US President Donald Trump on Friday called for a nonviolent response following the assassination of his ally Charlie Kirk, a right-wing youth leader and activist who was shot the previous day.
"He was an advocate of nonviolence. That's the way I'd like to see people respond," said Trump, as quoted by AFP.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Thursday released the first photos of Kirk's alleged assassin, asking the public to help identify “the person of interest.”
“We are asking for the public's help identifying this person of interest in connection with the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University,” the FBI Salt Lake City office posted on X.
Kirk, 31, CEO and co-founder of Turning Point USA , was addressing students under a tent at the Sorensen Centre courtyard at Utah Valley University when a single gunshot rang out.
Video footage captured him collapsing as shocked spectators screamed and fled the scene. The slogans “The American Comeback” and “Prove Me Wrong” were emblazoned on the tent, marking the launch of Kirk’s national college tour.
Trump, a close ally of Kirk, described him as “a very, very good friend” and ordered American flags to be flown at half-staff until Sunday evening.
Trump further announced that his government would posthumously award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Kirk. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian honor in the United States.
Trump also said he had spoken to Kirk’s wife, Erica, who was “absolutely devastated” by the killing. The president described the suspect as “a total animal” and assured that progress was being made to catch him.
"I spoke to Erica, his wife. We had a long talk and she is absolutely devastated, as you can imagine... Progress is being made (to find the accused). I think he is an animal. A total animal. They will get him soon. What he did was disgraceful. Charlie Kirk was a great man, in every way, especially with the youth.. We will have him, and we will deal with him appropriately," he said.
"He was an advocate of nonviolence. That's the way I'd like to see people respond," said Trump, as quoted by AFP.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Thursday released the first photos of Kirk's alleged assassin, asking the public to help identify “the person of interest.”
“We are asking for the public's help identifying this person of interest in connection with the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University,” the FBI Salt Lake City office posted on X.
Kirk, 31, CEO and co-founder of Turning Point USA , was addressing students under a tent at the Sorensen Centre courtyard at Utah Valley University when a single gunshot rang out.
Video footage captured him collapsing as shocked spectators screamed and fled the scene. The slogans “The American Comeback” and “Prove Me Wrong” were emblazoned on the tent, marking the launch of Kirk’s national college tour.
Trump, a close ally of Kirk, described him as “a very, very good friend” and ordered American flags to be flown at half-staff until Sunday evening.
Trump further announced that his government would posthumously award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Kirk. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian honor in the United States.
Trump also said he had spoken to Kirk’s wife, Erica, who was “absolutely devastated” by the killing. The president described the suspect as “a total animal” and assured that progress was being made to catch him.
#WATCH | Washington, DC | On the assassination of Charlie Kirk, US President Donald Trump says, "I spoke to Erica, his wife. We had a long talk and she is absolutely devastated, as you can imagine... Progress is being made (to find the accused). I think he is an animal. A total… pic.twitter.com/0VeV4nJQld
— ANI (@ANI) September 11, 2025
"I spoke to Erica, his wife. We had a long talk and she is absolutely devastated, as you can imagine... Progress is being made (to find the accused). I think he is an animal. A total animal. They will get him soon. What he did was disgraceful. Charlie Kirk was a great man, in every way, especially with the youth.. We will have him, and we will deal with him appropriately," he said.
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