“The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead,” President Donald Trump reported Wednesday after the Turning Point USA founder was shot and killed while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University.
Kirk was speaking at the Utah university as part of his American Comeback Tour when he was shot in the neck by a single bullet as he began to answer a question about the danger of transgender violence. Kirk’s assassin is still at large.
FOX announces Charlie Kirk's death —
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) September 10, 2025
"It is my great dishonor, to be the person that brings this to you on television...Charlie Kirk, according to the president of the United States, is dead."
Rest in peace, Charlie. ???? pic.twitter.com/swPHJl91sW
“No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie,” Pres. Trump wrote in a social media post paying tribute to Kirk’s leadership of Turning Point USA and its work to explain and promote conservative ideology to America’s youth, particularly at U.S. college campuses.
“He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us,” Trump wrote, offering his condolences to Kirk’s family:
“Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!”
Pres. Trump has ordered that flags be flown at half-staff on all U.S. government grounds until sunset on September 14, 2025 “as a mark of respect for the memory of Charlie Kirk.”
Charlie Kirk was 31 years old. He leaves behind his wife and two children.
Prior to his assassination on Friday, a video of Charlie Kirk’s May 1, 2025 appearance at the University of California San Diego was posted on the conservative icon’s YouTube channel.
The video from the event is embedded below.