Charlie Kirk, a prominent conservative activist and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was shot dead Wednesday during an outdoor speaking event at Utah Valley University in Orem, officials and witnesses said.
Kirk, 31, was shot shortly after noon local time while taking questions from attendees during a well-attended stop on his “American Comeback Tour,” according to witnesses and video from the event. Authorities said the assailant acted from a distance; witnesses described shots coming from a line of trees and a nearby hill. No arrests had been announced late Wednesday and police gave no immediate information on a suspect or a motive.
President Donald Trump announced Kirk’s death in a post on Truth Social, calling him "The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk," and offering his and first lady Melania Trump’s sympathies to Kirk’s wife and family. In a brief phone interview with The Post shortly before confirming Kirk’s death, Trump said, "He was a very, very good friend of mine and he was a tremendous person." Former President Joe Biden in a statement said, "There is no place in our country for this kind of violence. It must end now. Jill and I are praying for Charlie Kirk’s family and loved ones." California Gov. Gavin Newsom called the attack "disgusting, vile, and reprehensible," and urged Americans to reject political violence.
Kirk, who co-founded Turning Point USA in 2012 with Bill Montgomery, helped build the group into a nationwide network of campus organizations that became a central force in conservative youth outreach. The organization initially received funding from Republican donor Foster Friess. Kirk became a frequent presence at Republican events during former President Trump’s first term and served as a visible surrogate and adviser during Trump’s campaigns and administration.
Kirk, who married Erika Frantzve in 2021, is survived by his wife and two young children. He dropped out of Harper College in Illinois and rose to national prominence through campus speaking engagements and media appearances, becoming a high-profile organizer and commentator for conservative causes. He often appeared alongside or in support of Trump at rallies and events, and Trump publicly credited him last year with helping boost young-adult support during the president’s successful comeback campaign.
Witnesses and video from the Utah event showed Kirk being carried away to a vehicle after being struck. Authorities closed portions of the campus as law enforcement searched the surrounding area. Officials gave limited details as they investigated, asking anyone with information or footage to come forward.
Kirk’s style combined energetic campus rallies with media outreach and the organization of student chapters across colleges, a strategy that distinguished Turning Point USA from traditional campus Republican organizations. He also engaged in public dialogues with political opponents, including a widely noted podcast appearance with Gov. Newsom earlier this year.
Statements from elected officials and public figures framed the killing as an attack on civil discourse. "In the United States of America, we must reject political violence in EVERY form," Newsom wrote on social media. Other Republican figures who had worked with or supported Kirk also expressed shock and grief.
Investigators have not released details about any potential motive, weapon or the number of assailants. Authorities said they were treating the shooting as an active homicide investigation and appealed for tips from the public. The university said counseling and support services would be made available to students and staff affected by the shooting.
Kirk’s death removes a prominent and polarizing figure from the conservative movement he helped cultivate over more than a decade. Turning Point USA grew into a visible political force on campuses across the country, and Kirk’s role as both an organizer and media personality made him a frequent presence in political news cycles. As law enforcement continues its investigation, leaders from across the political spectrum called for calm and an end to political violence.