First lady Melania Trump paid tribute to Charlie Kirk in a statement following the Turning Point USA founder’s assassination.
Kirk, a husband and father of two young children, was shot and killed Wednesday while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University in Orem.
“Charlie’s children will be raised with stories instead of memories, photographs instead of laughter, and silence where their father’s voice should have echoed,” the first lady wrote on X.
“Charlie Kirk’s life should serve as a symbolic reminder that compassionate awareness elevates family, love, and country,” Trump added.
Kirk, 31, was rushed to Timpanogos Regional Hospital and was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Tributes to Kirk flooded social media in the hours after his death, and those who knew him personally shared stories of his generosity, faith, and patriotism.
“We talk about left and right, and Charlie would point right, but more than that Charlie pointed up,” Kayleigh McEnany, Fox News commentator and former White House press secretary, said on air Wednesday evening, referring to Kirk’s very public faith in God.
“He had this authentic real love for Jesus Christ, and his conservative philosophy was an outgrowth of that,” McEnany continued, adding that Kirk gave “hope” to young people on college campuses who were struggling to find meaning in life.
“I still have no idea what the right words are right now to describe what has happened today to, in my opinion, one of the greatest Americans ever,” Sage Steele, political commentator and former ESPN anchor, said in a video message.
Kirk traveled to college campuses across the country to have conversations with students about faith and politics. Steele credits Kirk with inspiring an interest in politics in her own children.
Kirk was “not afraid to talk about life and relationships and a man and a woman, and how to be a good dad—like all those things,” political commentator and podcast host Megyn Kelly, said. “He knew that his viewpoints were important, that his opinions on those things mattered to young people listening to him and he did not waste that opportunity.”
