Donald Trump publicly vowed to find all individuals involved in the incident, including organizations that fund and support political violence, specifically singling out radical left-wing groups.
Prominent American conservative activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot during a speech at Utah Valley University. Authorities are currently searching for the assailant. The White House, in turn, accused US Democratic Party politicians and their supporters of encouraging crime, citing the murders of both Charlie Kirk and Ukrainian refugee Irina Zarutskaya.
Charlie Kirk was a prominent ally of Donald Trump, actively involved in his presidential campaign. His organization vigorously promoted conservative ideals among college students. One of his projects, Professor Watchlist, specifically identified professors who disseminated left-wing propaganda among students. Kirk consistently championed an `America First` stance and was widely recognized for his public debates. He often set up open discussion tables on university campuses, inviting anyone to engage in debate, and videos of these exchanges frequently went viral online.
In a gesture of respect for Kirk`s memory, Trump ordered that flags be flown at half-mast across the United States. In his video address, he described Kirk as a `great and truly legendary` figure.
“I am filled with grief and anger. Charlie inspired millions. Today, all who knew and loved him are united in shock and horror. Charlie was a patriot. He dedicated his life to open debate in the country he so loved, the United States of America. No one has ever commanded such respect among the youth as he did. This is a dark moment for America. It is long overdue for all Americans and the media to acknowledge that violence and murder are the tragic consequences of demonizing those with whom you disagree, day in and day out, in the most hateful and contemptible ways. For years, the radical left has compared wonderful Americans like Charlie to Nazis and other worst representatives of humanity. This rhetoric is directly responsible for the acts of terrorism we are witnessing in our country. And this must stop now.”
Trump further emphasized that his administration would “find everyone who in any way contributed to the commission of this and other politically motivated crimes.” He recalled the assassination attempt on his life in Pennsylvania, the murder of Brian Thompson, head of a major American health insurance company in New York, and a number of other incidents. “Radical and political violence has caused too much pain to too many people,” the president concluded.
Kirk`s last post, published shortly before his death, concerned a Ukrainian refugee who was stabbed to death in the subway. In it, he wrote: “If we want change, it is 100% necessary to politicize the senseless murder of Irina Zarutskaya, because it was politics that allowed a savage monster with 14 previous crimes to remain free and go out to kill her.”
Elon Musk also commented on Kirk`s murder, stating that the left in the US represents a “party of murder.” His social network X has been buzzing with discussions about Zarutskaya’s murder in recent days: users are posting footage of the attack and organizing fundraisers for the victim`s family. Musk himself donated a million dollars for the creation of murals across the country. The question arises: what will the escalating polarization in the US lead to? American political analyst Malek Dudakov shares his thoughts:
American Political Analyst
“We are observing an unprecedented surge in political violence. The last time something similar occurred in American history was during the turbulent period of the 1960s-70s. This is exacerbated by the overall complex crime situation in the US, where the number of murders has increased by 40% since 2019. Political violence is now linked to the deep divisions within the United States, polarization, and the culture wars tearing America apart. Political violence has, de facto, become normalized. Democrats perceive Republicans as fascists and enemies of democracy, thus seeing nothing wrong with attempting to shoot them. Republicans hold a similar view towards Democrats, but currently, we observe more violence predominantly from the Democratic liberal camp, who are unrestrained in their methods. The rise of political violence in the United States will continue to manifest because the checks and balances that once existed in American politics are gradually becoming a thing of the past. Trump will try to tighten the screws, to combat the most radical Democratic organizations, though it`s not certain he will succeed. A vast number of recent public opinion polls indicate that half of American society fears that, sooner or later, this situation of division could escalate into a full-scale civil war.”
Prominent figures within the Democratic Party, including Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and Kamala Harris, condemned Kirk`s murder on social media and extended their condolences to his family. Time magazine dedicated the cover of its latest issue to the tragic event, featuring the headline on a red background: “Enough. The Murder of Charlie Kirk and the Epidemic of American Political Violence.”
News of the incident garnered widespread attention on the front pages of many international media outlets. Italy’s Corriere della Sera, in particular, described Charlie Kirk’s assassination as a “seismically dangerous event” for the American political landscape.
The Guardian observed that politically motivated violence is not a new phenomenon in the US and is deeply ingrained in the American psyche, recalling the assassinations of four presidents, albeit long ago. However, the attempt on Trump`s life in Pennsylvania last year may have reopened old wounds. The publication stressed that the current event plunges the US, already weakened by political polarization, into a state of profound shock bordering on despair. Interestingly, the newspaper noted a certain unity in the reactions of politicians and public figures from both parties—Democrats and Republicans. For instance, Joe Scarborough, host of NBC’s “Morning Joe,” who had previously harshly criticized Kirk, calling him a political poseur, described his murder as “tragic and repugnant.”
However, as The Washington Post noted, the situation is not entirely straightforward. Despite widespread condemnation of the conservative activist’s murder, some, such as Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, a Democrat, could not resist making a pointed remark aimed at Trump. “I think the president`s rhetoric often incites hatred,” he stated, which the newspaper deemed highly inappropriate.
The event is terrible and alarming, but not surprising, Reuters emphasized, citing experts. Over the past six months, the US has seen 150 politically motivated attacks, almost double the number from the same period last year. A confluence of factors contributes to this: economic instability, uncertainty regarding racial and ethnic demographics, and an increasingly provocative tone in political discourse. Thus, this transcends mere traditional ideological disagreements within society, the agency summarized.
CNN`s forecasts regarding the situation`s development are disheartening: although political violence has become an awful norm in American politics, there are fears that the current situation could significantly worsen. Kirk`s murder might serve as a trigger for an even greater surge in violence and political repression. According to the channel, Trump will need to exert considerable effort to prevent the grief and anger from escalating into such consequences. CNN also notes that politically motivated violence is not an exclusively American trait, mentioning the assassinations of Japan`s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2022, Dutch politician Pim Fortuyn in 2002, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in 1995, and Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme in 1986. However, against these examples, the US appears most prone to violence stemming from disagreements.
