Charlie Kirk, Right-Wing Activist, Dead at 31 After Utah Shooting: Stars & Politicians React

The polarizing political activist was speaking at a public event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah on Wednesday when he was shot by a sniper from a nearby building.

Charlie Kirk was speaking at a student Q&A event on Wednesday at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, when he was shot and killed by a sniper from a nearby building. He was 31.

President Donald Trump announced Kirk's death on Truth Social, writing, "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!"

According to Utah authorities, per TMZ, Kirk died from injuries sustained during the shooting.

Conservative Activist Charlie Kirk Shot at Public Event: Shocked Reactions Across Hollywood & Politics

The often controversial conservative political activist was best known as a co-founder of Turning Point USA in 2012 when he was just 18 years old. It has since grown into one of the largest conservative organizations for high school and college students. He served as executive director.

He also founded Turning Point Action in 2019 as a political advocacy arm of TPUSA, serving as its CEO, in an effort to recruit students into political activism, and then did the same in 2021 as CEO of Turning Point Faith, this time targeting pastors and other church leaders.

He was a loud voice in support of President Trump, as well as conservative talking points like critical race theory, COVID-19 conspiracy theories, election fraud, and climate change denial. Kirk also hosted a popular podcast and cable news program, as well.

On January 5, 2021, Kirk posted on Twitter that TPA was sending 80 "buses of patriots to D.C. to fight for this president," though that wound up being seven buses with 350 students to the January 6 attack on the Capitol. Kirk later said that these events were not an insurrection, nor did they represent mainstream Trump supporters. He played a key role in Trump's successful 2024 election campaign, as well.

Kirk was listed as one of Forbes 30 Under 30 in the category of Law & Policy in 2018. He has written multiple books on conservative ideology, including Campus Battlefield: How Conservatives Can WIN the Battle on Campus and Why It Matters, The MAGA Doctrine: The Only Ideas That Will Win the Future, The College Scam: How America's Universities Are Bankrupting and Brainwashing Away the Future of America's Youth, and Right Wing Revolution: How to Beat the Woke and Save the West.

His podcast, The Charlie Kirk Show ranked as one of the top-rated on Apple Podcasts, with a February 2023 Brookings Institution Study stating that it contained the second-highest proportion of false, misleading and unsubstantiated statements among 79 prominent political podcasters. In February 2025, he signed to host a new TBN weekday talk show called Charlie Kirk Today.

In May 2021, Kirk married a fellow podcaster, Erika Frantzve, and former Miss Arizona USA winner. They welcomed their first child in August 2022, followed by a second in May 2024.

Following the news of his passing, celebrities and politicians from across the political spectrum took to social media to react.

Alongside a screenshot of Trump's Truth Social post, Vice President JD Vance wrote on X, "Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord."

Former President Joe Biden also shared a statement on X, writing, "There is no place in our country for this kind of violence. It must end now. Jill and I are praying for Charlie Kirk's family and loved ones.

Meghan McCain -- son of the late Senator John McCain -- posted a photo of Kirk with his family on Instagram. Alongside the post, she wrote, "I have no words. Ben and I are completely devastated over the news of Charlie’s passing. @charliekirk1776 was one of the best that ever was (truly) both personally and professionally. No one who met him wasn’t ever won over by him. He went out of his way to show me kindness and respect in all ways. He was someone that united all sides of the party and made sure all sides were brought over the finish line. The impact he has made on our political landscape, particularly with young people is incalculable. He literally got a President elected."

"May God be with his wife Erika and his children in complete strength and light," she added. "We pray for Charlie’s eternal rest with our Lord. You were a faithful servant, and happy warrior. May Christ bless your family always."

John F. Kennedy's grandson, Jack Schlossberg, posted on X, writing, "Charlie Kirk was assassinated today. we are all weaker because of it. A tragedy. I am thinking of his family."