Ivanka Trump on Friday described conservative activist Charlie Kirk as a “highly principled” man and a “champion for debate, dialogue and free speech,” following his death after being shot while speaking at a Utah university.
"It's unconscionable, what transpired, and very personal," Trump said in an interview on CNBC. "I have known Charlie for approaching a decade now. And he was a good man, highly principled, and he was a champion for debate, dialogue and free speech; the cornerstone of democracy." Kirk, 31, was shot Thursday while addressing a crowd at Utah Valley University and later died. Authorities arrested a suspect the following day.
Trump, a businesswoman and former White House adviser who founded the nonprofit Planet Harvest, said she had known Kirk for nearly a decade and called his death "heartbreaking." She added that Kirk "was silenced for being so persuasive, ultimately," and warned that "once we stop talking to one another, it all breaks down." She also expressed sympathy for Kirk's wife, Erika, and their children.
Kirk, a co-founder of the conservative group Turning Point USA and the organizer of an "American Comeback Tour" aimed at college campuses, was shot Thursday while speaking to thousands at an event held at Utah Valley University, about 40 miles south of Salt Lake City. The daytime attack prompted an outpouring of grief and condemnation across the political spectrum.
President Donald Trump posted that Kirk was "legendary" after news of the shooting. Kirk's widow, Erika Kirk, 36, spoke publicly on Friday and said the tour would continue in her husband's memory. Media reports identified the suspect as 22-year-old Tyler Ferguson of Utah; police arrested him Friday. A New York Post report said Ferguson is expected to be charged with aggravated murder.
Hosts on the daytime talk show "The View" and a range of public figures condemned political violence, saying there is no place for it in public discourse. Several celebrities and commentators posted reactions to social media, reflecting the reach of Kirk's profile as a frequent commentator and campus activist.
Kirk rose to prominence as a vocal conservative organizer on campuses and as a commentator advocating for increased conservative engagement in higher education. Turning Point USA, which he helped found, organized events on college campuses and trained student activists; Kirk was a regular guest on conservative media outlets and promoted debates and public-facing events as a means of advancing conservative ideas.
Local law enforcement said the shooting remains under investigation. Prosecutors and police in Utah provided limited immediate comment on the progress of the inquiry and on potential charges, directing most questions to pending investigative steps. National and campus leaders called for calm as officials worked to piece together the sequence of events surrounding the attack and the suspect's alleged motive.
Trump's remarks came as lawmakers, commentators and campus officials urged renewed attention to campus safety and the tone of political discourse. The investigation into the shooting and any criminal proceedings are expected to proceed in the coming days as authorities gather evidence and review statements from witnesses and organizers.
