American flags on public buildings were not lowered merely as a formality. The White House was shaken by grief and resentment. Ukraine, Gaza, tariffs? Those could wait. The assassination on Wednesday, September 10, of Charlie Kirk – a 31-year-old conservative figure and head of Turning Point USA – on the campus of Utah Valley University sent shockwaves through the country.

But for Donald Trump and his inner circle, Kirk was more than just a powerful ally. He was family. An ally, a friend. An exceptional televangelist for Trumpism. A potential heir for the US president, despite his young age, since traditional paths to power no longer apply.

At the White House, daily operations are orchestrated by the discreet Susie Wiles. Interviewed Thursday on the online show hosted by conservative commentator Scott Jennings, the chief of staff described a dark day: "It shook everybody to their core and for many of us brought back the memories of last July 13 in Butler with the president." Trump narrowly escaped an assassination attempt in that Pennsylvania town.

On Wednesday, a series of emotional posts appeared on X from advisers. "Charlie Kirk was going to be President," claimed Alex Bruesewitz, the key digital strategist. He explained that he was 17 and Kirk just two years older when they became friends. "Just four days ago, we shared a meal in South Korea, reflecting on our journey," he recounted. This assassination was both an identity and generational marker within the MAGA (Make America Great Again) world, especially for this small circle of young white men who had risen from the nationalist populist fringes to the corridors of the White House.

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