At an event on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, Charlie Kirk, cofounder and CEO of Turning Point USA, was shot while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Videos from the scene show Kirk speaking under a white tent marked with slogans like “The American Comeback” and “Prove Me Wrong” when a sudden gunshot rang out. He appears to clutch his neck and blood is visible, sparking panic among the crowd.
Kirk’s organization confirmed he was taken to a hospital, though his condition remains unclear. Video of the incident captures the chaos as attendees are seen fleeing, some shouting “Run, run, run.”
Campus authorities confirmed that the shot came from a nearby building, and the suspect is now in custody. Utah Valley University police are actively investigating the incident. The FBI, led by Director Kash Patel, said agents would arrive swiftly and extended thoughts to Kirk and those impacted.
The shooting drew immediate public attention. Former President Donald Trump called for prayers on Truth Social, calling Kirk “a great guy from top to bottom.” Vice President J.D. Vance echoed the sentiment on X (formerly Twitter), asking followers to pray for “a genuinely good guy and a young father.” Utah Senator Mike Lee and others across the political spectrum also offered support and condemnation of the violence.
While Utah is typically seen as one of the safest states, former Representative Jason Chaffetz, who was at the event, said security was not enough and the incident felt unexpected.
