President Trump announced on social media that conservative activist Charlie Kirk died after being shot in the neck at an event in Utah.
Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot in the neck at an event at Utah Valley University, the Deseret News reports.
A suspect is in custody.
A witness told CNN what Kirk was talking about: “A kid came up and he asked a question about how many transgender shooters there were… And then he asked one more question, and so the question was about shooters. And before Charlie Kirk could pick up the mic again, that’s when the shot happened.”
BackGrounder….
Charlie Kirk Was an Influential Figure in Right-Wing Politics and a Trump Loyalist
Mr. Kirk was an energetic member of President Trump’s inner circle who appealed to young conservative voters and wealthy Republicans alike.
Over the past decade, Charlie Kirk became one of the most influential young leaders in right-wing American politics.
Mr. Kirk, 31, who was fatally shot on Wednesday while speaking at Utah Valley University, had been an energetic member of President Trump’s inner circle, known for his abilities as a speaker, his fund-raising and his loyalty to the president.
A political organizer and podcast host who appealed to young conservatives and wealthy Republicans alike, Mr. Kirk accrued political power despite never having held office or worked on a campaign. In a series of interviews for a profile in The New York Times Magazine, which published in February, Mr. Kirk said that he had visited the White House “a hundred-plus” times during Mr. Trump’s first term.
He was also an early champion of JD Vance as a running mate for Mr. Trump. And just after the 2024 election, Mr. Kirk became part of an intimate group of advisers vetting prospective White House appointees for loyalty.
After the shooting, Mr. Trump called Mr. Kirk “a great guy from top to bottom” on social media….
image…Charlie Kirk at a Turning Point Action conference in Detroit last year.Credit…Nic Antaya for The New York Times
This is NOT ‘the Way’…..
One hopes this is NOT going continue….
Gun Violence?
Gun Control?
Politics?
Very unfortunate and troubling day for the country, whatever one thought of Charlie Kirk. The more I think about it, I probably was around him at a lot of political evens when he was a teenager. I heard a lot of stories about him in the years since, but none of that matters now. This is so horrible for his family. Likely, he is now the most well known person to have grown up in my hometown of Arlington Heights, IL.
As “famous” as he became in life, he will become even more so in death, and we will be hearing so much about him in political discourse in the months and years ahead.
Update…..
Suspect in Charlie Kirk Shooting Held
FBI Director Kash Patel announced that a subject in the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk was in custody.
….and that suspect is released. They are back at square one.
Great job Kash. Maybe actually do the work of finding the criminal instead of just posting things.
Authorities Release Charlie Kirk Shooting Suspect
Authorities have released a “subject in custody” in the shooting of Charlie Kirk, the Wall Street Journal reports.
New York Times: “Videos recorded before and after the shooting show a person on the roof of the Losee Center, about 150 yards from where Mr. Kirk was shot. In one, an onlooker says they saw someone run across the roof and lie down, pointing out the visible outline of the person. In a second video, the person can be seen rushing away from that spot immediately after the shooting.”
Shouting broke out on the House floor after Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) held a moment of prayer for conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, who was fatally shot on Wednesday afternoon.
After the moment of silence, Johnson recognized Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.)…..
More….
No one should be the victum of Violence ….
But like Trump 1.0 ?
The continued beat down of norms, rules and the law?
WILL generate these things…
A new dark normal of political violence still shocks the nation
The shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk follows a surge in threats and attacks against political figures for the second summer in a row.
This is the implicit threat of MAGA: unleashing the unhinged if you embarrass the President.
Update….
Ammunition in Kirk Shooting Was Engraved
“Investigators found ammunition engraved with expressions of transgender and antifascist ideology inside the rifle that authorities believe was used in the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
Trump to Posthumously Award Charlie Kirk
President Trump, at a memorial event at the Pentagon on the anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks, announced he will posthumously award Charlie Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom, ABC News reports.
Shooter Appeared to Be of ‘College Age’
“The sniper who assassinated Charlie Kirk is believed to have jumped off a roof and fled into a neighborhood after firing one shot and has not yet been identified, authorities said Thursday in disclosing that they recovered a high-powered rifle from the scene,” the AP reports.
“The shooter appeared to be of ‘college age’ and is believed to have blended in on the university campus where Kirk was shot, authorities said as they continued to investigate the latest act of political violence to befall America.”
Political Wire….
Ok?
Let’s get REAL here about the Left and MAGA
HOW MANY PEOPLE GOT ARRESTED FOR TEARING UP THE CAPITOL OON TRUMP’S ORDERS???????
There is a certain conceit among us who avidly follow the political world that most people share our interest.
In fact I have found over the years that the exact opposite is true.Today for instance I talked to ten people whom I know,most casually , and mentioned the shooting .Two of them didn’t know anything about it.Of the remaining eight,only two knew anything about Kirk.The other six said they had never heard of him before this tragic event.
I really wasn’t surprised.
Thank You for that view……
One of my son’s tells me he has spoken several Republican’s who have NO USE for Trump….
And probably none for Kirk types….
BUT?
They DO vote Republican…..
We Both agree if and when Donald leaves the Whbite House….
Things MAY just Change a Bit for the party…..