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.”
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.”
