Borderland politicians react to death of Charlie Kirk, conservative activist and Trump ally
Update (5:52 PM): El Paso County Democratic Chair Michael Apodaca is reacting to the news of Charlie Kirk's death. Read his full statement below:
"I share the same thoughts as President Obama, '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.'
This cannot be the new normal. Any and all forms of political violence are attacks on democracy itself.
We must demand better politics. We must do better.
Our thoughts are with the Kirk family."
El Paso County Democratic Chair Michael Apodaca
Update (4:25 PM): Former President Joe Biden just posted on X about the death of Charlie Kirk. Read the full statement below:
"There is no place in our country for this kind of violence. It must end now. Jill and I are praying for Charlie Kirk’s family and loved ones."
Former President Joe Biden
Update (3:40 PM): New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez is also reacting to the news of Charlie Kirk's death.
“The killing of Charlie Kirk was reprehensible, and it should be condemned by every American. Our democracy demands that we unite against our nation's rising tide of political violence.
We hope that his assailant will be brought to justice very soon, and we extend our sincere sympathies to Mr. Kirk’s family and friends.”
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez
Update (3:16 PM): Charlie Kirk's wife, Erika Kirk, posted the following bible verse to X immediately after Kirk was shot:
"Psalm 46:1 - God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."
Erika Kirk via X
More reaction is also pouring in from state and local politicians and political leaders. Read through more responses below:
"Cecilia and I are heartbroken by the assassination and passing of Charlie Kirk. Charlie’s voice was a beacon for millions of young Americans searching for truth, courage, and conviction. This senseless act of violence has no place in America. Our prayers are with Charlie’s family and his loved ones, especially the two young children he leaves behind. Texas stands with them in mourning and in honoring Charlie's enduring legacy.”
Gov. Greg Abbott
"Our prayers are with Charlie Kirk."
Senator Ted Cruz
"Praying for Charlie. Just horrific."
Senator John Cornyn
Update (2:54 PM): Borderland political leaders are responding to the death of conservative activist and Trump ally Charlie Kirk. Read through the statements released by politicians from the El Paso area below:
"My prayers are with Charlie Kirk and his family."
Rep. Tony Gonzales
"The political violence in our country is horrifying - made more dangerous because of how easy it is to access guns in America. Praying for Charlie Kirk and his loved ones."
Rep. Veronica Escobar
"Today’s attack on Charlie Kirk is deeply disturbing. Violence in any form is unacceptable. We should not and we cannot tolerate violence. My thoughts are with his family and all those impacted by this horrific shooting. #txlege"
Cesar Blanco
“We have people in our country who think that free speech is somehow an existential threat to our democracy. Today, such people executed a man whose only crime was loving God, loving his country, and loving his family.
Yet our republic cannot function without healthy political debate. Shame on those who can’t—or won’t—engage in a civil conversation and instead resort to violence to silence the voices of those they disagree with.”
New Mexico Senate Republican Leader Bill Sharer
Originally Published: 10 SEP 25 16:43 ET
By Eric Bradner, CNN
(CNN) — Charlie Kirk, the conservative political activist and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was killed Wednesday after being shot at an event at Utah Valley University, President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social. He was 31.
As Trump remade the Republican Party, Kirk embodied the party’s newfound populist conservatism in the social media age.
Kirk’s involvement began in the wake of the tea party movement and grew with Trump’s ascendance. Having co-founded Turning Point in 2012 at the age of 18, Kirk was a prominent supporter of Trump who courted young voters and used his network of nonprofits to seek to turn out voters on campuses and churches for Trump in 2024.
Kirk frequently traveled to college campuses, speaking and taking questions from audience members in exchanges that often led to viral videos. Kirk’s appearance at Utah Valley University on Wednesday was the first of a 14-city fall American Comeback Tour.
Kirk was answering a question at the event when a single pop was heard. Video taken by attendees shows the crowd screaming as Kirk recoils in his seat and appears to reach for his neck.
Among those in attendance was former US Rep. Jason Chaffetz, a Utah Republican. He said on Fox News he was at the event with his wife, daughter and son-in-law. He said Kirk “came out, he was throwing hats, riling up the crowd,” and then started taking questions before the shot rang out.
“I was watching Charlie. I can’t say that I saw blood. I can’t say that I saw him get hit, but I did see him fall immediately backwards into his left,” he said.
The American Comeback Tour had Kirk’s signature “Prove Me Wrong Table,” where Kirk would urge those who disagreed with him to debate an issue.
Kirk was also an author and prominent media personality who hosted a daily three-hour radio show. Kirk traveled with a private security contingent, a Turning Point USA aide traveling on the tour told CNN, whether he was speaking to large rallies like the one in Orem, Utah, or at smaller events.
Trump has credited Kirk with galvanizing and mobilizing the youth vote for him. Kirk most recently appeared in the Oval Office in May, attending the swearing-in ceremony of Judge Jeanine Pirro.
The president and dozens of other Kirk allies – as well as Democrats who had sharp disagreements with him – posted well-wishes and calls for prayer online.
Kirk, an Illinois native, married Erika Frantzve in 2021. The couple had two young children.
CNN’s Jeff Zeleny and Aditi Sangal contributed to this report.
The-CNN-Wire
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