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Charlie Kirk, a close associate of former U.S. President Donald Trump and founder of the young conservative political organization Turning Point USA, was shot and died at the age of 31.

He was shot by an assailant during an outdoor debate event at a university in Utah on the 10th.

President Trump immediately posted on his social media platform Truth Social, "Pray for Charlie Kirk. He was a great person from head to toe," and ordered flags to be flown at half-staff at the White House, public buildings, and military bases.

AP Yonhap News

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Charlie Kirk speaking at a public event held at Utah Valley University in the United States on September 10, 2025. Kirk was shot and killed during this event. Photo by AP Yonhap News

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According to AP and other sources, Charlie Kirk, founder of the conservative organization Turning Point USAA conservative youth organization in the United States. It is a nonprofit group that primarily conducts conservative political activities on high school and college campuses. Founded by Charlie Kirk in 2012, it is considered the leading campus conservative group in the U.S. (Turning Point USA · TPUSA), attended an event at Utah Valley University in Utah on September 10 (local time), where he was shot. Ironically, the incident occurred as he was responding to a question from a man asking, "Do you know how many mass shootings have occurred in America over the past 10 years?"

Kirk was one of the most prominent figures in American conservative politics. Born in 1993 in the suburbs of Chicago, he chose not to attend college and instead founded the conservative movement group TPUSA at the age of 18 in 2012, launching his political career. TPUSA advocated for "small government, free markets, and personal responsibility," focusing on spreading conservative ideas primarily on college campuses.

Kirk aimed to grow TPUSA, which started as a small organization, with the goal of overturning the progressive dominance on college campuses. He labeled progressive professors as "leftist agitators" and created the "Professor Watchlist" website, which publicly listed their names, sparking significant social controversy in the United States. While progressive supporters criticized this as "suppressing freedom of expression," this strategy was credited with strongly capturing the attention of young conservatives.

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Charlie Kirk, known as President Trump's strategist and a hardline conservative "Culture Warrior," exerted influence as the "young blood" of the American conservative camp.

His political influence grew significantly with the rise of President Trump. During the 2016 presidential election, when most mainstream Republicans distanced themselves from Trump, Kirk was among the first to declare his support. In the 2024 election, he played a key role as a speaker rallying young white male voters. President Trump called Kirk a "special messenger," showing him exceptional trust. Throughout Trump's presidency, Kirk frequently visited the White House and maintained close ties with the Trump family. In particular, Donald Trump Jr., the president's eldest son, was a regular speaker at TPUSA events.

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On September 14, the first weekend after Kirk was shot and killed, 13 NFL (National Football League) games were held simultaneously across the United States.

In conservative-leaning areas such as State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona; AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas; and Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida, large-scale moments of silence were held before the games. At eight stadiums, scoreboards displayed the phrase "Remembering Charlie Kirk," along with his photo, clips of his major speeches, and messages urging "peace and unity."

In contrast, at five major stadiums home to the Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions, Cincinnati Bengals, Minnesota Vikings, and Indianapolis Colts-all in Democratic-leaning areas-games proceeded as usual with no special tributes. The divided response among NFL teams, in what is America's most popular sport, was seen as a reflection of the deep divisions within American society.

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Prosecutors in Utah formally indicted Tyler Robinson, 22, the suspect who assassinated Charlie Kirk, on September 16 on charges including aggravated murder. Jeff Gray, Utah County prosecutor, described Kirk's killing as "a tragedy for America."

The motive for the crime was reported to be Robinson's resentment toward Kirk's "hatred." In messages exchanged with his partner immediately after the incident, Robinson stated he killed Kirk because he was "tired of his hatred." Prosecutors also cited a note, believed to have been written by Robinson, saying, "I had the chance to kill one of America's leading conservatives," as evidence.

Prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty for Robinson, in line with President Trump's earlier demand for a death sentence upon conviction.

JD Vance, Vice President of the United States, is hosting the 'Charlie Kirk Show' podcast at the White House in Washington D.C. on the 15th. / Photo by Reuters

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Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that procedures are underway to deport foreigners who celebrate Kirk's death. On his X account (formerly Twitter), he stated, "America will not welcome foreigners who celebrate the death of our fellow citizens," and added, "Visa cancellations are in progress. If you have come here on a visa and are cheering the public assassination of a political figure, prepare to be deported."

U.S. Vice President JD Vance, hosting Kirk's podcast show in his place, said, "The incredibly destructive movement of left-wing extremism that has grown over the past few years is, I believe, part of the reason Charlie was killed by an assassin's bullet."

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A large-scale anti-immigration rally was held in London, England, on September 13, drawing an estimated 110,000 people, according to police. The event was attended by figures from France and Germany, and Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, delivered remarks via video link.

According to British media, the rally, led by hard-right activist Tommy Robinson, took place in the Whitehall area, the heart of government offices in central London. Participants chanted slogans against the left, against immigration and refugees, for freedom of expression, and for national unity. British media reported that it was unprecedented for a right-wing rally to draw 110,000 people. Analysts attribute the massive turnout to the recent surge in strong anti-immigration sentiment, which has become the most pressing issue in British society.

Among the demonstrators, some carried signs commemorating Charlie Kirk and wore MAGA hats. In his video address, Musk directly referenced the incident, claiming, "The left is the party of murder. Those are the people we are up against." He continued, "There is no more time for Britain," and argued, "Parliament, dominated by the Labour Party, must be dissolved and a new vote held." Reuters pointed out that "Musk's remarks are dangerously fueling political polarization and unrest in the UK."

"Today is a dark day for our state and a tragic day for our country," said Spencer Cox, governor of Utah, "I want to make it clear that this is a political assassination."

"Our leader has fallen, but his legacy will be eternal," said Turning Point USA led by Kirk, immediately after his death, "We will fight twice as hard."

"Kirk's death could become a very powerful symbolic event for the right wing... We cannot rule out the possibility of efforts to portray him as a martyr to justify political violence," said Darrell West, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution.

"Many conservatives feel a deep anxiety that they are being pushed out of the mainstream of the country... Kirk's death will be read by them as a signal that 'we are under attack,'" said Ali Hochschild, sociology professor at the University of California, Berkeley.