Right-Wing Activist Charlie Kirk Dies After Being Shot in the U.S.

Young right-wing activist and influencer Charlie Kirk, a well-known ally of former President Donald Trump, died after being shot on Wednesday during a public event, in an incident that raises fears of heightened tensions in the already polarized U.S. political scene.

Kirk, 31, was speaking at a public event at Utah Valley University in the western United States when the attack occurred.

A video from the scene shows Kirk addressing a crowd of several thousand under a tent when the sound of a single gunshot is heard. The footage captures Kirk collapsing in his chair as panicked screams erupt among the audience.

“The Great, and even Legendary Charlie Kirk, is dead,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

“No one understood or won the hearts of America’s youth better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially by me, and now he is no longer with us.”

“Melania and I send our deepest condolences to his wife Erika and his family. Charlie, we love you!”

The university said the shooting began around noon and initially reported that the suspect had been detained. However, several media outlets later said this was not the case.

“The shots were fired from a building about 200 meters from the speaker,” the university’s statement read. “The individual was injured and immediately taken away by his security staff. The campus will remain closed for the rest of the day.” The statement was cited by Fox News.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris condemned the shooting of Kirk, as politicians across the spectrum expressed outrage over the attack.

“Political violence has no place in the United States. I condemn this act, and we must all work together to ensure this does not lead to more violence,” Harris, who served as vice president under Joe Biden, posted on social media.

“Fell Backward”

Former Utah Congressman Jason Chaffetz, who attended the rally, told Fox News the shooting took place during a Q&A session.

“The first question was about religion. He spoke for about 15–20 minutes. The second question, interestingly, was about transgender shooters, mass shooters, and in the middle of that, the gunshot rang out,” Chaffetz said, visibly shaken.

“I was watching Charlie. I can’t say I saw blood. I can’t say I saw him shot, but as soon as the shot rang out, he fell backward.”

“Everyone hit the ground, everyone... a lot of people started screaming, and then everyone ran,” he added.

Kirk had a major influence on U.S. politics and was instrumental in boosting Trump’s support among younger voters, a key factor in the Republican’s return to the White House.

With a natural flair for showmanship, Kirk co-founded Turning Point USA in 2012 to promote conservative viewpoints among young people, quickly becoming the favored spokesman for the far-right youth movement on television networks and at conferences.

He leveraged his massive audiences on Instagram and YouTube to rally support for anti-immigration policies, his outspoken Christianity, and sharp criticism of those who staged protests at his numerous campus events.