World leaders and US officials reacted with shock and condemnation following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk on Wednesday, with some describing the killing as politically motivated violence.
US President Donald Trump said on Truth Social, "The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie."
US Vice President JD Vance eulogized Kirk on X, recalling their relationship over the past eight years. "Charlie was fascinated by ideas and always willing to learn and change his mind. Like me, he was skeptical of Donald Trump in 2016. Like me, he came to see President Trump as the only figure capable of moving American politics away from the globalism that had dominated for our entire lives."
"Charlie died doing what he loved: discussing ideas. He would go into these hostile crowds and answer their questions. If it was a friendly crowd, and a progressive asked a question to jeers from the audience, he'd encourage his fans to calm down and let everyone speak. He exemplified a foundational virtue of our Republic: the willingness to speak openly and debate ideas."
Utah Governor Spencer Cox described the death of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk as an "assassination."
"I've been in touch with President Trump, with FBI director Kash Patel. We are completely aligned with our state and federal partners as we work through this case," Cox said at a news conference.
"I want to be very clear that this is a political assassination."
"Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord," posted Vice President JD Vance on X/Twitter.
Former US President Joe Biden said, on the initial reporting that Kirk was shot, that, "There is no place in our country for this kind of violence."
Former US President Barack Obama said, "We don’t yet know what motivated the person who shot and killed Charlie Kirk, but this kind of despicable violence has no place in our democracy."
Former Vice President Kamala Harris said, "Let me be clear: Political violence has no place in America. I condemn this act, and we all must work together to ensure this does not lead to more violence."
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, "Charlie Kirk's commitment to America's future generations and sense of patriotism will resonate for decades to come."
US Senator John Fetterman said, "Our family grieves for Charlie Kirk’s family. We must collectively find a way forward during these polarized times." US Senator Ted Cruz described the assassination as "an act of unspeakable evil. Charlie was courageous, brilliant, compassionate, and powerfully honest. Charlie loved our country deeply, and we will forever remember him and honor his legacy."
NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani said he was horrified by the shooting and that "Political violence has no place in our country."
US Congressman Richie Torres said that Kirk's assassination "is an attack on our democracy."
Figures from around the world react
Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that Kirk's murder is "a sign of the utter desperation and cowardice of those who could not defeat him in argument. Charlie Kirk has been killed not for espousing extremist views - because he didn’t. He has been killed for saying things that used to be simple common sense. He has been killed because he had the courage to stand up publicly for reasonable opinions held by millions and millions of ordinary people both in the US and Britain."
Political commentator Piers Morgan said that Kirk's assassination is "an appalling assault on free speech and democracy. Charlie always welcomed debate with anyone. This is disgusting and heartbreaking."
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the incident was "an atrocious murder, a deep wound for democracy and for those who believe in freedom."
Argentinian President Javier Milei said that Kirk "was the victim of an atrocious murder in the midst of a wave of left-wing political violence across the entire region. The left is always, at all times and places, a violent phenomenon full of hatred."
Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Head of Russia's Security Council, said, "Political crimes and assassinations have been carried out lately by a variety of left-wing liberal scum who support Banderite Kiev. Fico, Kirk. Who's next? Maybe it's time for the MAGA team to realize that by supporting Ukraine, they're supporting murderers."