President Donald Trump shared a tragic update to the shooting at Utah Valley University.
Charlie Kirk, co-founder of conservative youth advocacy organization Turning Point USA, died Sept. 10 after he was shot while hosting an event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, Trump confirmed in a statement. He was 31.
"The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead,” the president, who was a friend of the right-wing influencer, wrote on Truth Social Sept. 10. “No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us.”
Referencing Kirk’s wife Erika Frantzve—with whom he shared daughter a 3-year-old daughter and a 15-month-old son—Trump added, “Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!”
His Turning Point USA organization also mourned his death in a statement to NBC News.
"It is with a heavy heart that we confirm that Charles James Kirk has been murdered," the spokesperson said in part. "We ask that everyone keep his family and loved ones in your prayers. We ask that you please respect their privacy and dignity in this time."
The fatal incident took place roughly 20 minutes into Kirk’s presentation, at which point witnesses heard shots being fired from a nearby building, a spokesperson for the university told NBC News. Kirk was subsequently taken to hospital, according to a rep for Turning Point USA.
While the school initially issued an alert stating that police had detained a suspect, UVU spokesperson Ellen Treanor later clarified that authorities did not have a suspect in custody, per NBC News.
Kirk was known for establishing Turning Point USA in 2012, an organization focused on sparking conservative activism on school campuses. He went on to build a large following on social media, including over 3.8 million subscribers on his YouTube channel.
The media personality, who also authored five books during his lifetime, appeared numerous times with Trump during his 2024 presidential campaign and spoke during the Republican National Convention that July.
Shortly after the shooting, Trump had issued a statement addressing the situation.
“We must all pray for Charlie Kirk, who has been shot,” he wrote in a post on Truth Social. “A great guy from top to bottom. GOD BLESS HIM!”
Likewise, Vice President JD Vance offered his well-wishes to the conservative commentator, writing on X (formerly Twitter), “Say a prayer for Charlie Kirk, a genuinely good guy and a young father.”
Others have also spoken out about the situation including Chris Pratt, who called for prayers for Kirk.
“Praying for Charlie Kirk right now, for his wife and young children, for our country,” the actor posted on X. “We need God’s grace. God help us.”
(E! and NBC News are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)
For a look at Kirk's family life, read on.
Behind Closed Doors
Charlie Kirk's wife Erika Frantzve Kirk introduced him at a Turning Point USA event and praised her husband.
"Behind the podium, he's a fighter," she said in a clip of the speech. "But behind closed doors, he is daddy, he is the love of my life and I find it so incredible that our children get to watch him be the man that God has called him to be so fearlessly and so boldly."
August 2022
The pair announced the birth of their first child, a daughter.
"Welcome to the world baby girl," the Turning Point USA co-founder wrote on Instagram. "We love you so much"
December 2024
The former Miss Arizona USA celebrated a beach trip with her family, including their son, who was born in May 2024.
"That’s the excitement about obedience, you find out later what God had in mind," she wrote on Instagram. "Reframe and refocus your mindset, if you have to, but always find joy in the surrender."
January 2025
Charlie and Erika visited the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. with their daughter, who they refer to online as "GG."
"Train up a child in the way they should go, and when they are old they will not depart from it," she captioned her Instagram post. "The only person who loves you more than us sweet GG is Jesus."
March 2025
The conservative activist and his wife took GG to a Chicago Cubs baseball game.
"God, family, country," he captioned the Instagram post, "and the Cubs."
May 2025
Erika and Charlie brought their kids to the set of Sesame Street.
"Everyday with them I get to relive the firsts I didn’t even know I’d lost from my own childhood," she wrote on Instagram. "It’s the purest kind of full circle. They are my reason to breathe slower, pray deeper, and love more intentionally."
May 2025
Charlie celebrated the 1st birthday of his son and reflected on the impact that being a dad has had on him .
“He has brought an infinite amount of joy and laughter into our lives,” he wrote on Instagram. “Being a parent is an incredible gift, made far better because I get to do it alongside @mrserikakirk.
June 2025
Erika celebrated Charlie for “being the most intentional husband and daddy” with a Father’s Day post on Instagram, which included a video of him buying their daughter a new doll.
“You have to be on very good behavior to get something like this,” the conservative activist told his daughter while grabbing a doll from the store shelf. “Have you been a good girl? OK, I’ll get it for you.”
July 2025
In a Fourth of July video, Erika shared how the celebration of freedom reminds her of her love for Charlie.
“On days like today when the skies erupt in red, white, and blue and the air hums with the sound of freedom I find myself especially grateful for the man I call my husband,” she wrote on Instagram. “I love how much he loves this country. He believes that the freedoms we celebrate today are worth defending every day.”
“And while you may not agree with every word he says, I hope you can still be stirred by the fact that he can say them,” she continued. “That we can all speak. That this land, although imperfect in some ways and perfect in others, is stitched together by a Constitution that beautifully protects our voice, our worship, our homes, and our hope.”
She added, “That alone is something worth celebrating.”
August 2025
Charlie celebrated his eldest’s 3rd birthday with a memory of himself building sandcastles on the beach.
“Happy birthday to our incredible daughter,” Charlie wrote on Instagram. “Teaching her to know God, alongside @mrserikakirk, is the greatest privilege. Having a family will change your life in the best ways, so get married and have kids. You won’t regret it.”
August 2025
Charlie and Erika took their kids to an Arizona Diamondbacks baseball game, which Erika saw as an opportunity to live her childhood again “through their eyes.”
“Am I providing a childhood for my kids that will be one that compels them toward gratitude and faith, or one that sends them searching for healing in places I failed to give it?” she wrote on Instagram. “And the answer to that, in all honesty, is being written once the decision is made.”
She added, “This window is short, drench yourself in it.”