World leaders on Wednesday reacted to the news that conservative media personality and co-founder of Turning Point USA, Charlie Kirk, 31, a husband and father of two, was killed during a speaking event at Utah Valley University.
President Donald Trump confirmed in a social media post that Kirk, who was hospitalized after being shot and suffering a neck wound, had been killed.
CHARLIE KIRK, TURNING POINT USA FOUNDER, DEAD AT 31 AFTER UTAH CAMPUS SHOOTING
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was among some of the first to share his grief at the news on social media and said, “Charlie Kirk was murdered for speaking truth and defending freedom.
“A lion-hearted friend of Israel, he fought the lies and stood tall for Judeo-Christian civilization,” he added, noting he spoke with Kirk just two weeks ago and invited him to Israel.
“Sadly, that visit will not take place. We lost an incredible human being,” Netanyahu added. “His boundless pride in America and his valiant belief in free speech will leave a lasting impact. Rest in peace, Charlie Kirk.”
Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also offered her condolences and said on X that she was “shocked by the news of the killing of Charlie Kirk.”
“An atrocious murder, a deep wound for democracy and for those who believe in freedom,” she said. “My condolences to his family, to his loved ones, and to the American conservative community.”
CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSINATION: PERSON OF INTEREST IN CUSTODY AFTER UTAH CAMPUS SHOOTING
President of Argentina Javier Milei shared a picture of himself with Kirk and former conservative Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz along with his condolences to Kirk’s family “and to all the young people in the world who admired him and listened to him.”
“A formidable disseminator of the ideas of freedom and staunch defender of the West,” Milei said, before calling him the “victim of an atrocious murder” and blaming the “left,” though law enforcement officials have not confirmed who shot Kirk.
“The entire world lost an incredible human being,” he added.
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed his condolences as well and criticized all forms of political violence in a post on X, noting that his “thoughts this evening are with the loved ones of Charlie Kirk.”
“It is heartbreaking that a young family has been robbed of a father and a husband,” he added. “We must all be free to debate openly and freely without fear – there can be no justification for political violence.”
There were numerous messages of outcry from leadership across the U.K., including from the leader of Reform UK, Nigel Farage, who also shared a picture of himself with Kirk and said, “This is a very dark day for American democracy.”
“I am desperately sad for Charlie, his wife and children,” he added.
New Zealand’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Winston Peters, also decried the rise of political violence and the threat it poses to democracy.
“It is tragic that we now live in a world that differences of opinion are met with a gun,” he said on X, noting that the death of Kirk is not merely “political violence” but “an assassination.”
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“The utter tragedy is that Kirk traveled extensively around university campuses to give an open mic and debate to everyone – and all were welcome,” Peters said. “The essence of democracy is under threat around the world and we must do everything we can to protect it.”
