United States President Donald Trump’s loyalist and close ally, 31-year-old Charlie Kirk, was shot dead on Wednesday while speaking at Utah Valley University. Trump mourned his loss, writing, “The great, and even legendary, Charlie Kirk is dead.” He added, “He was loved and admired by ALL especially me, and now, he is no longer with us.” The state’s governor has described his murder as political assassination.
Who Was Charlie Kirk?
Born on 14 October 1993, Charlie Kirk was a political activist, author, and media personality. He was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs of Arlington Heights and Prospect Heights, Illinois. During high school, he became actively involved in politics, supporting US Senate candidate Mark Kirk and organising a campaign against a cafeteria price hike at his school. He briefly attended Harper College but left to pursue political activism full-time, influenced by Tea Party member Bill Montgomery.
Kirk was the founder of one of the United States’ leading right-wing youth activist group. In recent years, he had emerged as one of the most influential young right-wing figures in the country. In 2012, Kirk co-founded the youth activist group “Turning Point USA”. He became a regular presence on college campuses, where he hosted rallies like the one in Utah that drew large crowds. Although he did not hold an official position in the administration, Kirk wielded significant influence within the White House. Turning Point USA is an American non-profit organization that advocates for conservative politics on high school, college, and university campuses
A political organiser and podcast host who appealed to both young conservatives and wealthy Republicans donors, Kirk amassed significant political influence despite never heaving held office and worked on a campaign.
A Regular Visitor At The White House
In a series of interviews for a profile published in The New York Times Magazine in February, Kirk claimed to have visited the White House “a hundred-plus” times during Trump’s first term. He was also an early advocate for US Vice President JD Vance as a running mate for Trump. After the 2024 election, he had become part of a close group of advisers vetting prospective White House appointees for loyalty.
What Happened In The Utah Rally?
Kirk was shot about 20 minutes after he began speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem. The university initially said someone had been taken into custody, but investigators later confirmed that the person was not the shooter. FBI Director Kash Patel also announced that a person arrested in connection has been released after interrogation by investigators
Videos from the event showed people running and one clip showed Kirk’s head snap back as blood poured from his back. He had been speaking under a tent with the slogan “The American Comeback.”
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