US President Donald Trump has addressed the nation following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was fatally shot on Wednesday during an appearance at Utah Valley University.
Speaking in a solemn video message, Trump described the killer as a “monster” and called the tragedy a “dark moment for America.” He praised Kirk as a patriot and leader who embodied faith, liberty, and courage, while condemning the toxic political climate that he said fuels violence.
“Charlie inspired millions, and tonight all who knew him and loved him are united in shock and horror,” Trump said. “He was a patriot who devoted his life to the cause of open debate and the country that he loved so much. He fought for liberty, democracy, justice, and the American people. He’s a martyr for truth and freedom.”
Kirk, 31, was answering questions from students at the first stop of his American Comeback Tour when a gunman fired from a rooftop, striking him in the neck. The shocking assassination sent thousands fleeing in panic and left the nation reeling.
Trump, who survived an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, last year, linked Kirk’s killing to rising political violence across the country. He warned that dangerous rhetoric has “tragic consequences,” blaming years of demonization of conservatives by political opponents and the media.
“It’s long past time for all Americans and the media to confront the fact that violence and murder are the tragic consequence of demonizing those with whom you disagree day after day, year after year, in the most hateful and despicable way possible,” Trump said.
Despite the tragedy, Trump vowed that Kirk’s mission would endure. “An assassin tried to silence him with a bullet, but he failed, because together, we will ensure that his voice, his message and his legacy will live on for countless generations to come. Today, because of this heinous act, Charlie’s voice has become bigger and grander than ever before.”
Watch the video below
