Charlie Kirk, Turning Point USA founder, dead at 31 after Utah campus shooting
Charlie Kirk is a conservative media personality and co-founder of Turning Point USA. Kirk was visiting Utah Valley University on Wednesday when he was shot. President Donald Trump confirmed the death of Kirk on Wednesday in a Truth Social post.
Utah Valley University’s own police chief acknowledged his department failed to fully secure the campus before conservative activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot during a speech in Orem on Wednesday.
Six UVU officers were assigned to the event, along with Kirk’s personal security team and plainclothes officers in the crowd, according to reporting from FOX13.
“You try to get your bases covered and, unfortunately, today we didn’t,” Chief Jeff Long admitted in a briefing. “And because of that, we had this tragic incident.”
The packed crowd of more than 3,000 students and community members scattered in panic after Kirk was reportedly shot from afar.
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Melania Trump says Charlie Kirk’s life is a ‘symbolic reminder’ of ‘family, love, country’
Charlie Kirk poses with President Trump and first lady Melania Trump in 2020.
First lady Melania Trump offered her condolences to the Kirk family as Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk leaves behind his wife, Erika, a 3-year-old daughter, and a 1-year-old son.
“Charlie’s children will be raised with stories instead of memories, photographs instead of laughter, and silence where their father’s voice should have echoed,” wrote Mrs. Trump on X.
“Charlie Kirk’s life should serve as a symbolic reminder that compassionate awareness elevates family, love, and country,” she added.
The first lady’s comments come shortly after President Trump released an Oval Office message on the assassination.
“He’s a martyr for truth and freedom,” said President Trump.
In August, Charlie Kirk posted a photo of the first lady wearing a crown in a fake Vanity Fair cover on X, writing, “We need to meme the cover into existence.”
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Kai Trump reacts to death of ‘close family friend’ Charlie Kirk after Utah campus shooting
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Kai Trump, the granddaughter of President Donald Trump, was among the masses who reacted to the horrific shooting death of Charlie Kirk on Wednesday.
President Trump announced that Kirk had died after being shot at a speaking event at Utah Valley University. Video posted from the event appeared to show Kirk being shot as he spoke to a large crowd from under a white pop-up tent.
Kai Trump, who called Kirk a “close family friend,” couldn’t believe the news.
“I am deeply saddened to hear the news about Charlie Kirk,” Trump posted on her Instagram Stories.
Read more about what Kai Trump said about Charlie Kirk’s death.
This is an excerpt from a story by Fox News Digital’s Scott Thompson.
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RFK Jr says ‘once again’ bullet silenced ‘truth teller’ following Charlie Kirk assassination
Health and Human Services Sec. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. shared a photo alongside Charlie Kirk and President Donald Trump following Kirk’s assassination. (@RobertKennedyJr via X)
Health and Human Services Sec. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. condemned the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, 31, on Wednesday, saying “once again, a bullet has silenced the most eloquent truth teller of an era.”
Kennedy, who has faced backlash of his own due to his controversial political stances, is the son of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1968, and the nephew of President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1963.
The killings were met with national and global shock, as millions mourned the loss of two leaders who symbolized democracy, youth and hope—while their deaths deepened political divisions.
“My dear friend Charlie Kirk was our country’s relentless and courageous crusader for free speech,” Kennedy wrote in a statement on X. “We pray for Erika and the children. Charlie is already in paradise with the angels. We ask his prayers for our country.”
HHS did not immediately respond to further inquiries from Fox News Digital.
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Trump mourns Charlie Kirk as ‘martyr for truth and freedom,’ blames left, media for fueling violence
President Donald Trump mourned Charlie Kirk as a patriot and “martyr for truth and freedom,” condemning his assassination as a dark moment for America and blaming left-wing rhetoric and the media for fueling the political violence behind his killing.
Kirk was speaking at Utah Valley University when the sound of a single shot rang across a large crowd, striking the Turning Point USA founder.
While speaking from the Oval Office on Wednesday night in a video posted to Truth Social, Trump said he was filled with grief and anger over the “heinous assassination” of Kirk.
“Charlie inspired millions, and tonight, all who knew him and loved him are united in shock and horror. Charlie was a patriot who devoted his life to the cause of open debate and the country that he loved so much, the United States of America,” Trump said. “He fought for liberty, democracy, justice, and the American people. He’s a martyr for truth and freedom. And there’s never been anyone who was so respected by youth.”
The president also called Kirk a man of deep faith, adding that he takes comfort knowing that Kirk is at peace with God in Heaven.
“This is a dark moment for America. Charlie Kirk traveled the nation, joyfully engaging with everyone interested in good-faith debate. His mission was to bring young people into the political process, which he did better than anybody. To share his love of country and to spread the simple words of common sense,” Trump said.
“It’s a long past time for all Americans and the media to confront the fact that violence and murder are the tragic consequence of demonizing those with whom you disagree day after day, year after year, in the most hateful and despicable way possible,” he continued. “For years, those on the radical left have compared wonderful Americans like Charlie to Nazis and the world’s worst mass murderers and criminals. This kind of rhetoric is directly responsible for the terrorism that we’re seeing in our country today, and it must stop right now.
“My administration will find each and every one of those who contributed to this atrocity and to other political violence, including the organizations that fund it and support it, as well as those who go after our judges, law enforcement officials, and everyone else who brings order to our country,” Trump added. “From the attack on my life in Butler, Pennsylvania last year, which killed a husband and father, to the attacks on ice agents; to the vicious murder of a healthcare executive in the streets of New York, to the shooting of House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and three others. Radical left political violence has hurt too many innocent people and taken too many lives.”
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Utah Valley University president says school says violence ‘has no place here’
TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk appears at a Utah Valley University speaking event in Orem, Utah, U.S. September 10, 2025. (Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune via REUTERS)
Utah Valley University President Astrid Tuminez offered her condolences to the Kirk family and those who witnessed the shooting in a statement sent to Fox News Digital, noting the university is a place to debate “openly and respectfully.”
“On behalf of Utah Valley University, we are shocked and saddened by the tragic passing of Charlie Kirk,” Tuminez wrote in the statement. “We express our sincere condolences to the Kirk family. We grieve with our students, faculty, and staff who bore witness to this unspeakable tragedy.”
She noted Kirk was invited by a Turning Point USA student group to speak on campus, and expressed the school’s commitment to the sharing of ideas without violence.
“We firmly believe that UVU is a place to share ideas and to debate openly and respectfully. Any attempt to infringe on those rights has no place here,” Tuminez wrote. “We do not condone any form of violence at UVU and seek to make our campus a safe place for all.”
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Lawmakers mourn Charlie Kirk after fatal shooting, with tributes, condemnations and blame
U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Lawmakers reacted with shock and grief to the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, with Democrats condemning political violence, Republicans praising his conservative legacy, and some blaming the media and partisan rhetoric for fueling an environment of escalating threats.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., described Kirk as a friend while praising his Christian faith and influence on young conservatives.
“Charlie Kirk leaves a huge legacy. It’s going to be hard for anybody to fill his shoes. He’s extremely important,” Greene said. “Students all over the country would get very excited if they found out he was coming to their college campus. He brought in thousands of people to hear him speak. Even people that didn’t agree with him would come, ask questions, even argue with him. He was always about the debate.”
CHARLIE KIRK, TURNING POING USA FOUNDER, DEAD AT 31 AFTER UTAH CAMPUS SHOOTING
She also said Kirk’s murder was “shocking, devastating and horrific.”
“I believe today he was killed for the words that he says and the things that he stood for, and we’re honestly shocked, we’re devastated, shocked and angry and those are just natural feelings,” Greene said. “Charlie Kirk was a friend. He was a good friend…I mean, he’s not much older than my oldest daughter. But, I just think it’s really honestly horrific.”
Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., condemned the shooting as “awful.”
“There’s no room for political violence in our country…we can’t normalize political violence,” he said.
Another lawmaker who weighed in was Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., who blamed the media and Democrats for fueling political violence.
“This didn’t have to happen,” he said. “But it happened because of the violent political rhetoric coming out of the left being amplified by you people in the press. You are partially responsible for this.”
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Charlie Kirk mourned by world leaders after shocking Utah assassination
Joseph Vogl stands outside Timpanogos Regional Hospital on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, in Orem, Utah. (AP Photo/Alex Goodlett)
World leaders on Wednesday reacted to the news of Charlie Kirk’s assassination during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University, sharing their condolences and stressing the importance of free speech in a democracy.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was among the first to share his grief on social media, saying Kirk was “murdered for speaking truth and defending freedom.”
“A lion-hearted friend of Israel, he fought the lies and stood tall for Judeo-Christian civilization,” Netanyahu said, noting met with Kirk two weeks ago and invited him to Israel. “Sadly, that visit will not take place. We lost an incredible human being,” Netanyahu added. “His boundless pride in America and his valiant belief in free speech will leave a lasting impact. Rest in peace, Charlie Kirk.”
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed his condolences and said there should be free debate.
“It is heartbreaking that a young family has been robbed of a father and a husband,” Starmer said. “We must all be free to debate openly and freely without fear – there can be no justification for political violence.”
New Zealand’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Winston Peters, noted Kirk’s death is not merely “political violence” but “an assassination.”
“The utter tragedy is that Kirk traveled extensively around university campuses to give an open mic and debate to everyone – and all were welcome,” Peters said. “The essence of democracy is under threat around the world and we must do everything we can to protect it.”
Read more about world leaders’ reaction to Kirk’s death.
Fox News Digital’s Caitlin McFall contributed to this report.
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Occupy Democrats blast Charlie Kirk in scathing Instagram post after Utah shooting
Not everyone is offering prayers in the wake of the shooting death of conservative commentator and father-of-two Charlie Kirk.
Left-wing media outlet Occupy Democrats posted a searing reel on Instagram, saying, “Charlie Kirk spent his entire life disparaging immigrants, disrespecting women, and blaming Black folks, only to get shot in one of the whitest places on earth.”
The post currently has nearly 8,000 likes on the Instagram app.
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Charlie Kirk’s assassination latest case of conservatives being targeted for murder
Conservative commentator Benny Johnson believes the political left lacked sympathy after President Donald Trump was shot during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13, 2024. (Brendan McDermid/Reuters)
The horrific assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk Wednesday is the latest entry in a grim and growing tally of conservative figures and institutions being targeted for violence, vandalism and murder.
The fatal shooting follows a lengthy recent history of conservatives and Republicans facing violence, a Fox News Digital review of the last four years found, including two assassination attempts against President Donald Trump in a roughly two-month span in 2024.
CHARLIE KIRK, TURNING POINT USA FOUNDER, DEAD AT 31 AFTER UTAH CAMPUS SHOOTING
Kirk was speaking at Utah Valley University as part of his “American Comeback Tour” when shots rang out and he collapsed on stage. He was rushed to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The 31-year-old husband and father was a staunch ally of President Donald Trump’s, and toured the nation promoting right-of-center ideology to youths, most notably on college campuses. He founded his conservative group more than a dozen years ago.
Read more about conservatives being targeted for murder.
This is an excerpt from a story by Fox News Digital’s Emma Colton.
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Boebert prayer request for Charlie Kirk sparks clash on House floor
Charile Kirk and his wife, Erika Lane Frantzve and their two children. (Erika Kirk via Instagram)
A request by Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., for a public prayer honoring Charlie Kirk on the House floor sparked objections from Democrats and a fiery exchange that forced Speaker Mike Johnson to call for order.
House Speaker Mike Johnson called on Boebert during proceedings on Wednesday, and she requested the House have a moment of prayer out loud in memory of Kirk and his family.
Boebert’s request was followed by objections from Democrats.
CHARLIE KIRK, TURNING POINT USA FOUNDER, DEAD AT 31 AFTER UTAH CAMPUS SHOOTING
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., was then heard shouting back at Democrats, saying, “Y’all caused this,” followed by an expletive.
Johnson continued to call for order on the floor during the ordeal.
“The House will be in order,” Johnson said repeatedly.
He then assured Boebert that a moment of prayer would take place, but ultimately it did not.
When asked about the prayer by Fox News’ Jesse Watters, Johnson said, “It was a sad day on Capital Hill.”
He added that he led a prayer in the chamber, but when it came to a vocal prayer, House members argued instead.
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‘No words:’ Business leaders react to shooting death of Charlie Kirk
Charlie Kirk, who founded Turning Point USA speaks during a Turning Point USA Believers Summit conference on July 26, 2024 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Business leaders across industries expressed dismay and grief after the fatal shooting of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.
Billionaire hedge fund manager and Pershing Square Capital CEO Bill Ackman wrote “no words” on X.
The advocacy group connected to deceased billionaire philanthropist Foster Friess, who was an early funder and supporter of Turning Point USA, shared several pictures of Kirk on X.
“Erika, and the entire Kirk family are in our prayers,” Lynn Friess wrote adding, “we are devastated by this news.”
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, a Wall Street veteran, wrote on X that his heart is with Kirk’s loved ones “at this devastating time.”
“This inexcusable violence belongs nowhere in a civilized society. Charlie was a brave man, a devoted husband, a loving father, and a great patriot. Please join me in praying for his family and our country,” Bessent added.
This is an excerpt from a story from Fox Business Managing Editor Suzanne O’Halloran. Read the full story here.
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Breaking News
‘Subject’ questioned and released after Utah campus shooting, Patel says
FBI Director Kash Patel announced the subject detained in the Charlie Kirk assassination investigation has been released after an interrogation by law enforcement.
“Our investigation continues and we will continue to release information in interest of transparency,” Patel wrote in an X statement.
Campus police initially said they had, and then released, a suspect from custody.
Patel later firmly announced via X the FBI had “the subject for the horrific shooting today that took the life of Charlie Kirk” in custody.
It is unclear if any additional suspects have been identified, and if the manhunt was ongoing during the former subject’s questioning.
The FBI told Fox News Digital “we refer you to the Director’s post and have nothing additional to provide.”
It is also unknown if there is a current threat to public safety.
The White House did not immediately respond to an inquiry from Fox News Digital.
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Argentine President Milei mourns Charlie Kirk: ‘The entire world lost an incredible human being’
Argentine President Javier Milei issued an emotional message of condolence following the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
In a post on X, Milei praised Kirk as “a formidable communicator of the ideas of freedom and staunch defender of the West.”
The staunch libertarian didn’t stop there. He condemned what he described as “an atrocious crime” fueled by political violence, blasting the left as “a violent phenomenon full of hatred.”
“The left is always, at all times and places, a violent phenomenon full of hatred. The entire world lost an incredible human being,” Milei concluded.
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Yankees hold moment of silence in honor of Charlie Kirk after shooting death in Utah
The New York Yankees held a moment of silence ahead of Wednesday night’s game against the Detroit Tigers to honor conservative influencer Charlie Kirk. Kirk died after being shot at a speaking event in Utah earlier in the day.
The team displayed a photo of Kirk on their jumbotron ahead of the game with the message “remembering Charlie Kirk.”
“Before tonight’s game we held a moment of silence in memoriam of Charlie Kirk. Kirk founded the youth activist group ‘Turning Point USA’ and had become a fixture on college campuses. Charlie Kirk, a husband and father of two children, was 31 years old,” the team said in a post on X.
“The conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA was declared dead shortly after being shot during a campus event at Utah Valley University,” the post added.
Fox News’ Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.
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Former President Clinton says he is ‘saddened and angered’ by Kirk’s murder
Former Democratic President Bill Clinton said on social media he was “saddened” and “angered” by Charlie Kirk’s murder.
“I hope we all go through some serious introspection and redouble our efforts to engage in debate passionately, yet peacefully,” Clinton wrote on X.
“Hillary and I are keeping Erika, their two young children, and their family in our prayers,” he added.
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Charlie Kirk leaves behind powerful Christian faith legacy after tragic shooting
Charile Kirk and his wife, Erika Lane Frantzve and their two children at Christmas 2024. (Charlie Kirk via Facebook)
“Jesus defeated death so you can live,” wrote Charlie Kirk in one of his last X posts this past Saturday.
The Turning Point USA founder is dead after he was shot Thursday at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.
Kirk was a significant figure who inspired hundreds of young students, encouraging them not only in their political interests but also in leading lives guided by faith.
CHARLIE KIRK SHOOTING LEADS TO OUTPOURING FROM UTAH OFFICIALS, 2025 NOMS ON BOTH SIDES
He married former Miss Arizona USA Erika Frantzve in May 2021. The couple has two children, a 3-year-old daughter and a 1-year-old son.
Turning Point has a branch focused purely on faith, called TPUSA Faith, “dedicated to empowering Christians to put their faith into action.”
Read more about Kirk’s faith and legacy.
This is an excerpt from a story by Fox News Digital’s Ashley J. DiMella.
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George W. Bush condemns Charlie Kirk shooting as ‘cold-blooded murder,’ calls for civility
Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, distributes MAGA hats to the public on May 1, 2025 during a TPUSA event in California. (Michael Ho Wai Lee/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Former President George W. Bush condemned the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, calling it a cold-blooded murder on a college campus and urging Americans to reject violence and embrace civility.
“Today, a young man was murdered in cold blood while expressing his political views,” Bush said on X. “It happened on a college campus, where the open exchange of opposing ideas should be sacrosanct.
“Violence and vitriol must be purged from the public square. Members of other political parties are not our enemies; they are our fellow citizens,” the former president continued. “May God bless Charlie Kirk and his family, and may God guide America toward civility.”
CHARLIE KIRK, TURNING POINT USA FOUNDER, DEAD AT 31 AFTER UTAH CAMPUS SHOOTING
Kirk was speaking at Utah Valley University on Wednesday afternoon when a single bullet rang out and struck him.
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Utah Gov Spencer Cox calls Charlie Kirk shooting a ‘political assassination’
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox speaks at a press conference on Sept. 10, 2025, providing updates in the Charlie Kirk assassination investigation.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said a suspect in the shooting of Charlie Kirk on Wednesday is in custody, adding the murder was “a political assassination.”
“This is a dark day for our state. It’s a tragic day for our nation. I want to be very clear that this is a political assassination,” he said during a press conference. “We are celebrating 250 years of the founding of this great nation. That founding document, the Declaration of Independence, that this great experiment on which we embarked together 250 years ago, that we are endowed by our creator with certain inalienable rights.
“The first one of those is life, and today a life was taken,” Cox continued. “Charlie Kirk was first and foremost a husband and a dad to young children. He was also very much politically involved and that’s why he was here on campus. Charlie believed in the power of free speech and debate to shape ideas and to persuade people.”
Cox confirmed that a person of interest is in custody and that the investigation is ongoing.
But he wanted to make “crystal clear” that whoever did this will be found.
“We will find you. We will try you and we will hold you accountable to the furthest extent of the law,” the governor said. “And I just want to remind people that we still have the death penalty here in the state of Utah.”
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‘Subject’ arrested in fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University, FBI says
FILE PHOTO: Charlie Kirk, Turning Point USA founder, puts on a MAGA hat during the AmericaFest 2024 conference sponsored by conservative group Turning Point in Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. December 19, 2024. (Cheney Orr/Reuters)
Law enforcement officials announced a person of interest has been arrested in the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk on Wednesday in Utah, according to FBI Director Kash Patel.
“The subject for the horrific shooting today that took the life of Charlie Kirk is now in custody,” Patel wrote on X. “Thank you to the local and state authorities in Utah for your partnership with @fbi. We will provide updates when able.”
Kirk, 31, was speaking at Utah Valley University on Wednesday afternoon when a single shot rang out, appearing to strike the Turning Point USA founder.
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Sports world reacts to Charlie Kirk shooting death: ‘Prayers for his family’
Turning Point USA executive director Charlie Kirk gestures on the inauguration day of U.S. President Donald Trump’s second Presidential term, inside Capital One, in Washington, U.S. January 20, 2025. (REUTERS/Mike Segar)
Charlie Kirk was shot and later died at a speaking event in Utah on Wednesday, prompting emotional reactions from prominent figures across sports.
President Donald Trump later announced that Kirk had died, in a post on Truth Social.
The sports figures who weighed in after Kirk was initially shot included NFL legend Brett Favre, former Pittsburgh Steelers stars Antonio Brown and LeVeon Bell, former NFL wide receiver Golden Tate, New York Yankees World Series champion Mark Teixeira, Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, boxers Jake Paul and Ryan Garcia, Auburn basketball coach Bruce Pearl, former MLB pitcher John Rocker, sports broadcaster Michelle Tafoya and Sports Illustrated journalist Albert Breer.
Find out what several athletes said about the late Charlie Kirk.
This is an excerpt from a story by Fox News Digital’s Jackson Thompson.
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‘He was an unbelievable patriot’: President Donald Trump mourns loss of Charlie Kirk
Charlie Kirk is pictured with his wife, Erika, and one of their two children. (Erika Kirk via Instagram)
During a conversation with Fox News’ Bret Baier, President Donald Trump described Charlie Kirk as an “amazing guy,” noting “nobody was better.”
Following the 31-year-old Turning Point USA founder’s assassination Wednesday at a speaking engagement in Utah, the president said violence “cannot happen.”
“Charlie was such an amazing guy. He really captured the youth – the imagination of the youth,” Trump said. “He was an unbelievable patriot. He really convinced millions and millions of young people that MAGA was the way to go. Today is so sad. He was an amazing person who was not afraid to talk to and confront the other side. Just talk to them, debate them, and explain why they were wrong and MAGA was right. Nobody was better. It’s such a tragic day.”
Fox News’ Bret Baier contributed to this report.
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What to know about Charlie Kirk’s legacy at Turning Point USA
Founder and executive director of Turning Point USA Charlie Kirk speaks at the opening of the Turning Point Action conference on July 15, 2023 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Charlie Kirk rose to prominence after he dropped out of college to pursue political activism and founded Turning Point USA (TPUSA) to serve as an organization that promotes conservative youth activism at high school and college campuses.
The organization operates a national field program that sets up tables on campuses to engage in face-to-face conversations, as well as distributing educational materials, registering new activists and hosting campus events.
TPUSA has become known for its conferences held around the country each year, including six national summits and eight regional conferences.
Prominent Republican and conservative political figures are frequently highlighted as speakers at TPUSA events.
Read the full story by Eric Revell on Fox Business here.
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Travelers sob in airport after learning of Charlie Kirk assassination
Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk leaves behind his wife, Erika, and their two children. (Charlie Kirk via Instagram)
Fox News Digital’s Peter D’Abrosca reported seeing three people in tears while boarding his flight to Salt Lake City, Utah over the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University on Wednesday.
Another woman was watching Fox News in her seat, leaned back in horror, D’Abrosca said.
A Fox News reporter at Charlotte Douglas International Airport also witnessed travelers crying as news of Kirk’s assassination became public.
Fox News Digital’s Peter D’Abrosca contributed to this report.
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European leaders react to the death of Charlie Kirk: ‘Dark day for American democracy’
Leaders from across Europe are offering their condolences and support for the Kirk family after Charlie Kirk died Wednesday in the wake of a shooting during a speaking engagement in Utah.
“He has been killed for saying things that used to be simple common sense,” wrote former Prime Minister Boris Johnson in an X post. “He has been killed because he had the courage to stand up publicly for reasonable opinions held by millions and millions of ordinary people both in the US and Britain. The world has a shining new martyr to free speech.”
Leader of Reform UK Nigel Farage also weighed in, writing “This is a very dark day for American democracy. I am desperately sad for Charlie, his wife and children.”
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni added she was “shocked” by the tragedy. “I am shocked by the news of the killing of Charlie Kirk, a young and followed Republican activist,” wrote Meloni in a translated X post.
“An atrocious murder, a deep wound for democracy and for those who believe in freedom. My condolences to his family, to his loved ones, and to the American conservative community,” Meloni concluded.
Finally, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed his condolences:
“My thoughts this evening are with the loved ones of Charlie Kirk. It is heartbreaking that a young family has been robbed of a father and a husband. We must all be free to debate openly and freely without fear – there can be no justification for political violence.”
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DAVID MARCUS: Progressive madness killed Charlie Kirk, a once-in-a-generation leader
Slain Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk engaged those who disagreed with him in good faith, writes David Marcus. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
A generational leader in the conservative movement was lost on Wednesday, as Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was assassinated during a live event at a Utah university, the latest in a rash of political violence tearing America apart.
For millions of Americans, especially the young, Kirk was an inspiration whose message of patriotism and self-reliance shone like a bright light in our cynical age of national self-hatred. But for millions of others, this made him a very dangerous threat.
When Kirk founded TPUSA, back in 2012, it wasn’t supposed to be possible that a conservative could walk onto college campuses, those most high bastions of far leftism, and not just command a crowd, but create a movement.
CHARLIE KIRK, TURNING POINT USA FOUNDER, DEAD AT 31 AFTER UTAH CAMPUS SHOOTING
At that time, being a young conservative was almost an oxymoron. Yet, here was a walking, talking Alex P. Keaton with a rapier wit and a finger on the pulse of how so many college-age Americans really felt, how frustrated they really were. He was a happy warrior, who engaged those with whom he disagreed in good faith and decency.
Read more about what may have led to Charlie Kirk’s death.
This is an excerpt from an opinion piece by Fox News’ David Marcus.
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Former President Obama calls assassination ‘despicable’
Former President Barack Obama condemned the fatal shooting of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.
He called the assassination “despicable” that has no place in our democracy.
“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,” Obama wrote on X.
“Michelle and I will be praying for Charlie’s family tonight, especially his wife Erika and their two young children,” he added.
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Former President Biden says violence ‘must end now’ after Charlie Kirk’s death
Former President Joe Biden took to social media on Wednesday after Charlie Kirk was announced dead in the wake of a shooting during a college campus speaking engagement in Utah.
“There is no place in our country for this kind of violence,” wrote Biden. “It must end now. Jill and I are praying for Charlie Kirk’s family and loved ones.”
Kirk was a father of two and a conservative commentator who would have turned 32 next month.
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Manhunt underway after Charlie Kirk fatally shot at Utah event
Law enforcement officers work at Utah Valley University, where U.S. conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, was shot and killed during an event, in Orem, Utah, U.S. September 10, 2025. (REUTERS/Jim Urquhart)
Law enforcement is searching for the assassin who shot and killed Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk during an event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday, a source tells Fox News.
Authorities are now going door to door as they search for the gunman.
CHARLIE KIRD SHOT AT UTAH EVENT, HOSPITALIZED
Multiple federal sources told Fox News that Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) has sent Utah agents to the area where Kirk was assassinated to assist with the manhunt for the shooter.
Kirk was speaking under a white tent when a single shot rang out, striking him. He later died from his injuries.
Authorities initially detained one person after the shooting, but that individual has since been released. Law enforcement officials say the search continues for the suspect responsible.
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President Donald Trump orders flags at half-staff in honor of Charlie Kirk
Cecilia Garcia and Dawn Thomas react as they learn the news on social media of Charlie Kirk, Turning Point USA founder, being shot at a college event in Utah, in Westminster, Calif., on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Hours after Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was shot and killed at a college campus event on Wednesday, President Donald Trump ordered flags lowered to half-staff through Sunday night.
“In honor of Charlie Kirk , a truly Great American Patriot, I am ordering all American Flags throughout the United States lowered to Half [Staff] until Sunday evening at 6 P.M.,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
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UVU campus police ask students to call hotline for escort to evacuate safely
Utah Valley University said those still sheltering in place on campus following the shooting should call 801-863-8130, a hotline set up for escorted evacuations.
“Police will come and escort you out of the building,” the university wrote in an X statement. “Public transportation available at Orem Station by pedestrian bridge.”
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JD Vance offers condolences after death of Charlie Kirk in Utah shooting
Vice President JD Vance offered condolences in the form of prayer on Wednesday after President Donald Trump released the news of Charlie Kirk’s death in the wake of a Utah campus shooting during a speaking engagement.
“Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord,” wrote Vance, who also shared the entirety of President Trump’s Truth Social post in a screengrab.
“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,” wrote President Trump. “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!”
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Breaking News
Charlie Kirk dead at 31 after shooting at Utah Valley University
Charlie Kirk, founder and president of Turning Point USA, speaks during the Republican National Convention seen on a laptop computer in Tiskilwa, Illinois, U.S., on Monday, Aug. 24, 2020.
Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk has died after being shot at an event on Wednesday afternoon at Utah Valley University.
President Donald Trump confirmed Kirk’s death in a post on Truth Social.
“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,” Trump wrote. “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!”
CHARLIE KIRK SHOT AT UTAH EVENT, HOSPITALIZED
Kirk was speaking at the university when a single shot rang out, appearing to strike him.
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Utah Valley University confirms suspect initially in custody released, FBI invetigating
People run after a shot was fired at Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk during a Utah Valley University speaking event in Orem, Utah, U.S. September 10, 2025. (Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune via REUTERS)
A Utah Valley University (UVU) spokesperson told Fox News Digital the suspect that was initially in custody has since been released.
UVU Police are currently investigating in conjunction with the Orem Police Department, Utah Department of Public Safety and the FBI, according to the spokesperson.
“It is with the tremendous sadness and shock that Charlie Kirk, who was invited by the student group TPUSA, was shot at about 12:20 when he began speaking at his planned event on the Utah Valley University Orem Campus,” the school wrote in a statement. “We are asking those still on campus to secure in place until police officers can safely escort them off campus.”
The campus was immediately evacuated and remains closed until further notice. Classes have been cancelled.
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Charlie Kirk in critical condition after shooting at Utah Valley University: AP
Turning Point USA executive director Charlie Kirk signs hats during Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest at the Phoenix Convention Center on December 20, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)
Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, is reportedly listed in critical condition after being shot at an event in Utah on Wednesday.
Kirk was shot while speaking at Utah Valley University.
CHARLIE KIRK SHOT AT UTAH EVENT, HOSPITALIZED
A law enforcement official told The Associated Press that Kirk was listed in critical condition at a Utah hospital.
Videos posted to social media from Utah Valley University show Kirk speaking into a microphone while sitting under a white tent when a shot rang out.
A suspect was in custody shortly after the shooting.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Republicans react after Charlie Kirk shooting
Republican Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said those responsible for Wednesday’s shooting at the Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University will be “held fully accountable.”
“Violence has no place in our public life,” Cox wrote in a statement. “Americans of every political persuasion must unite in condemning this act. Our prayers are with Charlie, his family, and all those affected.”
Republican Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears added she is praying for the father of two.
“He’s a husband, a young father, and someone who cares deeply about our country,” Sears said. “Praying for him and his family.”
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, Sen. John Curtis, R-Utah, and Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, also shared prayers via X posts.
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Support pours in for Charlie Kirk’s family after Utah campus shooting
Conservative commentator Charlie Kirk remains hospitalized tonight after being shot in the neck during a campus event at Utah Valley University.
The 31-year-old activist is the father of two young children with his wife, Erika, whom he married in 2021. Erika, a former Miss Arizona USA and a podcast host, has often spoken about faith and family alongside her husband.
Their daughter, born in 2022, and infant son, born in 2024, are receiving prayers pouring in from across the country. In July, Kirk shared a video of his daughter running into his arms on the set of Fox & Friends . The tender moment was shared on X with Kirk arguing for marriage, having children and being “courageous.”
Messages of support have come from all sides of the political spectrum in hope for a father’s recovery and a family’s strength.
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Attorney General Pam Bondi reacts to Charlie Kirk shooting at Utah Valley University
Department of Homeland Security Secretary reacts to Charlie Kirk shooting
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Breaking News
Vice President Vance urges prayer for Charlie Kirk, calls him ‘genuinely good guy’
Vice President JD Vance took to X on Wednesday to urge prayers for conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, who was shot during a campus event in Utah.
“Say a prayer for Charlie Kirk, a genuinely good guy and a young father,” Vance wrote, offering support for the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA. Kirk, a father of two, was hosting a speaking engagement when the shooting happened.
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Utah Valley University official says suspected shooter was in nearby building
FILE – Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk stands in the Oval Office of the White House on May 28, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
Ellen Treanor, associate vice president of strategic communication management at Utah Valley University, told Fox News Digital shots were fired at Charlie Kirk from a building about 200 yards from the tent where he was speaking.
Treanor told Fox News Digital Kirk was “immediately” taken away from campus by his security team following the shooting.
A suspect has been taken into custody, according to the university. They have not yet been publicly identified.
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Vivek Ramaswamy sends prayers to Charlie Kirk following shooting in Utah
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