Charlie Kirk, a pro-Trump political figure and founder of the youth group Turning Point USA, was assassinated on September 10, 2025, while speaking at Utah Valley University. Known for promoting white supremacy and anti-immigrant rhetoric, Kirk played a significant role in Trump’s 2024 campaign and served as an advisor in the administration. While the police and FBI have been tight-lipped about the investigation, Trump quickly characterized the shooting as an attack by the “radical left,” turning Kirk into a martyr for the right.
Trump’s response included ordering flags at half-staff, a rarity for someone with Kirk’s controversial legacy. The Utah Republican Party and various far-right commentators claimed the shooting exemplified left-wing violence without evidence. This rhetoric mirrored other instances of increasing right-wing violence in the U.S., including previous politically motivated acts.
Democratic leaders, while condemning the assassination, adopted a tone of groveling admiration for Kirk, failing to counter the escalating narrative of political violence. Media outlets, like the New York Times, tread similarly, focusing on Kirk’s death rather than addressing the implications of his politically divisive actions and views. Kirk’s history includes promoting the neo-Nazi “Great Replacement” theory and involvement in inciting violence at events, demonstrating a legacy deeply entwined with fascism and autocracy.
The article notes that Kirk’s killing reflects broader issues in American political discourse and violence dynamics, calling out responses as politically motivated and underscoring the troubling normalization of extremist views. It critiques the glorification of Kirk’s conduct and urges for a movement towards socialism that challenges these illiberal actions.
