UPDATE
1:43 PM PT —Donald Trump has issued a new statement, claiming Charlie Kirk has died following Wednesday’s shooting at Utah Valley University.
He wrote on 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!”
Washington D.C. is left rattled following the shooting of conservative pundit Charlie Kirk … with several leaders speaking out in the aftermath of the violence.
As we reported … the Turning Point USA founder was shot in the neck while addressing students at Utah Valley University on Wednesday … and it didn’t take long for politicians from both sides to condemn the attack.
Senator Mike Lee from Utah was one of the first to speak out, assuring his constituents that he was “tracking the situation” and calling for prayers for the conservative commentator.
Within moments, Vice President J.D. Vance and President Donald Trump issued their own statements. While VEEP praised Kirk as a “genuinely good guy,” POTUS expressed a similar sentiment … calling CK a “great guy from top to bottom.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom, who previously had Kirk on his “This Is Gavin Newsom” podcast in March 2025, issued a more heated response … blasting the shooting as “disgusting, vile, and reprehensible.”
He added … “In the United States of America, we must reject political violence in EVERY form.”
Gabby Giffords — the former Congresswoman from Arizona who survived an assassination attempt in 2011 — shared she was “horrified” to hear the news about Kirk.
She continued … “Democratic societies will always have political disagreements, but we must never allow America to become a country that confronts those disagreements with violence.”
Nancy Pelosi, former Speaker of the House, took to X and, like Newsom, slammed the shooting as “reprehensible” … further writing, “Political violence has absolutely no place in our nation.”
Former Vice President Kamala Harris wrote she was “deeply disturbed” by the shooting news … adding that she condemned the attack and called for political violence to end.
Meanwhile, FBI Director Kash Patel promised the “full support” of the FBI would be issued to agents on the scene. Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin similarly told TMZ … “HSI is on the ground” following the attack.
POTUS’ son Eric Trump also expressed his shock at the situation, applauding Kirk as “a great friend and an amazing person.”
You can find other initial reactions in the round-up above … and be sure to stay tuned for more updates.
