Conservative Activist Charlie Kirk Shot During Utah Debate

Conservative activist and Trump supporter Charlie Kirk was shot during a debate at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, around 12:10 p.m., AP News reported Wednesday. He’s in critical condition, and a suspect is in custody.

“What we know currently is that Charlie Kirk was about 20 minutes into his presentation when we heard shots fired from a nearby building and to the best of our knowledge he was hit and taken with his security team away from the premises, and the courtyard was cleared,” a UVU spokeswoman told CNBC.

Videos on social media show Kirk, 31, speaking to a large crowd of students outdoors as a gunshot is heard in the distance and Kirk is visibly impacted while he’s speaking beneath a tent. The event was part of his latest speaking tour, during which Kirk would debate students on campus.

President Trump asked his Truth Social followers to pray for Kirk, writing” “We must all pray for Charlie Kirk, who has been shot. A great guy from top to bottom. GOD BLESS HIM!”

Vice President J.D. Vance wrote on X, “Say a prayer for Charlie Kirk, a genuinely good guy and a young father.”

Kirk is the CEO and co-founder of Turning Point USA, a conservative youth organization, and CEO of Turning Point Action, a political advocacy group. He’s been one of Trump and the Republican Party’s most outspoken activists in recent years. He has also stoked controversy online for supporting conspiracy theories. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kirk spread anti-vaccine misinformation while backing the Trump administration’s response. He supported Trump’s debunked voter fraud accusations during the 2020 election. Across his debates, Kirk has opposed gun control, climate change, DEI policies, critical race theory, gay marriage and gender-affirming care. He has remained a vocal supporter of Israel amid the ongoing conflict with Gaza.