Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday delivered an emotional tribute to Charlie Kirk, calling the conservative activist "once-in-a-generation" and saying he would remember him "all my life." Netanyahu made the remarks on the U.S. talk show The Faulkner Focus after Kirk was shot and killed at Utah Valley University on Wednesday.
Netanyahu described Kirk as "a defender of our common Judeo-Christian civilization" who "valued our bond, the bond between America and Israel." He said Kirk had written to him earlier this year expressing joy in advocating for Israel and that the two had spoken as recently as this week. Kirk is survived by his wife and two young children.
Netanyahu recalled personal exchanges with Kirk, including a 2019 visit to Israel when one of the prime minister's sons met with the activist. "We’re shattered first as human beings, because a great human being has been taken from us. He was an extraordinary friend," Netanyahu said. He noted Kirk’s public embrace of Christianity and his encouragement for others to bring faith into civic life.
Kirk founded the conservative group Turning Point USA and often spoke on college campuses. Turning Point has a faith-based branch intended to mobilize Christian students. Netanyahu said Kirk invited debate and dialogue and did not invite the violence that ended his life.
The prime minister placed Kirk’s killing in a broader context of politically motivated attacks in recent years, citing two attempted assassinations of former U.S. President Donald Trump in 2024 and an earlier attempt on Netanyahu’s own life. "Whether it's President Trump, who's been almost assassinated twice or, you know, they tried to kill me here, too. But they got Charlie Kirk, and it's just heartbreaking," Netanyahu said.
Investigations into the shooting at Utah Valley University are ongoing. Authorities have not released details about a suspect or motive beyond confirming the incident is being treated as a criminal act. In the days since the killing, public figures across the political spectrum have issued statements reacting to the death and calling for a full investigation.
Netanyahu closed his remarks by reflecting on legacy, saying Kirk’s generation would "live by their legacy" and repeating that he would be thinking of Kirk for the rest of his life. The death of Kirk, a prominent conservative organizer and outspoken supporter of Israel, adds to a series of high-profile politically charged attacks that have prompted renewed discussion about political violence and campus security.
