Commentator Charlie Kirk was on his “American Comeback Tour” at Utah Valley University when he was shot and killed by 22-year-old Tyler Robinson during one of his debates addressing gun violence. The Conservative commentator was most known for his debates with college students at different universities across the country. 

Opponents and allies of the speaker responded to the shocking news of his death.

President Donald Trump responded to the news, stating that he was filled with “grief and anger,” regarding the situation. 

“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 by. Today, because of this heinous act, Charlie’s voice has become bigger and grander than ever before,” the president said in a video addressed to the nation.

Afterwards, President Trump signed a proclamation announcing that the United States flag will be flown at half-staff, as a “mark of respect for the memory of Charlie Kirk.”

Kirk’s closest ally, his wife Erika Kirk, expressed her devastation in losing her husband and the father of her two kids. Following the passing of her husband, she addressed the nation.

“To everyone listening tonight across America, the movement my husband built will not die…I refuse to let that happen,” Erika Kirk said. “No one will forget my husband’s name, and I will make sure of it. It will become stronger, bolder, louder and greater than ever. My husband’s mission will not end, not even for a moment.”

Erika Kirk affirmed that her late husband’s tour will continue in the fall, stating that there will be “even more tours in the years to come.” 

Political commentator and activist Hasan Piker was originally meant to debate Kirk at the Dartmouth College on Sept. 25 in a discussion surrounding young voters in the country.

Piker discovered the news while streaming to his followers on the website Twitch and expressed his shock following the videos released of the assassination, urging his followers to not joke about the situation and to respect Kirk and his family.

“When you see someone like that get shot, it’s very different. I don’t think human beings are supposed to see that,” Piker said. “I don’t even know what his family feels like. I don’t even want to think about that, but it was a traumatic incident that, unfortunately, is all too common in this country.” 

Piker and Kirk differed strongly on their political opinions. Kirk resonated with the Conservative ideology, even once stating that “it’s worth it to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment.” He also founded the non-profit Turning Point USA — aimed at promoting limited government control with a cut spending and free markets.

Piker, on the other hand, resonates with Liberal and Progressive ideologies, including stricter gun-control laws.

“It’s just that I think people venerating a person with what I consider to be a morally repugnant political ideology is going to have unforeseen secondary consequences, as far as normalization of this ideology. We’re seeing that in every aspect of society already, and it’s very frustrating,” Piker said.

Many major political figures throughout American politics have been victims of political violence, with Minnesotan state officials being the most recent victims. 

In June, Minnesota House of Representatives Speaker Emerita Melissa, husband Mark Hortman and pet dog Gilbert were victims of an assassination alongside another attempt of Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman and wife Yvette.

The event occurred when 57-year-old Minnesotan Vance Boelter disguised himself as a law enforcement officer and asserted to be let in by the Hoffmans. However, after the married couple realized that Boelter was not an officer, they attempted to shut the door on him. Boelter then shot them both. 

Boelter is suspected of then travelling to the home of Speaker Emerita and Representative Melissa Hortman, where he shot her, her husband and their pet dog. Officers arrived quickly to the scene and attempted to resuscitate the couple but were unsuccessful.

Tim Walz, the Minnesota Governor and Vice President to runner-up Kamala Harris in the 2024 Presidential election, delivered the eulogy for Melissa and Mark Hortman.

“I know that in these times of inexplicable, unexplainable tragedy, all of us are searching for some kind of meaning, some kind of lesson that we can learn to help ease our loss,” Waltz said. “And maybe it is this moment where each of us can examine the way we work together, the way we talk about each other, the way [we] fight for things we care about, a moment when each of [us] can recommit to engaging in politics and life the way Mark and Melissa did — fiercely, enthusiastically, heartily but without losing sight of our common humanity.”

Melissa and Mark Hortman are survived by their two children, Sophie and Colin Hortman.

As victims of political violence, the Hoffman family responded to the death of Charlie Kirk and spoke about the current political climate of our country.

“The assassination of Charlie Kirk today is the only latest act that our country cannot continue to accept,” the family said in a statement. “Our leaders of both parties must not only tone down their own rhetoric, but they must begin to call out extreme, aggressive and violent dialogue that foments these attacks on our republic and freedom. We also call on leaders of both parties to take immediate action to prevent gun violence.”

According to statistics obtained by the Pew Research Center, nearly 61% of Americans today feel that it is too easy to legally obtain a gun in this country. In addition, nearly half of the population today view gun violence as a major threat to the safety of citizens in this country.

Before Kirk’s assassination, and even before the assassination attempt on President Donald Trump, 45% of Americans in 2024 felt that political violence was a major problem, with many also feeling an increase in violence compared to the years before.

Many Americans are now left wondering how we can unify a nation filled with such moral conflicts, hoping that these recurring incidents will push for a harmonious and understanding country.