Right-wing activist and a key aide of President Donald Trump, Charles Kirk, was shot dead while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday. Investigators are still searching for the gunman even as Trump has vowed to carry out a crackdown on "those who perpetrate political violence".
Who was Charlie Kirk? 10 points to know
1. A conservative activist, Kirk (31) played a key role in rallying young Republican voters and building President Trump's base among the youth.
2. Born as the son of a mental health clinic counselor and an architect in Illinois on October 14, 1993, Kirk actively engaged in politics in high school, supporting Mark Kirk and his US Senate campaign.
3. Kirk rose to prominence after he formed a student group, Turning Point USA, at the age of 18. The organisation played a crucial role in amassing youth support for Trump in the November 2024 election.
4. Kirk had 5.3 million followers on his X account while his radio programme ‘The Charlie Kirk Show’ drew a monthly audience of over 500,000.
5. He has authored or contributed to several books, including Time for a Turning Point and The College Scam.
6. Kirk was known for making provocative speeches against Muslim politicians. His remarks against Minneapolis mayoral candidate Omar Fateh had stirred up a row.
7. Kirk propagated the conspiracy theories popular among white nationalists. In a ‘The Charlie Kirk Show’ in August, he accused Democratic lawmaker Jasmine Crockett of being part of a conspiracy to eliminate the white population, reported Reuters.
8. According to The New York Times, Kirk's political career was propelled after he wrote an op-ed for conservative media outlet Breitbart. Following the publication of this article, Fox News invited him for a TV debate.
9. "No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie," Trump wrote on his online platform Truth Social in announcing Kirk's death. "He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us."
10. Kirk is survived by his wife Erika, a former Miss Arizona USA beauty pageant winner, and their two children.