Charlie Kirk: Trump condemns 'heinous assassination' of conservative influencer

Donald Trump has said he is "filled with grief and anger" after the "heinous assassination" of right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk.

Mr Kirk, a staunch ally of the US president, was shot dead at a university event in Utah on Wednesday afternoon.

Mr Trump announced the death of the 31-year-old conservative on social media, hailing him as a "great, and even legendary" figure who was "loved and admired by all, especially me".

In a later video message, the president said: "I am filled with grief and anger at the heinous assassination of Charlie Kirk.

"He inspired millions and tonight all who knew him and loved him are united in shock and horror."

"This is a dark moment for America," Mr Trump added, as he vowed a crackdown on "political violence".

It came after FBI director Kash Patel said a person arrested over the shooting at Utah Valley University had been released after "interrogation by law enforcement".

Utah Governor Spencer Cox had described them as a "person of interest", and labelled the killing a "political assassination".

Read more: Charlie Kirk was a MAGA spokesman to young people across America

Earlier, witnesses said they heard shots fired from a nearby building as Mr Kirk spoke, a university spokesperson told Sky's US partner NBC News.

Authorities said the shooter wore dark clothing and fired from a roof on the campus.

Videos on social media show Mr Kirk talking into a microphone while sitting under a white tent with the slogans "The American Comeback" and "Prove Me Wrong".

A single shot is heard, and Mr Kirk can be seen reaching up with his right hand as blood comes out from the left side of his neck. He then falls off his chair.

A university spokesperson confirmed he had been shot in the neck. He was then taken to hospital by private security and underwent surgery.

Mr Trump earlier asked people to pray for the activist.

Who was Charlie Kirk?

The father-of-two was the chief executive and co-founder of Turning Point USA, a prominent organisation that engages conservative youth on school campuses.

The university had said a suspect was in custody but later clarified that was not the case.

Mr Kirk and Turning Point USA played a key role in driving youth support for Mr Trump in last November's presidential election. His events at college campuses nationwide typically draw large crowds.

Mr Trump often spoken favourably about Mr Kirk, including multiple times on the campaign trail last year.

During a rally in Washington the day before he was sworn in for a second term in January, Mr Trump told attendees: "Charlie Kirk is here. And I want to thank Charlie. Charlie is fantastic. I mean, this guy."

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A few weeks before, during a rally in Las Vegas on 22 December 2024, Mr Trump called Mr Kirk "incredible", adding that he "is a special talent, and he's out there fighting".

He also appeared last October at a Turning Point USA political rally in Phoenix, saying: "I want to express my tremendous gratitude to Charlie Kirk. He's really an amazing guy. Amazing guy."

Tributes from across the political divide

Tributes have come in from across the political divide in America since news of his death emerged, notably from the former president Barack Obama.

"This kind of despicable violence has no place in our democracy," he said. "Michelle and I will be praying for Charlie's family tonight, especially his wife Erika and their two young children."

Tap here to read more tributes - including from Joe Biden

Politicians overseas were also quick to react, with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage - a regular at US conservative campaign events - saying it was "a very dark day for American democracy".

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said it was "a blow to everything Western civilisation stands for: open discourse, robust debate and peaceful dissent".

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described his death as "heartbreaking", adding: "We must all be free to debate openly and freely without fear - there can be no justification for political violence."

And Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu hailed him as a "lion-hearted friend of Israel" dedicated to "speaking truth and defending freedom".

America's political violence

Sky's US correspondent Mark Stone said the killing could be "a moment of political jeopardy for the country", given the deep political divisions.

There has been a spate of violence against American politicians, both Democrat and Republican, in the last year or so alone - including two apparent assassination attempts against Mr Trump himself in 2024.

One in which he was shot during a campaign rally, and another which saw a man arrested at his golf course.

In June this year, Minnesota state representative Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed in an attack at their home. State senator John Hoffman and his wife were also shot at their property.

Both politicians were of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.

The husband of former Democrat House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was also attacked last year, while Elon Musk - no longer part of the Trump administration - said staff working for his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) received death threats during the first few months of its work.

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