President Donald Trump told CNBC host Joe Kernen that he believed conservative activist Charlie Kirk “could have been president someday,” Kernen said Thursday on the network’s “Squawk Box.” The revelation came as authorities continued to investigate the deadly shooting that killed Kirk on Wednesday at a college event in Utah.
Kernen, marking the program’s 30th anniversary, said Trump called to congratulate the show and used the conversation to praise Kirk, who he described as “such a talented guy.” Kernen told viewers that Trump said Kirk had helped him greatly in the last election and expressed devastation over the killing. According to Kernen, Trump also said the country would heal and that he remained focused on winning and doing everything he could “to help the country win.”
Kirk, 31, was shot and killed Wednesday during the opening event of his “The American Comeback Tour” at Utah Valley University. Officials said he was speaking from a “Prove Me Wrong” table in front of thousands of audience members, many of them college students, when the attack occurred. The FBI announced Thursday that it had recovered a high-powered bolt-action rifle believed to be the firearm used in the shooting; the suspect remained at large.
Trump issued a statement from the Oval Office on Wednesday that condemned the assassination and praised Kirk as a patriot who “devoted his life to the cause of open debate and the country that he loved so much.” In the statement, Trump said Kirk “inspired millions” and called him “a martyr for truth and freedom,” adding that he was “respected by youth.”
The killing prompted an outpouring of grief and condolences from conservative figures, lawmakers and world leaders. Turning Point USA, the organization Kirk founded, and other political allies expressed shock and sorrow at his death. Kirk had been a prominent figure in conservative politics, particularly among young activists, and had frequently appeared at campus events and national conferences.
Kirk had been active in conservative circles for years, drawing support from Republican leaders and media personalities. He greeted then-President Trump at a 2019 Turning Point student summit and had used his platform to mobilize younger voters and promote Republican candidates. In recent years he named Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance among figures he saw as influential for young conservatives.
Federal and local authorities said the investigation into the shooting remained active. Officials recovered the rifle Thursday and were continuing to search for the suspect; they had not released public details about a motive or suspect identity. Law enforcement asked anyone with information about the attack to come forward.
Kernen said Trump also praised “Squawk Box” during the call, telling the host, “Happy anniversary. Happy 30 years,” and adding that he loved what the program did. The network interview was one of several public and private reactions from conservative leaders and elected officials in the hours after the killing. Developments, including investigative updates and responses from political figures, were ongoing.