President Donald Trump called for prayers on Wednesday after Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was shot while in Utah, posting on Truth Social that "We must all pray for Charlie Kirk, who has been shot. A great guy from top to bottom. GOD BLESS HIM!"
Kirk's spokesperson said in a brief statement that "Charlie Kirk has been shot at Utah Valley University. Condition unknown." Kirk was in Utah and had been scheduled to appear at Utah Valley University on Wednesday as part of his American Comeback Tour.
Turning Point USA, the conservative student organization Kirk founded, has led national campus outreach and political activism. Kirk, a well-known conservative commentator and organizer, has frequently traveled to speak at college events and political gatherings. The scheduled Utah appearance was part of a broader series of stops billed as the American Comeback Tour.
The circumstances of the shooting, including where on the Utah Valley University campus it occurred and whether any other individuals were involved or injured, were not detailed in the spokesperson's statement. No law enforcement or hospital statements were included in the initial public notices accompanying the report.
Trump's post and the spokesperson's statement were among the earliest public responses to the shooting. Media organizations and university officials typically await confirmation from police and emergency responders before releasing additional details; as of the latest statements, organizers had not provided an updated medical condition for Kirk.
The shooting adds to a series of high-profile incidents in which public political figures and campus events have drawn intense public attention. Kirk has been a prominent and sometimes polarizing voice in conservative politics since founding Turning Point USA, and his speaking engagements often attract both supporters and protesters.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.