The political sphere was taken aback on Wednesday after Charlie Kirk, a prominent conservative influencer, was shot in the neck at an event hosted by Utah Valley University.
Former President Donald Trump initiated prayers for Kirk, who leads the conservative organization Turning Point USA, as he was participating in a Q&A session with students when the shooting occurred.
Videos from the scene showed Kirk severely wounded from the attack.
‘We must all pray for Charlie Kirk, who has been shot. A great guy from top to bottom. GOD BLESS HIM!’ Trump said on Truth Social.
The White House sent out a copy of Trump’s post in place of an official statement.
‘Say a prayer for Charlie Kirk, a genuinely good guy and a young father,’ Vice President JD Vance added on X.
Attorney General Pam Bondi was flying back from an event in Chicago when she heard the news and gathered her team in prayer.
‘FBI and ATF agents are on the scene. PRAY FOR CHARLIE,’ Bondi then posted to X.
FBI Director Kash Patel said his bureau was ‘closely monitoring reports of the tragic shooting.’
“Our thoughts are with Charlie, his family, and everyone impacted by this incident,” Patel stated. “Agents will be dispatched promptly, and the FBI is fully supporting the ongoing investigation and response.”
The political world was left stunned Wednesday after conservative influencer Charlie Kirk was shot in the neck at an event at Utah Valley University
President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to respond to the shocking shooting Wednesday of conservative activist Charlie Kirk
Vice President J.D. Vance joined President Donald Trump in asking for prayers for Kirk as Washington reacted to the shocking shooting
Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom was quick to show bipartisan support for Kirk.
He quickly condemned the attack.
Newsom commented, “The attack on Charlie Kirk is appalling and utterly condemnable. In America, we must denounce political violence in every shape and form.”
Kirk was scheduled to debate a progressive influencer, Hasan Piker, at Dartmouth College on Sept. 25.
During his live stream on Twitch, Piker responded to the news with shock, urging some followers to cease joking about the incident and voiced concerns about potentially becoming a target himself.
Piker expressed, “This is an alarming situation. The potential for people pursuing revenge in the wake of this horrific event is genuinely troubling.”
GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a friend of Kirk’s, said on X: ‘A married young man and father, who stands on college campuses and encourages young people to get married, have children, stop abortion, and simply live a life for God.’
‘I’m praying that he survives. And I’m praying that this country rises up and ends this,’ the Georgia lawmaker said.
While many quickly shared prayers for Kirk, a subset of shameless social media users appeared to celebrate the attack on the Republican firebrand in the aftermath.
Rep. Brian Mast told Daily Mail in the immediate aftermath that he ‘hopes Charlie is alright’, and said he was praying he would not ‘lose a friend today.’
Congressman Cory Mills also told us: ‘It’s such a horrendous and just horrific incident to watch. I mean, my thoughts and prayers are obviously with him and his family.
‘He’s been an amazing conservative leader, both in universities and on college campuses, but even with the continuation of the build out of turning point, giving policy advisors and legislators the opportunity to really talk with the youth and understand exactly what we’re trying to achieve by saving our country and the constitutionality of it, but we’re monitoring it very closely.
‘I’ve known Charlie for a long time. This is the type of thing we just can’t tolerate here in America.’
Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna told Daily Mail he was ‘saddened’ by the shooting, and said ‘we need to do better as citizens of this country, the hate and anger that has taken over.’
The horror shooting unfolded Wednesday afternoon at the UVU campus in Orem.
A source familiar with Kirk’s condition told Daily Mail that ‘doctors are still working on him’ after the conservative influencer was rushed to the hospital.
President Trump led tributes to Kirk after he appeared to be severely wounded at the event
Kirk, 31, is married and has two children
Representative Brian Mast was among the first to offer his thoughts as he told Daily Mail in the immediate aftermath that he ‘hopes Charlie is alright’, and said he was praying he would not ‘lose a friend today’
Footage from the scene showed attendees screaming as shots rang out, with clips circulating on social media appearing to show Kirk was shot in the neck.
People at the event took to social media to share details of the moment someone opened fire as Kirk conducted a Q&A session with students.
A man is in custody following the shooting, according to an alert sent to students.
Kirk published a post on X just minutes before the shooting occurred.
‘WE. ARE. SO. BACK,’ Kirk wrote at 2.23pm EST. ‘Utah Valley University is FIRED UP and READY for the first stop back on the American Comeback Tour.’
