Sign In
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
New Delhi: Renowned and influential US right-wing commentator and Donald Trump ally Charlie Kirk was shot dead at an event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. US President Donald Trump announced Kirk’s death in a Truth Social post, “The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie.”
Kirk was shot at about 12:10 pm local time while appearing at an event in Utah. In a video that has since been going viral on social media, Kirk can be seen getting shot in the neck while speaking at the event. One person detained at the scene, George Zinn, was deemed not to be a suspect but was charged with obstructing justice.
Senior politicians in the US were quick to condemn the attack on Charlie Kirk. Joe Biden, the former US president, tweeted, “There is no place in our country for this kind of violence. It must end now. Jill and I are praying for Charlie Kirk’s family and loved ones.” Former US President Barack Obama also wrote on X, condemning the attack, saying, “We don’t yet know what motivated the person who shot and killed Charlie Kirk, but this kind of despicable violence has no place in our democracy. Michelle and I will be praying for Charlie’s family tonight, especially his wife Erika and their two young children.”
Charlie Kirk had in a short period of time risen in the ranks of the US right-wing ecosystem. Initially known for his debates in US campuses, he quickly found a massive online following. He then co-founded the conservative organization Turning Point USA (TPUSA) in 2012 and was its executive director. He was also the chief executive officer (CEO) of Turning Point Action (TPAction) and a member of the Council for National Policy (CNP).
Even prior to Donald Trump’s third election run, Kirk had been able to establish himself as one of the most influential voices on the American right. Kirk was part of a larger cohort of online right-wing voices, a group that later played a huge part in Donald Trump re-election to the White House. Kirk, like many others in his cohort of online right-wing influencers, held a variety of often controversial views.
While there were not always similarities in the opinions of the various players associated in the new online right of which Kirk was a significant part of, his online influence and charisma soon led him to be an important part of the Trump campaign, often described as the face of the “Make America Great Again” movement.
Donald Trump himself credited Kirk with bringing many young voters to his side during the 2024 presidential campaign. Kirk’s work in the right-wing influencer ecosystem was not restricted only to political commentary, but a large part of his popularity hinged on his cultural commentary. Be it race, gender, gun laws or immigration, Kirk’s starkly divisive views enumerated in his characteristic provocative style won him both a loyal and large support base but also a significant and fierce opposition.
