President Donald Trump said Friday that his youngest son, Barron Trump, was "very hurt" after Charlie Kirk, the co-founder of Turning Point USA, was shot while speaking at a college event and later died. The president made the comments on Fox News' Fox & Friends after law enforcement said they had detained an alleged shooter in the attack.
Kirk, a prominent conservative activist who often mobilized college-aged voters, was shot in the throat while speaking to students at Utah Valley University. Authorities apprehended 22-year-old Tyler Robinson on Thursday evening as the suspected shooter; the FBI later announced it had detained the alleged perpetrator.
In the Fox interview, Trump recounted that Barron, 19, who recently moved back to the White House while continuing studies at New York University's Washington campus, had asked to meet Kirk. "Barron came to me and he said, 'Dad, I'd like to meet somebody that you know…Charlie Kirk,'" Trump said. The president said he arranged a lunch between his son and Kirk and that they "hit it off."
"I'll never forget Barron coming back saying, 'Dad, that guy's great,'" Trump added. Asked how his son had reacted to the news of Kirk's death, Trump said, "He was very hurt when he saw this. But, I mean, everybody was."
Trump has previously praised Kirk for his role in energizing young conservative voters during the 2024 election cycle. On the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks earlier this month, the president announced his intention to posthumously award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Trump also said he plans to attend Kirk's funeral in Arizona and to deliver a eulogy.
Turning Point USA, which Kirk co-founded, has been a significant presence on college campuses and in conservative organizing in recent years. Kirk's speaking engagements and media presence made him a high-profile figure among conservative youths and activists.
Law enforcement officials have provided limited public details about the investigation and the motive. Authorities said the suspect was taken into custody without further incident Thursday evening. Local and federal agencies are coordinating the probe, and the FBI's involvement reflects the case's national attention.
Kirk's death prompted immediate expressions of shock and mourning across conservative circles and heightened debate over safety at public political events. The announcement of a posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom and the president's planned attendance at the funeral signal the administration's intent to honor Kirk's role in conservative activism.
The presidential remarks on Fox & Friends came as investigators continued to seek a complete account of the events at Utah Valley University, how the suspect obtained access to the venue, and whether others were involved. Authorities have urged anyone with information to come forward as they finalize their investigation.
Barron Trump's reaction, as described by his father, places a personal dimension on a story that has already drawn national scrutiny and a rapid law enforcement response. Officials have not released a schedule for the funeral or details about the Medal of Freedom presentation, and additional statements from the family and Turning Point USA have been awaited.