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Charlie Kirk, 31, dead after Utah shooting: Donald Trump, Barack Obama, Kamala Harris and more pay tribute


Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed during an event at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10


Charlie Kirk, executive director of Turning Point USA, speaks during the first day of the 2024 Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, July 15, 2024. Donald Trump won formal nomination as the Republican presidential candidate and picked a right-wing loyalist for running mate, kicking off a triumphalist party convention in the wake of last weekend's failed assassination attempt.© Getty Images
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Tess HillNews and Features Writer
Faye JamesSenior Editor
September 10, 2025
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Right-wing activist and close ally of President Trump, Charlie Kirk, was fatally shot on Wednesday, September 10 while speaking at a campus event at Utah Valley University. In a statement made on Truth Social, President Trump confirmed Charlie's death, writing: "The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead." He continued: "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!"

News broke of the shooting around 12:30 p.m. MST. A spokeswoman, Ellen Treanor, for Utah Valley University shared that Kirk was struck about 20 minutes after he started speaking on the campus located in Orem, Utah. Treanor continued, saying a suspect fired at Kirk from the Losee Center, a building about 200 yards away. The shooting suspect is not yet in custody, despite earlier conflicting reports.

Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk stands in the back of the room as U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a swearing in ceremony for interim U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C. Jeanine Pirro in the Oval Office of the White House on May 28, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump has announced Pirro, a former Fox News personality, judge, prosecutor, and politician, after losing support in the Senate for his first choice, Ed Martin, over his views on the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol© Getty Images
Conservative political activist Charlie Kirk is dead at 31

Horrific footage

Footage of the shooting has been shared online, with one showing Kirk's head jerking back as blood poured from his neck. Kirk was sitting under a tent with a slogan that read "The American Comeback." Quickly after news of the shooting, both Democrats and Republicans denounced the violent act on social media. Gavin Newsom, the Democratic governor of California, described the violence as "disgusting, vile, and reprehensible."

The 31-year-old conservative commentator founded the right-wing political organization, Turning Point USA, when he was 18-years-old. The organization sends conservative speakers to college campuses across the country, and invited critics to prove Kirk wrong on political subjects. In the 2024 election, Turning Point played a significant role in getting young people to vote for President Trump.

Donald Trump's statement on Truth Social about Charlie Kirk's death© Truth Social
President Donald Trump confirmed the news via a statement on Truth Social

The event at Utah Valley University was another in the many that Turning Point regularly host. Per the New York Times, at least 1,000 people were in attendance when Kirk was shot. A university spokesman, Scott Trotter, said campus was closed and classes were cancelled until further notice.

Although Kirk did not work within the Trump administration, he was an influential figure. Since swaying the Gen-Z vote in November, Kirk helped vet prospective appointees. President Trump came to view Kirk as one of his closest allies, saying in 2021: "Charlie Kirk, what he’s done with the young people. Actually, other than Hispanic, that was probably our biggest swing. So, Charlie, I appreciate what you did."

An infographic titled "Trump ally and conservative American commentator Charlie Kirk shot at university event in Utah" created in Ankara, Turkiye on September 10, 2025© Getty Images
He was shot while in the midst of giving a speech at a university event in Utah

Kirk married former Miss Arizona USA Erika Frantzve in May 2021. He was the father to two children, a three-year-old daughter and one-year-old son. During a speech made in January 2023, Kirk shared his beliefs about marriage and children. He said: "You should get married as young as possible and have as many kids as possible. Period. Reject the siren song of modernity."

US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Charlie Kirk, head of Turning Point USA, before addressing the Turning Point USAs Teen Student Action Summit in Washington, DC, on July 23, 2019© Getty Images
Kirk was a noted Trump ally and the head of Turning Point USA

Paying tribute

Tributes have poured in for the politician. 

Michelle and Barack Obama look serious
Barack spoke of the death

Barack Obama took to X to write: 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. Michelle and I will be praying for Charlie’s family tonight, especially his wife Erika and their two young children.

Kamala Harris mirrored the statement: "I am deeply disturbed by the shooting in Utah. Doug and I send our prayers to Charlie Kirk and his family," the Democratic Party's 2024 presidential nominee, wrote on X.

Kamala giving a speech outside Vice President's residence © Kevin Dietsch
Kamala said 'political violence has no place in America'

"Let me be clear: Political violence has no place in America. I condemn this act, and we all must work together to ensure this does not lead to more violence."

Vice President JD Vance called Kirk "a genuinely good guy and a young father" and urged prayers in after the horrific shooting.

Bernie Sanders offered his words after the assassination and wrote on Instagram: "Political violence has no place in this country. We must condemn this horrific attack. My thoughts are with Charlie Kirk and his family."

Jack Schlossberg, wrote: "Charlie Kirk was assassinated today. We are all weaker because of it. A tragedy. I am thinking of his family."

Chris Pratt took to the platform X to express his concern for Charlie's family.  "Praying for Charlie Kirk right now, for his wife and young children, for our country. We need God's grace. God help us."

Katherine Schwarzenegger and Chris Pratt on the red carpet posing for photos attend the Los Angeles World Premiere of Marvel Studios' © Getty Images for Disney
Katherine Schwarzenegger and Chris Pratt took to social media to comment

Chris' wife Katherine Schwarzenegger also reposted a tribute from Maria Shriver: "This is a violent act of hate that we all must denounce, all of us, regardless of party. This is reprehensible, horrendous violence that affects each and every one of us," she wrote. 

Mandy Moore took to Instagram to share her opinion. "There is no room for political violence in this discourse. Ever. You can disagree with someone's beliefs but this is a terrifying consequence of the world we're living in and it's a cancer. I can't stop thinking about Charlie Kirk's wife and their small kids. My heart is with them and all who loved him."

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