President Donald Trump paid tribute to prominent conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated while speaking with students at Utah Valley University. Trump vowed to crack down on left-wing political violence, which has massively increased since he returned to the White House back in January.
“To my great fellow Americans, I am filled with grief and anger at the heinous assassination of Charlie Kirk on a college campus in Utah. Charlie inspired millions, and tonight, all who knew him and loved him are united in shock and horror,” President Trump began.
“Charlie was a patriot who devoted his life to the cause of open debate and the country that he loved so much, the United States of America. He fought for liberty, democracy, justice, and the American people.
He’s a martyr for truth and freedom, and there’s never been anyone who was so respected by youth.
Charlie was also a man of deep, deep faith, and we take comfort in the knowledge that he is now at peace with God in heaven.”
Trump then extended his condolences and prayers to Charlie’s wife, Erica, and his two young daughters.
The president ordered all flags to be flown at half-mast in honor of Kirk.
“This is a dark moment for America. Charlie Kirk traveled the nation, joyfully engaging with everyone interested in good faith debate.
His mission was to bring young people into the political process, which he did better than anybody ever, to share his love of country and to spread the simple words of common sense.
On campuses nationwide, he championed his ideas with courage, logic, humor, and grace,” Trump continued.
Trump also addressed the rise in political violence across the country, which has included an unprecedented rise in attacks on federal agents committed by left-wing extremists.
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“It is long past time for all Americans and the media to confront the fact that violence and murder are the tragic consequence of demonizing those with whom you disagree day after day, year after year, in the most hateful and despicable way possible.
For years, those on the radical left have compared wonderful Americans like Charlie to Nazis and the world’s worst mass murderers and criminals. This kind of rhetoric is directly responsible for the terrorism that we’re seeing in our country today, and it must stop right now,” the president went on to say.
Trump also vowed to “find each and every one of those who contributed to this atrocity and to other political violence, including the organizations that fund it and support it.”
This action will expand to those who “go after our judges, law enforcement officials, and everyone else who brings order to our country,” the president added.
“From the attack on my life in Butler, Pennsylvania last year, which killed a husband and father, to the attacks on ICE agents, to the vicious murder of a healthcare executive in the streets of New York, to the shooting of House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and three others. Radical left political violence has hurt too many innocent people, and taken too many lives,” President Trump went on.
“Tonight, I ask all Americans to commit themselves to the American values for which Charlie Kirk lived and died. The values of free speech, citizenship, the rule of law, and the patriotic devotion and love of God.
Charlie was the best of America, and the monster who attacked him was attacking our whole country.
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.
Today, because of this heinous act, Charlie’s voice has become bigger and grander than ever before, and it’s not even close. May God bless his memory. May God watch over his family. And may God bless the United States of America.”