Quote from Alex bobby on September 11, 2025, 7:09 AM

US Conservative Activist Charlie Kirk Dies After Shooting at Utah Event

Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old CEO and co-founder of conservative youth organisation Turning Point USA, has died after being shot at a university event in Utah, U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday.

Eyewitnesses and social media videos showed Kirk suffering a gunshot wound to the neck during an event at Utah Valley University, held under a white tent emblazoned with slogans like “The American Comeback” and “Prove Me Wrong.” A single shot rang out shortly after Kirk responded to a question from the audience. In footage circulated online, Kirk is seen reaching toward his neck as a large volume of blood flowed from the left side. He was immediately rushed off stage for treatment.

Trump, posting on his Truth Social platform, expressed shock and grief over Kirk’s death. “The great, and even legendary, Charlie Kirk is dead,” Trump wrote. “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. Melania and my sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika and family. Charlie, we love you.”

Aubrey Laitsch, public relations manager for Turning Point USA, initially confirmed that Kirk had been shot and was in critical condition, urging supporters to pray for him.

The suspect in the shooting was taken into custody immediately but has since been released, according to reports. Law enforcement officials, including the FBI, have launched a full investigation, with agents on the scene to assess the incident. Utah Governor Spencer Cox said he had spoken with Trump and promised justice for those responsible, while Utah Senator Mike Lee described Kirk as an “American patriot,” asserting that “the terrorists will not win. Charlie will. May justice be swift.”

The event, a debate hosted by Turning Point USA, had been met with divided opinions on campus. An online petition attempting to bar Kirk from speaking received nearly 1,000 signatures. Despite this, Utah Valley University emphasised its commitment to free speech, intellectual inquiry, and constructive dialogue, citing First Amendment rights.

Earlier, both Trump and a number of Republican and Democratic officials condemned the shooting and offered prayers for Kirk. FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the agency was closely monitoring the situation as it unfolds.

Charlie Kirk’s sudden death marks a tragic moment in U.S. political activism, cutting short the life of a prominent conservative voice and prompting renewed discussion on safety, free speech, and political division in the country.

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Charlie Kirk, conservative activist and Turning Point USA co-founder, has died after being shot at Utah Valley University. Trump, officials, and the FBI respond as investigations continue.

Viktor Orbán’s Rare Gesture of Solidarity with Poland Rebuffed by Warsaw

In a rare diplomatic move, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán expressed solidarity with Poland following reports of Russian drones violating Polish airspace. However, the gesture was swiftly rebuffed by Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, highlighting the ongoing tension between the two countries.

Orbán took to social media platform X to post: “Hungary stands in full solidarity with Poland following the recent drone incident. The violation of Poland’s territorial integrity is unacceptable.” He added that the incident demonstrated the rationality of Hungary’s call for peace in the Russia-Ukraine war, and referenced support for President Donald Trump’s efforts toward peace.

The incident itself was serious: Poland activated NATO’s Article 4 to request urgent consultations with allied countries after its armed forces intercepted multiple Russian drones that entered its airspace. Debris from the drones was found in Eastern Poland near the Belarusian border — marking the most significant violation of Polish airspace since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Despite Orbán’s expression of support, Warsaw reacted sharply. Sikorski demanded that Hungary take a more concrete stance, urging it to condemn Russian aggression, approve tougher EU sanctions, unblock defence funding, and withdraw its veto on Ukraine’s EU accession negotiations. His message underscored the strained diplomatic ties between Poland and Hungary, which are at their lowest point in decades.

The tensions are rooted in multiple disputes, including Hungary granting political asylum to former Polish deputy justice minister Marcin Romanowski, wanted in Poland for fraud, and Hungary’s opposition to increased EU aid to Ukraine. Poland even withdrew its ambassador from Budapest, signalling a serious diplomatic rift.

Meanwhile, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó remained silent about the drone violations while visiting Belarus, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Instead, Szijjártó emphasised economic cooperation with Minsk, stating that “everything is in place to develop Hungarian-Belarusian economic relations in areas not affected by European Union sanctions.” Belarus remains under EU sanctions for its role in Russian military operations, human rights abuses, and the 2020 fraudulent elections.

Orbán’s brief show of solidarity, while notable, was insufficient to bridge the deep political divide between Budapest and Warsaw. The incident highlights the complex web of alliances, rivalries, and divergent approaches to the Ukraine war that continue to shape Central Europe’s political landscape.

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Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán expressed solidarity with Poland after Russian drones entered Polish airspace, but Warsaw demanded Hungary condemn Russia and lift its veto on Ukraine’s EU accession.