(Los Angeles) Conservative influencer Charlie Kirk, a standard bearer of pro-Trump youth, was shot on Wednesday during a public meeting at a university.
“The great and even legendary Charlie Kirk died,” said Donald Trump on his Truth Social network, a few hours after his young political ally, 31, was touched by a shot in the west of the country.
“No one understood better (…) the youth of the United States of America than Charlie. Everyone loved him and admired him, especially me, and now he is no longer with us, “added the American president, who has resumed two assassination attempts last year.
He ordered that the American flags be put at half mast in tribute to this activist, who had been an important cog in his last electoral campaign. Right after, the huge White House standard was lowered, an AFP journalist noted.
Social Truth screenshot
Social Truth screenshot
Utah governor Spencer Cox denounced a “political assassination”.
“It’s a dark day for our state. It is a tragic day for our country, ”said the elected representative of Republican during a press briefing.
On a campus
Fond of oratorical jousts with the students, the conservative Balado host participated in an outdoor event on the Utah Valley University campus when targeting.
Videos on social networks show it, hit the neck, collapsing on its chair, and cries of panic being heard in the audience.
The author of the shooting is actively sought, according to the university authorities, who had previously reported an arrest, ultimately without follow -up.
This type of violence “must stop immediately,” urged former President Joe Biden at the announcement of the death of Charlie Kirk. Her vice-president and unhappy democratic candidate for the 2024 election, Kamala Harris, considered that “political violence has (Vait) no room in America”.
“Blood fountain”
The former parliamentarian of Utah Jason Chaffetz, who was on the spot, told the Fox News channel that Charlie Kirk answered questions from the public when he was touched by a firearm shot.
“The first question was on religion. He spoke for about 15-20 minutes. The second question, in an interesting way, focused on transgender shooters, shooters who make multiple victims, and during his answer, the shot broke out, “said the politician, visibly shaken.
“Lots of people started screaming, and everyone started running,” he continued.
Sophie Anderson, 45, told Daily Mail that she was 30 meters from the scene and had immediately understood that it was a shot.
“He was touched around the neck and collapsed, he was only a blood fountain,” she told the newspaper.
Originally from the suburbs of Chicago, Christian and defender of the port of firearms, Charlie Kirk, father of two, had abandoned his studies to devote himself to activism.
Photo Cheney Orr, Reuters Archives
Charlie Kirk and Donald Trump during a partisan event in Arizona in 2024.
He was at the head of a youth movement: turning point USA. Co-founded in 2012 by the influencer, then aged 18, this association became in a decade the largest group of young conservatives in the United States.
It includes an army of enthusiastic activists, some of whom had been sent by bus to Washington to the demonstration of January 6, 2021 which had led to the invasion of the Capitol.
Its influence – 6.9 million subscribers on Instagram and 3.8 million on YouTube – had largely served Donald Trump to seduce young American men by promoting an ultra -posted family design.
