In a Wednesday Truth Social video titled "TO MY GREAT FELLOW AMERICANS…," President Donald Trump addressed the horrific fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University (UVU).

1,360 students said it's always acceptable to use violence The post 1 in 3 College Students Believe in Violence to Stop Campus Speech appeared first on Frontpage Mag.

“Hi, Mr. Shapiro, I’m Charlie Kirk.” Charlie was 18 years old when I met him at an event at The Breakers, the rather ritzy Palm Beach hotel that served as the gathering spot for the annual David Horowitz Freedom Center donor weekend. Charlie had just started an organization, and he was pitching me on it, an organization called Turning Point USA. I’d never heard of it, of course: He had just graduated high school, and the group had its seed donors but was still in its infancy. Charlie was eager, and he was aggressive, and he was whip-smart. His energy was almost exhausting. When he walked away, I turned to my friend Jeremy Boreing and said, “That kid is going to be the head of the Republican National Committee one day.” I was wrong. Charlie became far more important than that. Charlie’s Turning Point USA became the single most important conservative political organization in the country. And it grew because Charlie grew. He turned himself into an excellent public speaker and a talented debater. He could fundraise better than anyone in the game. He was friendly and gregarious to everyone. His drive was unmatched, because he cared about his fundamental values. The clips of Charlie on campus — the firebrand Charlie — make for great watching, but they don’t do him full justice. Behind the scenes, Charlie was deeply thoughtful, constantly seeking ways to build and grow coalitions. That’s a messy business, and it comes with aches and pains. No one did it better. That’s how a guy who never went to college ended up as a confidant of the President of the United States, the vice president, and pretty much everyone else on the right side of the aisle. Charlie never stopped moving. He never stopped talking and negotiating and debating and working. That infectious energy never left him. Until a killer’s bullet ripped his life from him. And there are no more words. There can be no more words. It’s impossible to process what it means when a 31-year-old man is murdered. A husband. A father of two young children. Assassinated, it would appear, for the crime of passionately speaking the truth, debating politics and discussing ideas, and working to make the country a better place as he saw it. But here’s one thing we do know: This all has to stop. It’s an ugly picture that we’ve seen before. The 1960s and 1970s were a time of tremendous change in American history, and of tremendous violence. Political assassinations became commonplace; bombings and terror attacks were excused by a variety of supposedly great intellectuals. And eventually, America rejected all of it. Now, we’re watching the same ugly picture reappear. A wave of violence is building, from the assassination of Charlie Kirk to the attempted shooting of President Trump, from the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson to the slaying of two Israeli embassy staffers. All of these acts of extreme violence have found support in the dark precincts of political radicals. The temperature in our country has steadily been rising. And it’s been rising because many people have determined that their political opponents aren’t just opponents, but enemies, threats to their very existence. That determination by fringe actors is often reinforced in the online spaces that prize virality and mirror emotional excess. And then, it breaks free from the world of the online, into real life, with bloody and horrific consequences. Yes, that phenomenon crosses the political aisle. But to pretend that the phenomenon is distributed equally would be a mistake. The rising tide of violence on the left has become more and more virulent over the course of the last several years. The argument that speech is violence, to be met with violence; the argument that opposition to contention amounts to a form of “genocide” or “erasure”; the argument that political opponents are moments away from ending our republic outright. These views all trend toward revolutionary violence. And the wave of violence, a wave already breaking on the shoreline, appears as though it is only the beginning. It has already destroyed Charlie Kirk’s family and ended his life at the age of 31. But it feels as though a tsunami is coming. The water has already receded from the shoreline. And what comes next could be far more devastating even than what we have seen thus far. That tsunami, if left unchecked, will wash away this entire republic. I’ve spoken at dozens of college campuses; I’ve required heavy security at many of them. My security has instructed me to wear bulletproof vests, insisted on metal detectors, told me to leave venues they considered nonsecure. And yet I’ve never truly felt unsafe, because to do so would be to accept—even consider—the idea that an American would truly harm someone simply for speaking freely in the United States of America. I don’t believe that anymore. I’m not sure who does. So, what can be done? It’s frequently said by those of politically liberal persuasion that thoughts and prayers aren’t enough. That action is necessary. But here is the truth: We need more thoughts and prayers. Thoughts for our political opponents: recognition that while we disagree, they are our fellow Americans; understanding that the freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States can hold only if we treat each other as friends, not enemies; realization of the fact that speech is not violence, and that we must, as Americans, speak with each other. The way Charlie did. And we need prayers: prayers for our country, which is torn apart, under attack from within and without; prayers for our own souls, that we hold ourselves accountable for the way we treat others. Our America is a robust place of discussion and debate, of liberty and rights. But all of that must be undergirded by basic virtue. Basic decency. Respect for others. And yes, reverence for the uniqueness of an America that values speech and deplores violence. Charlie had that reverence. And for that, he was murdered. May his memory be a blessing—for us, and for our bleeding nation. Editor’s note: this piece also ran in The Free Press.

'We will find you. We will try you.'

'championed his ideas with courage, logic, humor, and grace'

President Donald Trump honored conservative leader Charlie Kirk‘s influence on young Americans in remarks Tuesday, deploring his “heinous assassination.” Kirk, 31, was assassinated on Wednesday at a rally at Utah Valley University. “He’s a martyr for truth and freedom,” Trump said, “and there’s never been anyone who was so respected by youth.” pic.twitter.com/ylYDnRyL8W— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) September 11, 2025 An unknown assailant opened fire at Kirk’s event at Utah Valley University in Orem as he conducted a question-and-answer session with students Wednesday. Trump posted a video responding to the tragedy Wednesday night. “Charlie inspired millions, and tonight, all who knew him and loved him are united in shock and horror,” Trump said. “Charlie was a patriot. He 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.” It’s time for the radical Left and the media to take responsibility for demonizing Republicans like Kirk, Trump said. “It’s a 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. “For years, those on the radical Left have compared wonderful Americans like Charlie to Nazis and the world’s worst mass murderers and criminals.” “This kind of rhetoric is directly responsible for the terrorism that we’re seeing in our country today, and it must stop right now,” Trump added. “My administration will find each and every one of those who contributed to this atrocity and to other political violence, including the organizations that fund it and support it, as well as those who go after our judges, law enforcement officials, and everyone else who brings order to our country.” Trump said political violence on the radical Left has “has hurt too many innocent people and taken too many lives,” from the assassination attempt against him in Butler, Pennsylvania which led to the death of Corey Comperatore, to attacks on Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, to the murder of the UnitedHealthcare CEO, to the shooting of House Majority Leader Steve Scalise. “Tonight, I ask all Americans to commit themselves to the American values for which Charlie Kirk lived and died, the values of free speech, citizenship, the rule of law and the patriotic devotion and love of God,” Trump said. “Charlie was the best of America, and the monster who attacked him was attacking our whole country, 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, and it’s not even close,” Trump continued. “May God bless his memory, may God watch over his family, and may God bless the United States of America.” Trump assured Americans that Turning Point USA founder Kirk is at peace with God. “Charlie was also a man of deep, deep faith, and we take comfort in the knowledge that he is now at peace with God in heaven,” the president said. “Our prayers are with his wife, Erika, the two young, beloved children and his entire family who he loved more than anything in the world. We ask God to watch over them in this terrible hour of heartache and pain.” Trump thanked Kirk for “bring[ing] young people into the political process.” The president said “he did better than anybody ever to share his love of country and to spread the simple words of common sense on campuses nationwide.” The post ‘The Best of America’: Trump Addresses Americans for the First Time Since Charlie Kirk’s Assassination appeared first on The Daily Signal.

At just 31, Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, achieved what few have ever done in a lifetime. His trailblazing vision transformed college campuses, turning strongholds of leftist ideology into vibrant hubs of free speech, faith, and American principles. With infectious energy, he empowered countless young people, inspiring millions to embrace conservative values. As a devoted Christian, husband, and father of two, Charlie lived the values he preached, making our nation stronger with every word and action. Tragically, that light was extinguished earlier today during an event at Utah Valley University, when a single gunshot rang out. Charlie, addressing thousands of students, was struck in the neck and succumbed to his injuries despite valiant medical efforts. President Trump confirmed the heartbreaking news, plunging the conservative world into mourning.  In the immediate aftermath, MRC President David Bozell appeared on two major platforms to honor Charlie's legacy, decry the media's shameful response, and warn against the escalating rhetoric of political violence. His insights remind us why Charlie mattered — and why we must fight on. On Lars Larson's nationally syndicated radio program, Bozell shared the profound impact of the assassination on conservative circles, expressing deep grief: "We're devastated at the Media Research Center. He was a friend of ours, we're just shocked. My thoughts and prayers to his family and his two children." He then described Charlie as a once-in-a-generation talent, emphasizing his unparalleled skills: "All of us thought and wished we could do it as well as Charlie did. He had a skill set that was second to none — sharpest attack, a sponge for information. He was becoming quite the broadcaster in his own right and a vanguard in the social media space for conservatism." Bozell also highlighted Charlie's evolution from activist to podcaster, noting how he outpaced peers in fundraising and influence while building a family. Turning to the media's response, Bozell unleashed a scathing critique: "Some of the media coverage that's come out of CNN and MSNBC, in particular, in the immediate aftermath, while Charlie was fighting for his life, was despicable." Larson challenged MSNBC's baseless speculation that a supporter might have fired a shot in "celebration." In response, Bozell firmly rejected the claim, stating, "I’d bet our mortgages that it was not a supporter of Charlie Kirk who shot him." He further criticized the narrative, pointing to MSNBC’s Matthew Dowd, who suggested that Kirk’s rhetoric constituted hate speech. Bozell countered, "When you're constantly pushing this sort of hate speech? Where was the hate speech? Charlie was inviting college kids to a grassy knoll to debate the issues of our time." Connecting this incident to a broader pattern, Bozell cited attacks on conservative figures like Steve Scalise, Rand Paul, and Donald Trump, arguing that such events reflect a trend of left-wing demonization. MRC President @DavidBozell rips the media for encouraging violence against conservatives like Charlie Kirk: "These guys have let Democrat politician after Democrat politician threaten violence against the conservative movement." pic.twitter.com/F6G0GkAbqM — Media Research Center (@theMRC) September 10, 2025 This pattern of vilification, Bozell argued, extends beyond Kirk. "The media have been demonizing Donald Trump ever since he came down the escalator in Trump Tower, and anyone who ever dared to vote for him — all 76 million of us," he declared. Bozell also criticized pop culture’s role in this trend, singling out South Park: "I hope the South Park guys are happy. They spent an hour, a month ago, berating Charlie Kirk. Now, Charlie took it in jest and laughed along with it. But what else are you gonna do?" Larson pressed further, asking whether the media would offer any mea culpa for their role in escalating tensions. Bozell dismissed the possibility, stating, "No, they’re going to run from Maxine Waters standing on a picnic table demanding violence against Ted Cruz." He argued that the left-wing media consistently overlook inflammatory rhetoric from Democratic figures, perpetuating a double standard. Later, on Newsmax's Frontline with Carl Higbie, Bozell doubled down, urging the media to confront their complicity in stoking division. "These guys have let Democrat politician after Democrat politician threaten violence," he said, pointing to President Joe Biden’s remarks: "How Joe Biden got away with saying the MAGA threat is a threat to the brick and mortar of our institutions is beyond me." Bozell listed further examples, citing "Tara Setmayer from the Lincoln Project labeling Charlie ‘the enemy,’ Frank Foer from The Atlantic accusing him of 'antisemitism,' and Danielle Moodie from The Daily Beast claiming Kirk sought a ‘fascist state.’" "Enough is enough," Bozell declared, emphasizing a litany of assaults on conservatives. Reflecting personally, Bozell paid tribute to Kirk’s legacy: "Every one of us in the conservative media ecosystem would have liked to have done it as well as Charlie did. It’s up to us to carry on the torch for him and ensure that he does not die in vain." Additionally, MRC President David Bozell also appeared on Newsmax's The Leventhal Report.

The murder of the Turning Point USA leader represents a shocking event that may herald a turn toward greater political violence in America.