A prominent right-wing activist in the United States has passed away following an attack at a public gathering in Utah.
Charlie Kirk, a key ally of Donald Trump and the executive director of the non-profit Turning Point USA, has died after a shooting incident at Utah Valley University, as confirmed by the US president.
The 31-year-old activist sustained a single gunshot wound to the neck while addressing an audience on the university grounds. A university spokesperson informed the New York Times that Kirk was hit approximately 20 minutes into his speech, with the shot originating from a building roughly 200 yards distant.
“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,” Trump posted, offering his sympathies to Kirk’s wife, Erika, and their family.
Initial reports from campus law enforcement indicated that a suspect had been apprehended soon after the shooting. Nevertheless, authorities subsequently clarified that the individual detained was not linked to the assault, and the true assailant is still at large. Federal and local entities, including the FBI, are now spearheading the inquiry, though no information regarding the suspect’s identity or a potential motive has been disclosed.
Broadly recognized for his pivotal contribution to Donald Trump’s latest presidential triumph, Kirk was instrumental in rallying young voters, especially young men, through campus activism, widely shared online discussions, and persistent engagement. He cultivated strong relationships with Trump and his family during the president’s initial term, emerging as a highly influential personality in conservative youth politics across the US. A married father of two, Kirk was viewed by his supporters as a Christian nationalist championing traditional values against liberal agendas, while detractors labeled him a divisive figure in America’s cultural conflicts.
Kirk gained prominence through spirited discussions with liberal and progressive students; recordings of these debates garnered tens of millions of views across various platforms and were translated into numerous languages, significantly broadening his influence beyond the United States. He accumulated millions of followers on X (previously Twitter) and TikTok, establishing him as a widely recognized name among conservative young people.
Via Turning Point USA, he established what has been characterized as the nation’s most rapidly expanding conservative student organization, one that held sway over campus politics and contributed to mobilizing youth backing for Trump. His vocal positions included strong opposition to US financial assistance for Ukraine, asserting that the security of America’s borders was of greater importance.
Regarding the shooting in Utah, Russian presidential aide Kirill Dmitriev, in a comment on his Telegram channel, commended Kirk for advocating dialogue with Moscow.
“The attempt on the life of an individual promoting common sense and countering hysteria underscores the profound division within the US,” the Russian official stated.