Conservative activist and close ally of US President Donald Trump, Charlie Kirk, was shot and killed during a campus event at Utah Valley University, sending shockwaves through American politics and reigniting fears over rising political violence. According to authorities, the 31-year-old was struck in the neck by a single bullet fired from a rooftop sniper position while speaking at a debate. Witnesses described chaotic scenes as students and attendees fled in panic, with several injured in the stampede that followed. Utah’s governor, Spencer Cox, labelled the killing a “political assassination”.
The FBI confirmed that a high-powered bolt-action rifle believed to have been used in the attack has been recovered, and images of the suspected gunman have been obtained. Officials described the shooter as being of “college age” and able to blend into the campus environment before fleeing the scene. Despite an initial false report of an arrest, the suspect remains at large as a multi-agency manhunt intensifies across Utah. FBI officials stressed the attack was “a targeted event”, although the motive is yet to be determined.
Kirk, founder of the conservative organisation Turning Point USA, had been a prominent figure in US right-wing politics, credited with energising young voters for Trump’s 2024 campaign and fuelling the Republican return to power. His outspoken views, particularly on race, immigration, gender, and Islam, drew both a loyal following and fierce criticism. Political analysts noted his assassination marks one of the most serious acts of political violence in recent US history, drawing comparisons to the wave of political killings of the 1960s and 70s.
Reactions poured in across the political spectrum. President Trump, who himself has survived two assassination attempts, called Kirk “the heart of America’s youth” and praised his role in shaping conservative politics. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, whose husband was attacked in 2022, condemned the shooting as “reprehensible” and urged an end to political violence. International figures such as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders also weighed in, blaming ideological opponents for fueling hatred. Meanwhile, critics of Kirk, including Democratic lawmakers and journalists, expressed condolences, stressing that “murder can never be the response to political disagreements.”
As vigils were held in Utah and across the country, the FBI and Utah Department of Public Safety vowed to track down the perpetrator. The killing has amplified debates about the growing normalisation of violent rhetoric in US politics and the threats faced by public figures across ideological lines. With Vice President JD Vance scheduled to meet Kirk’s family in Utah, the nation remains on edge, bracing for further revelations about the motives and identity of the shooter.
