OREM, Utah (AP) — In a shocking incident, Charlie Kirk, a prominent conservative activist and close ally to Donald Trump, was shot and killed during an event at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025. Kirk had been addressing attendees as part of a debate hosted by his organization, Turning Point USA, when he was shot from a rooftop. Eyewitnesses described a scene of horror, with students fleeing and screaming as the event erupted into chaos. Utah Governor Spencer Cox condemned the act as a 'political assassination' and emphasized the urgent need to tackle the rising threat of political violence across the nation.
In the aftermath, law enforcement conducted extensive searches for the gunman, while political figures from both sides of the aisle expressed their outrage and condolences. Former President Trump notably called Kirk a 'martyr for truth and freedom', heightening discussions around the safety of political discourse in the U.S. The event underscores the escalating nature of political tensions, forcing a broader conversation about the implications of political rhetoric and violence.
In the aftermath, law enforcement conducted extensive searches for the gunman, while political figures from both sides of the aisle expressed their outrage and condolences. Former President Trump notably called Kirk a 'martyr for truth and freedom', heightening discussions around the safety of political discourse in the U.S. The event underscores the escalating nature of political tensions, forcing a broader conversation about the implications of political rhetoric and violence.
