By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump and former President Barack Obama on Thursday paid tribute to Republican conservative activist Charlie Kirk after his assassination during a Utah Valley University event.
Trump called Kirk “legendary” and ordered flags flown at half-mast, while Obama condemned the “despicable violence.”
He shared a message after the assassination of his ally Charlie Kirk, stated Kirk lived and died for the values of free speech, citizenship, the rule of law, and a patriotic devotion to God.
Trump in a video message, said, “I ask all Americans to commit themselves to the American values for which Charlie Kirk lived & died. The values of free speech, citizenship, the rule of law & the patriotic devotion & love of God.”
Former President Barack Obama took to the social media platform X to condemn Kirk’s assassination, stating that such violence has “no place in our democracy.”
He 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.”
“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.”
Vice President JD Vance paid tribute, posting on X, stating, “Say a prayer for Charlie Kirk, a genuinely good guy and a young father.”
Trump had announced on social media that conservative activist Charlie Kirk has died after he was shot in the neck while speaking at a Utah Valley University event. Trump said that Kirk “was loved and admired by ALL.”
Trump had written in a post on his social media platform Truth Social, “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. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!”
White House also announced that President Trump has ordered all American flags across the United States to be lowered to half-mast.
“In honor of Charlie Kirk, President Trump is ordering all American flags throughout the U.S. to be lowered to half-mast,” the White House wrote in a post on X.
According to media reports the shooting occurred while Kirk was responding to a student’s question about mass shootings during the event.
Utah Valley University confirmed that investigators are still searching for the gunman. “There is no suspect in custody, it is an active investigation,” university spokesperson Ellen Treanor said in a statement, as per The NYT.
The university added that multiple agencies are now involved in the probe, including the Orem Police Department, Utah Valley University Police, the FBI, and the Utah Department of Public Safety, media reported.
