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Former President Barack Obama led a chorus of national leaders condemning the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was fatally shot during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University (UVU) on Wednesday.
In a poignant statement posted on X, Obama wrote, “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.”
The killing of Kirk, a 31-year-old firebrand and founder of Turning Point USA, occurred around noon MDT during a Q&A session at a rally attended by approximately 500 students.
According to Deseret News reporter Emma Pitts, who witnessed the attack, a single gunshot struck Kirk in the neck, causing him to collapse instantly: “A fountain of blood came out of his neck. His body went limp and then his eyes closed.”
UVU, Utah’s largest public university with over 46,000 students, was immediately placed on lockdown, with SWAT teams and federal authorities launching a manhunt for the unidentified suspect.
Kirk’s death, occurring as he addressed a question about mass shootings, has sent shockwaves through the nation, intensifying concerns about political violence following incidents like the 2024 attempted assassination of President Donald Trump.
Trump mourned Kirk on Truth Social, calling him “The Great, and even Legendary,” and crediting his influence on American youth through his top-ranked podcast, The Charlie Kirk Show. Other leaders, including Vice President JD Vance, Senators Chuck Grassley and Ted Cruz, California Governor Gavin Newsom, and Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego, echoed Obama’s condemnation, with Newsom describing the act as “disgusting, vile, and reprehensible.”
The assassination has laid bare the nation’s deep divisions, with X posts reflecting a spectrum of grief, anger, and, in some cases, chilling approval.
User @KerrDepression noted, “American reactions online to the Charlie Kirk shooting are surprising. People who dislike him seem overwhelmingly happy,” highlighting Kirk’s polarizing legacy as a vocal critic of progressive policies.
Despite his divisive rhetoric, Kirk’s work galvanized conservative youth, making his loss a significant blow to the movement.
As UVU remains under lockdown and investigators search for the suspect, the motive behind the attack remains unclear.
The incident has reignited calls for unity and action to curb political extremism, with Obama’s words resonating as a plea for civility.
