On September 10, 2025, Charlie Kirk, an American right-wing political activist, author, and media personality, was fatally shot while addressing an audience on the campus of Utah Valley University (UVU) in Orem, Utah. UVU was the first stop on a campaign planned by Turning Point USA, the conservative organization he co-founded. Authorities are still looking for the shooter. The shooting prompted widespread reactions from public figures in the United States. President Donald Trump ordered that flags be flown at half-staff.
Charlie Kirk was an American right-wing political activist, author, and media personality, known for being the co-founder and CEO of Turning Point USA.[2] Kirk was a close ally of United States president Donald Trump, and utilized his skills in social media and organizing on university campuses to become one of the most influential figures in the "hard-right movement."[3]The Washington Post described Kirk as "one of the most prominent voices on the right" in recent years.[4]
Kirk, who was described as "something of a kingmaker", was able to rally support to protect embattled Trump cabinet nominees, as well as against figures in the Republican Party who he thought were not strong enough supporters of Trump.[3]
Kirk on a February 2025 stop of his American Comeback tour, six months before he was shot
Kirk's appearance at Utah Valley University was the first stop of his American Comeback Tour, a multi-campus series planned by Turning Point USA for the fall.[2] Kirk was traveling with private security, with additional protection provided by university police and local authorities.[5] Before the event, a petition had circulated calling on the university not to allow him to appear and speak. However, the university stated that it would allow him on campus in accordance with its free speech and open discussion policies.[6] Approximately 3,000 people attended the event, accompanied by six police officers and Kirk's private security personnel.[7] Following state law, UVU allowed "concealed firearm permit holders to possess their concealed firearm on campus".[8] Attendees to the event criticized the lax security, with no ticket to the event being necessary to enter the amphitheater where it was being held nor metal detectors being used for attendees.[9]
At approximately 12:20p.m. MDT, Kirk was shot in the neck while speaking at an American Comeback Tour event.[14] Sitting under a tent emblazoned with the tour title and the slogan "Prove Me Wrong", Kirk was answering a question on the number of mass shootings committed by transgender people.[6][15][16]
The final exchange between Kirk and an audience member was:
Audience member: Do you know how many transgender Americans have been mass shooters over the last 10 years? Kirk: Too many. Audience member: Ok well—[crowd cheers]—it's five, okay. Now, five is a lot, right? I'll give you some credit. Do you know how many mass shooters there have been in America over the last 10 years? Kirk: Counting or not counting gang violence? Audience member: Great—[17]
Richard D. & Joann B. Losee Center in 2005
Kirk was then shot.[18][19] According to the university, the single shot came from the roof of the Losee Center, approximately 200 yards (180m) away, and hit Kirk in the neck.[20][21] Emma Pitts, a Deseret News reporter who witnessed the event, told NPR, "I just saw so much blood come out of the left side of Charlie's neck, and then he went limp."[22]
An estimated 3,000 people were present at Kirk's event.[19] Former US representativeJason Chaffetz, who was in attendance, said "As soon as the shot went out, everybody hit the deck and everybody started scattering and yelling and screaming."[19] Another witness told The New York Times that "no one really got down until the people in front of the stage did" and "people got down in waves."[23] An eyewitness reported to CBS News that there was "blood pouring everywhere" and that there were "no metal detectors or anything" at the venue.[24]
At 12:37p.m., the university closed the campus, canceled classes, and urged everyone to leave campus.[25] At 2:01p.m., the university asked students to "secure in place until police officers can escort you safely off campus."[26]
Kirk was taken to a local hospital, which a Utah state official identified as Timpanogos Regional Hospital in Orem,[27][28] though at least one source reported it was Utah Valley Hospital in the neighboring city of Provo.[29] The Associated Press reported at approximately 1:45p.m. that a source had told them that Kirk was in "critical condition" at the hospital.[30]Reuters reported he underwent surgery, citing a university spokesperson.[31] His death was reported by President Donald Trump on his Truth Social account at 2:40 p.m., and confirmed by a spokesperson for Kirk.[32]
Investigation and campus response
Aerial view of the aftermath of the shooting
Cellphone videos of the shooting were quickly published onto social media.[32] The official X account for UVU reported that a single shot was fired toward Kirk and that he was removed from the scene by his security team.[33][34]
Authorities are still looking for the perpetrator,[35] who remains unknown.[28][36] Authorities confirmed they had closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage of the suspect.[37]
Police were seen arresting a male activist on campus grounds that day, but authorities later clarified that the activist was arrested due to potential obstruction of justice and already released.[38] Also within hours of the shooting, FBI director Kash Patel announced on social media that "the subject" for Kirk's killing was "now in custody", while Utah governor Spencer Cox said that a "person of interest" was in custody; within two hours of Patel's initial announcement, Patel announced that the subject was "released after an interrogation by law enforcement"; authorities later indicated that neither of the people arrested was the shooter.[39][40]
Following the shooting, when Kirk was still believed to be in critical condition, Speaker Mike Johnson held a 30-second moment of silence in the U.S. House of Representatives for Kirk, which was observed by all House members. After the silence was over Representative Lauren Boebert (R—Colorado) requested a verbal prayer to be held for Kirk. Democratic lawmakers immediately shouted derisively accusing congressional Republicans of ignoring a school shooting that occurred the same day as Kirk's killing. The moment then descended into partisan jabbing before Speaker Johnson obtained order after several calls.[48] During the exchange, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R—Florida) reportedly shouted expletives towards the Democrats, including "You fucking caused this."[49]
Trump blamed the "radical left" for Kirk's death, saying they "compared wonderful Americans like Charlie to Nazis."[50] Fox News host Jesse Watters said, "They are at war with us," as well as commenting, "We're going to avenge Charlie's death in the way he would want it avenged."[51][52] Chaya Raichik of Libs of TikTok wrote, "THIS IS WAR." Elon Musk, Christopher Rufo, Representative Derrick Van Orden, and Blake Masters blamed the left for the attack.[53]
MSNBC fired analyst Matthew Dowd following comments characterized by network president Rebecca Kutler as "inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable." While on air, Dowd had said of Kirk, "He's been one of the most divisive, especially divisive younger figures in this, who is constantly sort of pushing this sort of hate speech or sort of aimed at certain groups. And I always go back to, hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions."[66][67]
Progressive streamer Hasan Piker, who had been due to debate Kirk later in September, called the killing a "terrifying incident", and said: "The reverberation of people seeking out vengeance in the aftermath of this violent, abhorrent incident is going to be genuinely worrisome."[13]
The New York Yankees held a moment of silence for Kirk's death hours after he was shot and before their game.[74][75]TheNew York Times's sports desk eulogized Kirk as a man who was "critical of diversity efforts, and he made numerous inflammatory statements about gay people and minorities. Yet over the years, his popularity and influence only grew."[75]
Utah governor Spencer Cox alluded to the potential use of capital punishment[76] and said "I want to be very clear that this is a political assassination..."[77]
TheNew York Times noted that two years previously Kirk had remarked, "It's worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights", a statement which resurfaced on social media in the aftermath of his shooting.[78] The Times assessed the online reaction as mixed overall.[78]
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