Washington – The main Republicans and Democrats joined largely to cry to conservative activist Charlie Kirk and condemn politically motivated violence after he was shot dead on Wednesday at an event in the United States at the University of Utah Valley.
Calling Kirk “great and even legendary,” President Donald Trump announced his death in Truth Social on Wednesday afternoon.
“No one understood or had the heart of young people in the United States of America better than Charlie,” Trump wrote. “He was loved and admired by all.”
White House officials had curled up earlier in the afternoon while trying to get more information about the shooting and Kirk condition, a feeling of shock that permeated a building where Kirk, 31, was very respected and seen as a strong Trump ally. At least at least one improper was heard when the officials closed the door of the room where they met.
After Kirk’s death was announced, the flags on the White House went down to the half -mast. Eric Trump, the president’s son, also said that the flags would flee in the middle of the staff in all Trump’s properties.
The governor of California, Gavin Newsom, a Trump Democratic and frequent critic who received Kirk in his podcast this year, denounced the shooting at X shortly after it happened.
“The attack on Charlie Kirk is disgusting, vile and rebuilt,” Newsom wrote. “In the United States of America, we must reject political violence in all forms.”
Kirk, who co -founded Turning Point, who organizes and mobilizes young conservative activists, died after he was taken to a hospital. He had been talking about incidents of massive shots that involved trans people when they shot him in his neck. The horrible video of the attack quickly proliferated on social networks.
While some politicians used the shooting to make political points, including Republicans accusing liberals of inciting violence with rhetoric and Democrats who defend more strict arms regulations, most were left with more unifying messages that offer prayers for Kirk and their family, condemnations of violence or both.
Vice President JD Vance published a prayer on X: “Eternal reter resort to him, oh Lord.” In a previous message, sent shortly after Kirk was shot, he praised Kirk for establishing an open conversation with allies and critics equally.
“If you really see Charlie’s events, unlike false summaries, they are one of the few places with open and honest dialogue between the left and the right,” Vance wrote. “He would answer any questions and talk to everyone.”
Former Vice President Kamala Harris, the 2024 Democratic nominee for president, wrote in X: “I am deeply disturbed by the Utah shooting. Doug and I sent our prayers to Charlie Kirk and her family.
“Let me be clear: political violence does not take place in the United States. I condemn this act, and we must all work together to ensure that this does not lead to more violence,” he added.
Immediately after, it was not clear who shot Kirk. But some elected officials and prominent figures quickly rushed and tried to score political points.
“Conservative, liberal, whatever you are, you should not be shot for your beliefs,” said representative Nancy Mace, RS.C., to NBC News. “And I hope that all Democrats from all over the country stand up and recognize that they have a problem within their party.”
MACE rejected the idea that Republicans could be equally responsible for the murder of the Minnesota state representative, Melissa Hortman, Democrat, in June.
“A furious leftist lunatic put a bullet [Kirk’s] Cello, and do you want to talk about Republicans at this time? “, Said.” No. No, at all. No, this is activated, the Democrats possess this. “
Similarly, representative Anna Paulina Luna, republican of F-Fla., Who accredited Kirk for getting her involved in politics, blamed the progressives and the media for her death.
“All who called us fascists did this,” he wrote in X. “You were too busy with the children, cutting their genitals, inciting racial violence by supporting organizations that exploit minorities, protecting criminals and moving hate. You are the hatred you claim to fight. Your words caused this. Your hatred caused this.”
Billionaire Elon Musk, a former Trump administration official and owner of X, wrote: “The left is the murder party.” He published the message before confirming Kirk’s death.
Some main Democrats denounced armed violence in the hours after Kirk shooting, amplifying their opinion articulated for a long time that firearms should be more regulated, while others remained away from political and political pronouncements.
“Contenting another act of absolutely shameful armed violence,” representative Jamie Raskin, D-Md., He wrote in X. “My thoughts and prayers are with Charlie Kirk and his family in this terrible moment and we are all grateful for the first to respond that immediately jumped to action.”
Similarly, former representative Gabby Giffords, D-Arizona, who survived an attempt to murder more than a decade ago and directs a non-profit homonymous organization dedicated to ending armed violence, said the fact that the figures to the left and the right have been shot and killed this year.
“This summer, the United States has seen multiple politically motivated murders, first of a Democratic legislator, now of a republican activist, because dangerous people resorted to weapons to express their disagreements,” Giffords said in a statement. “Both parties have been attacked, and both parties share a moral and patriotic duty to take significant measures to prevent crime with weapons from being claimed more lives.”
Trump survived an attempt to murder a campaign rally in Pennsylvania in July 2024 after a sniper’s bullet hit him in the ear. In a separate incident, a man accused of trying to kill him in one of his golf clubs in September 2024, is in trial in Florida.
Utah’s Republican governor, where Kirk was killed, and Arizona’s Democratic governor, where he lived, called, respectively, for justice and calm.
“Working with the application of the FBI and Utah law, we will bring the person responsible for this tragedy before justice,” said Utah Governor Spencer Cox, after talking with Trump.
“This tragedy is not who supported Charlie Kirk politically,” said Arizona’s governor Katie Hobbs. “This is the devastating loss of a father, a neighbor and an Arizonan who called this state to his home, and whose life was interrupted by meaningless violence. We must be together by rejecting violence, reducing the temperature of our policy and recommending to the values of civility, respect and community that US democracy requires.”
