the possibility that his administration would press forward with federal charges, in addition to the state-level charges that suspect Tyler Robinson will be facing.
“Well, I just want something to happen, whether it’s federal, state, most likely, it’s going to be state. The question is whether or not we overlap with a federal judge,” Trump said. “So, they’re looking at that, but the state is very confident.”
Robinson, 22, is set to appear in court Tuesday for the first time after he was arrested last week on suspicion of the fatal shooting of Kirk on Sept. 10.
Kirk was shot and killed during his “Prove Me Wrong” debate at Utah Valley University on Wednesday. Robinson is believed to have shot Kirk from the roof of a nearby building when the activist was participating in discussion with students and other attendees.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox noted that it was a political assassination and reminded the public that Utah still has the death penalty. Cox previously said he was working with attorneys to prepare affidavits so the state can pursue capital punishment.
Trump also made note of the death penalty when speaking with reporters Tuesday.
“The governor is doing a very good job,” he said. “As you know, they have the death penalty. It’s a tough death penalty, too.”
“So, as to whether or not we judge, we will be working with them,” Trump said of federal and state involvement in the case. “We may or may not be able to judge.”
Following the shooting, Cox called for an end to political violence. He said Kirk’s death was tragic, but is much larger than an attack on one person. He argued that the act of political violence was an “attack on the American experiment” and the country’s ideals.
He asked for Americans, no matter their political ideology, to learn how to speak civilly and freely with one another. Cox asked for young people in Utah and across the country to “choose a different path” and change the course of history.
Trump said Tuesday that he agrees with Cox’s message “100%” but argued that “most of the violence is on the left.”
In the fallout of Kirk’s death, partisan divides have been put under a spotlight, with each side accusing the other of an increase in divisive rhetoric and violence.