President Donald Trump said the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk was a “dark moment for America” in an Oval Office address on Wednesday night, saying that he was “filled with grief and anger” following the “heinous assassination.”
“Charlie inspired millions and tonight all who knew him and loved him are united in shock and horror. Charlie was a patriot who devoted his life to the cause of open debate and the country that he loves so much, the United States of America,” Trump said. “He fought for liberty, democracy, justice, and the American people. He’s a martyr for truth and freedom, and there’s never been anyone who was so respected by youth.”
Trump had responded to the news earlier in the day with posts on Truth Social, first calling on Americans to pray for Kirk and then announcing that he had passed away at the age of 31, leaving behind his wife Erika and their two young children.
In his Wednesday night address, he also took aim at what he views to be the root cause of the violent attack. Trump called out the media and the political left, saying that politically motivated assassinations were largely the result of people demonizing others simply because they hold differing opinions.
“For years, those on the radical left have compared wonderful Americans like Charlie to Nazis and the world’s worst mass murderers and criminals,” he explained. “This kind of rhetoric is directly responsible for the terrorism that we’re seeing in this country today.”
Trump said Kirk, one of his most fervent supporters who played a key role in his 2024 political campaign, was better at communicating with young voters than anybody in history.
“This is a dark moment for America,” he added. “Charlie Kirk traveled the nation, joyfully engaging with everyone interested in good faith debate. His mission was to bring young people into the political process, which he did better than anybody. Ever … He championed his ideas with courage, logic, humor, and grace.”
“Charlie was also a man of deep, deep faith. And we take comfort in the knowledge that he is now at peace with God in heaven,” Trump said, before asking for God’s protection and comfort for Kirk’s family “in this terrible hour of heartache and pain.”
