Washington — Charlie Kirk, a right-wing political activist and influential voice for younger conservatives within the digital age, died Wednesday after he was shot within the neck at Utah Valley College in Orem, Utah. He was 31.
Kirk, a father of two, was shot as he was chatting with college students at an occasion for Turning Level USA, a company for younger conservatives he co-founded in 2012.
“The Nice, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is useless,” President Trump wrote. “Nobody understood or had the Coronary heart of the Youth in the USA of America higher than Charlie. He was liked and admired by ALL, particularly me, and now, he’s now not with us.”
In response to video shared on social media, an viewers member requested Kirk about mass shootings within the U.S. earlier than Kirk was hit within the neck and slumped in his chair. Two eyewitnesses advised CBS Information a big quantity of blood poured from his neck. He was rushed to a close-by hospital, the place he was later pronounced useless.
The gunman is outwardly nonetheless at giant, and a search is underway, three sources acquainted with the investigation advised CBS Information. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox mentioned at a information convention Wednesday night {that a} “individual of curiosity” was in custody, however didn’t elaborate.
Mr. Trump, who survived an assassination try at an outside political occasion final 12 months, advised the New York Submit, “He was a really, superb buddy of mine and he was an incredible individual.” Democrats and Republicans alike expressed their outrage, prayers and concern on social media upon information of the taking pictures.
OLIVIER TOURON/AFP through Getty Pictures
Kirk, an in depth Trump ally, was the important thing to energizing and mobilizing the youth vote for the president all through his campaigns. He was crucial to the Trump floor recreation effort for voter turnout and constructed out vital elements of the Trump marketing campaign in Arizona, Georgia and Pennsylvania. Kirk stood by the president throughout what could possibly be described as his political winter, quickly after he introduced his second presidential marketing campaign, when skeptics doubted he may change into president once more.
Kirk additionally made it his mission to interact extra younger folks in politics, and register them to vote. Kirk was additionally an in depth buddy of the president’s son, Donald Trump, Jr.
Kirk spoke at Mr. Trump’s inauguration parade in January, and the president appointed him to the Air Power Academy Board of Guests in March.
“For these of you which have at all times had the president’s again all through these final couple of years, after we had been at our darkest second 4 years in the past, that is your victory,” Kirk mentioned as he opened his speech at Mr. Trump’s inaugural parade.
However Kirk’s politics weren’t with out controversy. Kirk pushed false claims about voter fraud after Mr. Trump misplaced the 2020 presidential election, stoked skepticism in regards to the COVID-19 pandemic and unfold anti-trans rhetoric. He additionally amplified the “Nice Alternative” conspiracy, which is predicated on the idea that there is a plot to switch White folks with minorities.
After casting doubt early on about mail-in voting, Kirk pushed GOP voters to embrace the strategies in 2024.
He pointed to Kari Lake’s loss within the 2022 Arizona gubernatorial race as a second the place he realized that Republicans should embrace “Election Month,” as he put it, not simply Election Day.
“It triggered loads of introspection on our group. And I used to be like, why are we not embracing, you recognize, this form of methodology, we’d not like it, however shedding feels loads worse,” Kirk mentioned. “I believe that the motion is taking a look at it the identical.”
Born Oct. 14, 1993, Kirk grew up within the Chicago suburbs and briefly attended group faculty, however dropped out to pursue political activism full time.
Kirk was the host of “The Charlie Kirk Present,” a each day conservative discuss radio present and amassed thousands and thousands of followers on social media.
Kirk is survived by his spouse, Erika, and their two younger youngsters.
Jacob Rosen and
Olivia Rinaldi
contributed to this report.
