GOP, Democratic leaders react to Charlie Kirk shooting

[Michie]

*Please keep this thread respectful. A young husband and father was just murdered* Lord have mercy.


Updated at 4:45 p.m. EDT, Sept. 10, 2025: President Donald Trump announced on his Truth Social account that Charlie Kirk has died and did not survive the fatal gunshot by an assassin at the "The American Comeback Tour” hosted by TPUSA at Utah Valley University on Wednesday.

The president wrote: "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!"

The president has also called for all U.S. flags to be lowered to half-staff.

It is unknown at this hour whether or not the shooter has been apprehended.

Original report:

Republicans and Democrats reacted Wednesday to the shooting of conservative Christian activist Charlie Kirk, who was reportedly shot in the neck during a Turning Point USA event in Utah.

Continued below.

GOP, Democratic leaders react to Charlie Kirk shooting

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle reacted Wednesday to the shooting of conservative Christian activist Charlie Kirk, who was reportedly shot in the neck during a Turning Point USA event in Utah

www.christianpost.com

 

[Michie]

Charlie Kirk, 31, killed in shooting at Utah Valley University TPUSA event

Conservative Christian activist and author Charlie Kirk, 31, was shot and killed at a TPUSA event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday afternoon

www.christianpost.com

 

[Vambram]

I'm praying for Charlie Kirk's family and for the USA. Charlie Kirk is receiving his reward from the Lord God in Heaven. I pray that this assassination will help bring Americans together in unity.

 

[Michie]

I'm praying for Charlie Kirk's family and for the USA. Charlie Kirk is receiving his reward from the Lord God in Heaven. I pray that this assassination will help bring Americans together in unity.

Praying as well. This snark and hate even in discussions show the state of things. It’s not good and it’s not normal. It’s become an American pastime. Even those outside the U.S. have joined in. We desperately need to see one another as valuable human beings even in disagreement.

 

[Michie]

I lost my dad at a young age and it never leaves you. So this type of thing really bothers me. Whether it be Charlie or someone else we’ve never heard of. Just gets to me.

 

[Vambram]

Praying as well. This snark and hate even in discussions show the state of things. It’s not good and it’s not normal. It’s become an American pastime. Even those outside the U.S. have joined in. We desperately need to see one another as valuable human beings even in disagreement.

Amen.

 

[rebornfree]

Shocking! It's been on the news almost continually here in the UK. My condolences to all his loved ones. I gather that he was a Christian so he is with the Lord. I hope that helps comfort his wife and family, but I know it will be devastating for them.

We have had two MPs (opposite parties) murdered in the last few years. It's horrible to have your politicians killed, whatever your political views are. I hope your country can unite in grief. A human life is far more important than party politics so I hope that political differences are laid aside, as those from all political persaussions express condolences for the family and deplore violence in political matters.

I commend the BBC (and other networks who may have done the same) for not showing the moment of death or aftermath. I understand that, on social media, some are posting videos of him being shot. I pray that those will be taken down. Not everyone can handle images like that and I think those sorts of pictures could incite more violence. I believe that one of the reasons for gun and knife crime, these days, is too much violence being shown in films, TV programmes and on the Internet. I pray that this will change.

 

[Michie]

Shocking! It's been on the news almost continually here in the UK. My condolences to all his loved ones. I gather that he was a Christian so he is with the Lord. I hope that helps comfort his wife and family, but I know it will be devastating for them.

We have had two MPs (opposite parties) murdered in the last few years. It's horrible to have your politicians killed, whatever your political views are. I hope your country can unite in grief. A human life is far more important than party politics so I hope that political differences are laid aside, as those from all political persaussions express condolences for the family and deplore violence in political matters.

I commend the BBC (and other networks who may have done the same) for not showing the moment of death or aftermath. I understand that, on social media, some are posting videos of him being shot. I pray that those will be taken down. Not everyone can handle images like that and I think those sorts of pictures could incite more violence. I believe that one of the reasons for gun and knife crime, these days is too much violence being shown in films, TV programmes and on the Internet. I pray that this will change.

Amen. And prayers for all of you across the pond as well as all over the world. We seriously need to pull ourselves together. The armchair goading and snark has got to go. We can’t keep pointing fingers at our politicians in an unproductive fashion as well as at each other. We have to take responsibility too on how we interact with one another. As it is right now, we are reaping the fruits of what we are sowing.

 

[rebornfree]

I lost my dad at a young age and it never leaves you. So this type of thing really bothers me. Whether it be Charlie or someone else we’ve never heard of. Just gets to me.

I'm sorry for your loss. I lost my Mum when I was 20, which may have been much older than you were when your Dad died. I agree though - it never leaves you.

Amen. And prayers for all of you across the pond as well as all over the world. We seriously need to pull ourselves together. The armchair goading and snark has got to go. We can’t keep pointing fingers and our politicians in an unproductive fashion as well as at each other. We have to take responsibility too on how we interact with one another. As it is right now, we are reaping the fruits of what we are sowing.

Thank you for your prayers. Yes, we need to change.

At Church we have been praying for persecuted Christians, using the Open Doors Warchlist of countries where it is hardest to be a Christian.When you read what our brothers and sisters are going through, in those countries, it makes us realise how blessed we are to live in Western democracies. We can worship freely and debate openly. We need to value that and value each other.

 

[Michie]

I'm sorry for your loss. I lost my Mum when I was 20, which may have been much older than you were when your Dad died. I agree though - it never leaves you.

Thank you for your prayers. Yes, we need to change.

At Church we have been praying for persecuted Christians, using the Open Doors Warchlist of countries where it is hardest to be a Christian.When you read what our brothers and sisters are going through, in those countries, it makes us realise how blessed we are to live in Western democracies. We can worship freely and debate openly. We need to value that and value each other.

Agreed. It’s a privilege. Unfortunately we are not very good at it and abuse it to stroke our egos or simply for entertainment.

 

[RileyG]

I lost my dad at a young age and it never leaves you. So this type of thing really bothers me. Whether it be Charlie or someone else we’ve never heard of. Just gets to me.

Gods love and comfort be with you!

 

[RileyG]

May he rest in peace and rise to glory!

 

[Lily76_]

I may not always agree with what he stood for but no matter what side of the political dived, no one not matter who they are should ever be killed for their beliefs,
may he be in heaven with our lord Jesus Christ

 

[The Barbarian]

Political violence is a cancer on our nation. Any on the left who are tempted to celebrate this shooting might want to consider some recent history...

Charlie Kirk Says a ‘Patriot’ Should Bail Out Alleged Paul Pelosi Attacker
Republicans usually tout a “tough on crime” stance, but right-wing commentator Charlie Kirk thinks a man who is set to be charged with attempted homicide should be allowed out on bail.

“Why has he not been bailed out?” Kirk said Monday on his podcast of the man who allegedly beat House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband Paul with a hammer last Friday. “By the way, if some amazing patriot out there in San Francisco or the Bay Area wants to really be a midterm hero, someone should go and bail this guy out,...

Charlie Kirk Says a ‘Patriot’ Should Bail Out Alleged Paul Pelosi Attacker - IMDb

IMDb, the world's most popular and authoritative source for movie, TV and celebrity content.

www.imdb.com

If that angers you, then maybe it's inappropriate to celebrate Kirk's death.

Kirk likely never thought it might happen to him, and Kirk never deserved to die. Nor did recently assassinated democrat representative Mellissa Hortman and her husband. This has to stop. It doesn't matter from what side of the political spectrum it comes.

It didn't used to be like this. We have a lot of cleaning to do. And none of it requires violence.

 

[ralliann]

Political violence is a cancer on our nation. Any on the left who are tempted to celebrate this shooting might want to consider some recent history...

Charlie Kirk Says a ‘Patriot’ Should Bail Out Alleged Paul Pelosi Attacker
Republicans usually tout a “tough on crime” stance, but right-wing commentator Charlie Kirk thinks a man who is set to be charged with attempted homicide should be allowed out on bail.

“Why has he not been bailed out?” Kirk said Monday on his podcast of the man who allegedly beat House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband Paul with a hammer last Friday. “By the way, if some amazing patriot out there in San Francisco or the Bay Area wants to really be a midterm hero, someone should go and bail this guy out,...

Charlie Kirk Says a ‘Patriot’ Should Bail Out Alleged Paul Pelosi Attacker - IMDb

IMDb, the world's most popular and authoritative source for movie, TV and celebrity content.

www.imdb.com

If that angers you, then maybe it's inappropriate to celebrate Kirk's death.

Kirk likely never thought it might happen to him, and Kirk never deserved to die. Nor did recently assassinated democrat representative Mellissa Hortman and her husband. This has to stop. It doesn't matter from what side of the political spectrum it comes.

It didn't used to be like this. We have a lot of cleaning to do. And none of it requires violence.

Right so keep Charley's mission to debate and discuss ideas with freedom of speech. He went to young people to encourage them to speak up, and not be intimidated by faculty, in high school or higher up education, to shut up. To engage opposing ideas. The power of persuasion not intimidation. He was freeing young conservatives, to not cower in that end. He was loved for this.
Did he expect it? You will not see his children's faces, only their backs. Yes, he knew there was danger.

 

[The Barbarian]

Right so keep Charley's mission to debate and discuss ideas with freedom of speech. He went to young people to encourage them to speak up, and not be intimidated by faculty, in high school or higher up education, to shut up. To engage opposing ideas. The power of persuasion not intimidation. He was freeing young conservatives, to not cower in that end. He was loved for this.
Did he expect it? You will not see his children's faces, only their backs. Yes, he knew there was danger.

He fed it. When he called for a "patriotic" person to aid the fanatic who attacked Pelosi's husband, he became part of the problem. Still, he didn't deserve to die. It's not a sin to be stupid.

“Stupidity cannot be cured with money, or through education, or by legislation. Stupidity is not a sin, the victim can’t help being stupid. But stupidity is the only universal capital crime: the sentence is death, there is no appeal, and execution is carried out automatically and without pity.” ​

Robert A. Heinlein, Time Enough for Love

 

[A New Dawn]

He fed it. When he called for a "patriotic" person to aid the fanatic who attacked Pelosi's husband, he became part of the problem. Still, he didn't deserve to die. It's not a sin to be stupid.

If you knew actually understood who Charlie Kirk was, you’d know that he wasn’t calling for the release of a violent criminal, he was shining a light on the hypocrisy of the leftist policies and agenda that imprisoned people on the right for do-nothing misdemeanors while fighting for justice for their own people.

 

[The Barbarian]

If you knew actually understood who Charlie Kirk was, you’d know that he wasn’t calling for the release of a violent criminal,

That's exactly what he was doing. He was asking for someone to step up and post bond to get a violent criminal released. This, he said would be "patriotic."

I get it. For people like Kirk, it's tribal. Pelosi was the enemy and the criminal who tried to kill her husband with a hammer was therefore worthy of being freed. It's not just Kirk, of course. Trump's son made a joke of the the attack.

 

[A New Dawn]

That's exactly what he was doing. He was asking for someone to step up and post bond to get a violent criminal released. This, he said would be "patriotic."

I get it. For people like Kirk, it's tribal. Pelosi was the enemy and the criminal who tried to kill her husband with a hammer was therefore worthy of being freed. It's not just Kirk, of course. Trump's son made a joke of the the attack.

Why does everyone have to accuse people of being tribal? Why don’t people learn from their mistakes and pledge to be less partisan? When people point out specific actions that the left does that all the rest of the world sees as highly partisan, why can’t they understand the problem and own that they are causing their own demise, as we see now occurring within their own party?

 

[The Barbarian]

Why does everyone have to accuse people of being tribal?

Notice that Kirk wanted the fanatic that attacked Pelosi's husband freed. It is what it is.

Why don’t people learn from their mistakes and pledge to be less partisan?

It's not merely "partisan." It's a tolerance of violence, if that violence is directed at one's political opponents.

When people point out specific actions that the left does that all the rest of the world sees as highly partisan

Or the right. It's O.K. to be partisan. Not O.K. to be violent. And it doesn't matter whether it's left or right; violence is not acceptable. Not all republicans are guilty, to be sure. Nor are all democrats innocent.

why can’t they understand the problem and own that they are causing their own demise, as we see now occurring within their own party?

Marjorie Taylor Greene hasn't formally removed herself from the party, but she seems to be leaning that way, now. It's not just the violence; I suspect the Epstein issue is a bigger deal for her.