Georgia politicians react to fatal shooting of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk
Right-wing activist and Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk was fatally shot during a debate at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah on Wednesday.
Kirk was on a stop during his “American Comeback Tour” at college campuses across the country to discuss various topics, including immigration, abortion, and transgender issues, according to the New York Times.
Video of the event showed Kirk was taking questions from an audience member about mass shootings and gun violence in the U.S.
“Do you know how many transgender Americans have been mass shooters over the last 10 years?” the audience member asked. “Too many,” was Kirk’s response.
Kirk then appeared to be struck in the neck by a single bullet before falling from the chair he was sitting in.
FBI Director Kash Patel posted on X that a suspect was in custody, but then posted an hour later that the subject had been released after “interrogation by law enforcement.”
Kirk, 31, co-founded the right-wing youth activist organization Turning Point USA when he was just 18. He was a controversial figure for his unvarnished support of the Second Amendment, was long opposed to LGBTQ+ rights, and argued against the separation of church and state.
Kirk was a close ally of President Donald Trump, who credited the activist with turning out the youth vote for him. Trump ordered flags to be flown at half-mast around the nation in Kirk’s honor.
Georgia elected leaders reacted to Kirk’s death, including Gov. Brian Kemp, who ordered flags be flown at half-mast at state buildings.
Senate Majority Leader Jason Anavitarte, R–Dallas, said in a statement that he was “devastated” by Kirk’s “passing in an act of horrific evil.”
“My heart goes out to his family, including his wife Erika and their two children,” Anavitarte said. “Charlie, with his happy warrior disposition, was able to captivate young people like no one else could. He emphasized the need for young people to learn HOW to think, which seems to have been lost in many environments within our American education systems.”
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said in a statement that “political violence has no place in our country. It is un-American, it undermines our democracy, and it dishonors the sacrifices of those who came before us. Disagreements should always be settled through debate, elections, and the rule of law —not intimidation or violence. We must stand together in rejecting violence and recommitting ourselves to civility, respect, and the principles that make our nation strong.”
Before Kirk’s death announcement, Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock posted on social media: “The attack on Charlie Kirk this afternoon is awful and deeply appalling. I’m praying for him and his family. Political violence is NEVER acceptable and we must condemn it in every form.”
Georgia House Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene posted this to her X account:
Charlie Kirk was a loving husband and father who inspired young people across America to get married, have children, end abortion, and live boldly for God.
He believed deeply in our God-given First Amendment rights and would speak with or debate anyone, no matter their politics.… pic.twitter.com/JTvbUbL1az
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene
(@RepMTG) September 10, 2025
Kirk’s death is the latest incident in a rise of politically-motivated violence, including the assassination of a Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband in June, the antisemitic attack on a group of pro-Israel demonstrators in Colorado, a fire set at the home of Pennsylvania’s Jewish governor, last year’s assassination attempt on Trump during a campaign rally, and the attack on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta last month.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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