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Charlie Kirk Shot at Utah Valley University During American Comeback Tour
Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was shot during a public event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, while launching his American Comeback Tour. A gunman fired from a rooftop approximately 200 yards from the venue, sending the crowd into panic. Kirk was rushed to hospital and was later declared dead. The shooting drew immediate condemnation from President Donald Trump, JD Vance, Senator Mike Lee, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Kirk had long spoken openly about threats linked to his fierce criticism of U.S. funding for Ukraine, characterising Zelenskyy as a puppet of the CIA. In 2023, a Ukrainian defence spokesperson vowed to hunt down those she called Kremlin propagandists, a remark Kirk interpreted as a direct threat against himself and other conservative voices. Ukraine had labelled Kirk a spreader of Russian propaganda and placed him on a list of figures opposing aid to Kyiv.
Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot during a public event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Kirk had just launched his American Comeback Tour when a lone gunman opened fire from a rooftop approximately 200 yards from the venue, sending the crowd into immediate panic. Security teams rushed Kirk to hospital, where he was later declared dead by hospital authorities.
Political Reactions
The shooting prompted an outpouring of grief and condemnation from leaders across the political spectrum. President Donald Trump called for prayers, describing Kirk as a great guy from top to bottom. JD Vance, Senator Mike Lee, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Pete Hegseth all issued messages of support and solidarity.
A History of Threats
Charlie Kirk had spoken openly about the threats he faced as a result of his political positions. He questioned whether Ukraine or its supporters might seek to silence conservative voices in America, asking publicly whether figures like Steve Bannon, Tucker Carlson, or himself could be targeted.
Kirk was one of Washington's most vocal critics of U.S. funding for Ukraine, characterising President Zelenskyy as an ungrateful, petulant child and a puppet of the CIA. In 2023, following Zelenskyy's visit to Washington, Kirk responded to remarks by a Ukrainian defence spokesperson who vowed to hunt down those she called Kremlin propagandists. Kirk interpreted the comments as a direct threat against himself and other conservative voices.
The backlash led Ukraine to cut ties with the spokesperson, but Kirk remained one of Zelenskyy's harshest American critics. Ukraine's Centre for Countering Disinformation labelled Kirk a spreader of Russian propaganda, and Turning Point USA was placed on a list of U.S. organisations opposing aid to Kyiv.
Political Violence and Free Speech
Charlie Kirk's death has been widely described as politically motivated and marks the most violent attack yet against a high-profile conservative activist in the United States. The shooting reignited urgent national debates about political violence, free speech, and the deepening divisions over U.S. foreign policy.
Video Transcript
[00:08] Conservative activist and Turning Point
[00:10] USA founder Charlie Kirk was fatally
[00:13] shot dead during a public event at Utah
[00:16] Valley University in Oram, Utah.
[00:20] The 31-year-old was speaking as part of
[00:22] his American Comeback Tour when a lone
[00:24] gunman opened fire from a rooftop. The
[00:27] incident sent the crowd into panic with
[00:29] security rushing Kirk to hospital.
[00:32] Ultimately, he was declared dead by the
[00:34] hospital authorities.
[00:37] The killing has been widely described as
[00:39] politically motivated and has drawn
[00:41] condemnation from across the political
[00:43] spectrum.
[00:45] As the news of the shooting came, US
[00:47] President Donald Trump, Senator Mike
[00:49] Lee, and Conservative commentators all
[00:51] called for prayers for Kirk, while
[00:53] Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Natanya
[00:56] and Pete Hexath also posted messages of
[00:59] support. Just after some time, Trump
[01:02] announced about the demise of Charlie.
[01:05] Kirk had often spoken publicly about the
[01:07] threats he faced. On his show, he once
[01:10] questioned whether Ukraine or its
[01:11] supporters might try to silence him.
[01:14] Are they going to go murder or try to
[01:16] murder Steve Bannon or Tucker Carlson or
[01:18] myself?
[01:20] >> Kirk was a fierce critic of Washington's
[01:22] funding of Ukraine, describing President
[01:24] Vadimir Zalinski as an ungrateful,
[01:27] petulant child and a puppet of the CIA.
[01:32] In 2023, after Zalinsky visited
[01:35] Washington, Kirk reacted to comments
[01:37] made by Sarah Ashton Cerillo, an
[01:39] American-born spokesperson for Ukraine's
[01:42] territorial defense forces. She vowed to
[01:45] hunt down Kremlin propagandists,
[01:47] sparking outrage in the US.
[01:49] >> None of us are Putin puppets or Russian
[01:51] propagandists, but the New York Times
[01:52] calls us that.
[01:54] >> Kirk insisted the remark could be
[01:56] interpreted as a direct threat against
[01:58] him and others.
[02:00] And then the person who is funded by the
[02:02] US Treasury says, "We're going to come
[02:04] murder you."
[02:05] >> The backlash led Ukraine to cut ties
[02:08] with Ashton Cerillo, but Kirk remained
[02:10] one of Zilinsk's harshest American
[02:12] critics.
[02:14] Ukraine's center for countering
[02:15] disinformation labeled him a spreader of
[02:18] Russian propaganda points. While the
[02:20] outlet text dua placed Kirk and TPUSA on
[02:24] a list of US figures opposing aid to
[02:26] Kiev.
[02:28] Charlie Kirk's death marks the most
[02:30] violent attack yet against a
[02:32] high-profile conservative activist in
[02:34] the United States. As investigations
[02:37] continue, the shooting raises fresh
[02:39] concerns about political violence, free
[02:41] speech, and the deepening divisions over
[02:44] US foreign policy.
[02:47] [Music]
[02:57] [Music]
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