A close ally of Donald Trump was assassinated in the middle of a university campus.

Charlie Kirk, a close ally of President Donald Trump, was shot dead while giving a speech at a university in Utah.

Charlie Kirk and President Donald Trump at America Fest 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona, on December 22, 2024. Photo: AFP

The United States has just witnessed a rare assassination: Charlie Kirk, a prominent conservative activist, CEO of Turning Point USA, and a close ally of President Donald Trump, was killed in a shooting at a public event in Utah on September 10.

According to the White House, Kirk, 31, was shot in the neck while answering student questions at Utah Valley University. The gunfire erupted just after he had finished about 20 minutes of speaking.

The suspect is believed to have fired from the rooftop of a building on campus, roughly 200 meters from the scene. Thousands of attendees panicked and fled as Kirk collapsed on stage.

President Trump expressed deep sorrow on Truth Social: “The great, even legendary, Charlie Kirk has passed. No one understood or connected with the hearts of young Americans better than he did. He was loved and admired by all, especially by me. Now, he is gone.”

FBI Director Kash Patel announced on X that the suspect had been arrested, thanking local law enforcement for their swift response. “We will provide more information when we can,” he said.

Utah Governor Spencer Cox described the incident as a “political assassination,” emphasizing that Kirk was not only a father of two young children but also a powerful voice in America’s public life.

“History shows that universities are places for debate and the formation of ideas. Today, tragedy struck in a space that should have been dedicated to dialogue,” Governor Cox stated.

Charlie Kirk was considered instrumental in mobilizing young voters for Donald Trump in the most recent presidential election.

With a direct debate style, his fiery exchanges with progressive students went viral online, drawing tens of millions of views and being translated into multiple languages.

He also founded Turning Point USA, the fastest-growing conservative student organization in America, which helped solidify the Republican Party’s base among younger voters.

Kirk was known for his hardline stances: opposing aid to Ukraine, prioritizing U.S. border security, and defending traditional Christian values.

Charlie Kirk’s life ended at the height of his political career, leaving behind his wife and two young children. For supporters, he was a symbol of the rising conservative youth movement in America; for opponents, he was a polarizing figure in the country’s unending culture wars.