Megyn Kelly became visibly emotional on her SiriusXM radio program Wednesday after announcing that right-wing activist and podcaster Charlie Kirk had been fatally shot during an appearance in Utah.
On air, Kelly called Kirk “one of the most important voices that we’ve had in my lifetime,” and held back tears as she described the shooting and offered condolences to Kirk’s wife, Erika, and their two children. The exchange with fellow conservative commentator Glenn Beck began near the 1:18:00 mark of Wednesday’s episode of "The Megyn Kelly Show."
Kirk, 31, was shot while appearing at Utah Valley University as part of his American Comeback Tour. Authorities said the shooting occurred Wednesday; as of Thursday the shooter remained at large. The FBI confirmed it had recovered “a footwear impression, a palm print and forearm imprints for analysis” and released images of a person of interest in the investigation.
During Wednesday’s broadcast, Kelly compared the violence of the attack to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963, saying, “It looked like when JFK was assassinated ― the violence with which he keeled back, was hit, the thrust of it.” She described what she had seen of the shooting as “very clearly a direct hit,” and said it appeared to involve “some sort of a rifle or shotgun.” Kelly framed Kirk as a significant political organizer, crediting him with mobilizing conservative and young voters during the 2024 presidential election and saying, “There is no denying the effect Charlie Kirk had on this election.”
Kelly noted that Kirk had been a frequent guest on her program and had appeared most recently last month. She and Beck discussed Kirk’s role as a messenger on contentious issues, with Kelly saying he was someone “sent by God to change minds and hearts on the most important, divisive, difficult issues of our time.”
President Donald Trump ordered American flags to be flown at half-staff until Sunday evening following the shooting and on Thursday said he would posthumously award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Trump and other public figures have since responded to Kirk’s death; authorities continue to investigate the shooting and have urged anyone with information to come forward.
The FBI has not identified a suspect publicly and investigators have said they are analyzing physical evidence recovered at the scene. Local and federal law enforcement agencies are coordinating the probe as they seek to confirm the circumstances of the shooting and determine whether additional charges or suspects may emerge.
Kelly’s on-air reaction marked a rare emotional moment on conservative talk radio and underscored Kirk’s prominence among right-leaning commentators and activists. Her remarks came amid a broader conversation about political violence and security at public events, as officials work to piece together a timeline and motive while ensuring the safety of attendees at political gatherings.
As the investigation continues, Kelly’s broadcast provided an immediate, personal response from a frequent collaborator, and reflected the shock among allies and listeners who had followed Kirk’s work in the days since the shooting.