The White House ordered Wednesday that all American flags be flown at half-staff through Sunday in memory of the late Charlie Kirk.
"I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, September 14, 2025," President Donald Trump declared in a proclamation. "I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations."
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Kirk, a conservative political activist and longtime ally of President Trump, was shot and killed Wednesday during a speaking event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. He was 31 years old.
The shooting occurred about 20 minutes after Kirk began speaking, at roughly 12:10 local time. He "was hit and taken from the location by his security," Utah Valley University said in a statement.
Videos circulating on social media showed the moment of the shooting in the Sorensen Center courtyard on the Utah Valley University campus. A single shot is heard, and Kirk, who was seated under a tent and holding a microphone, could be seen reaching for his bleeding neck.
School officials told Scripps News Salt Lake City gunshots were fired from the top of a building on campus approximately 200 yards from where Kirk was speaking.
Hours after the incident, local officials said a "person of interest" was taken into custody. Police are continuing to investigate the shooting and details about the suspected shooter or any of their motivations are not yet clear.
WATCH | Lawmakers react to the death of Charlie Kirk
Kirk was the founder of Turning Point USA, a right-wing political nonprofit organization that advocates for conservative politics on high school and college campuses across the U.S. — making him a major figure and voice within the young conservative movement with millions of followers across his various social media platforms.
Kirk's stop Wednesday at Utah Valley University was part of his "The American Comeback Tour," where he engaged students through political debates under tents branded with phrases like "Prove Me Wrong." Kirk's events attracted hundreds of attendees while his social media videos of interactions with participants have garnered tens of millions of views online.
The events, however, have been both widely attended and widely protested by people who disagreed with his takes on hot-button issues like abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, immigration and the Black Lives Matter movement. Prior to Wednesday's shooting, Kirk was scheduled to host another event at Colorado State University next week.
He is survived by his wife, Erika, and two young children.
