In a televised speech, Trump said: “My administration will find everyone involved in this criminal act and other political violence, including organizations that fund and support it,” adding that what happened represents a “dark moment” in the history of the United States. Meanwhile, FBI Director Kash Patel announced that a person was detained in connection with the incident, only to be released later after questioning. The American president also accused what he described as the “radical left” of being responsible for the rise in political violence in the United States. Trump stated that Kirk was shot in the neck during a public event at Utah Valley University and later died in the hospital. Furthermore, President Donald Trump confirmed that he had requested flags to be flown at half-staff across the United States in mourning for Kirk’s death, saying: “In honor of Charlie Kirk, the great American and true patriot, I direct all American flags to be lowered throughout the United States until 6:00 PM on Sunday (1:00 AM Moscow time on Monday).” It is worth noting that Charlie Kirk founded the organization Turning Point USA in 2012, which focuses on promoting conservative values in educational institutions. He became known for organizing open discussion forums at American universities. His social media following exceeds 20 million, and videos showing his debates with Democratic Party supporters have garnered wide viewership. In his public statements, Kirk sharply criticized the regime in Kyiv and opposed military aid to Ukraine, while also calling for the restoration of diplomatic relations with Russia. He was also a prominent supporter of Donald Trump’s “America First” policy.
