House Speaker Mike Johnson mourned the shooting of Charlie Kirk and held a moment of silence for the esteemed conservative organizer and Turning Point USA founder after he was fatally shot in the neck at Utah Valley University.
“We ask everyone to pray for him and his family,” Johnson told reporters before the moment of silence. “This is detestable what’s happened. Political violence has become all too common in American society.”
“This is not who we are. It violates the core principles of our country.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson’s moment of silence for Kirk followed with nasty bickering from members of Congress. C-SPANAfter the brief moment of silence in the House chamber, Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Co.) then rose and asked for a spoken prayer, arguing that “silent prayers get silent results.”
Democratic lawmakers nearby erupted in dismay. Some were heard grousing, “no.”
Charlie Kirk was fatally shot during his event at Utah Valley University. AP
Map of Utah Valley University showing the location of a shooting at the Losee Center building and the courtyard. Falon / NY Post DesignThe chamber then descended into nasty bickering and jeering.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) was heard shouting at them in response and appeared to say, “y’all caused this.”
Johnson eventually reined in the chaos with the speaker’s gavel.
Speaker Mike Johnson announced the House will hold a moment of silence after the shooting of Charlie Kirk in Utah. AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
Johnson had to use his gavel to put an end to the unruly Congress members. C-SPANKirk, 31, had been shot while speaking at UVU as part of his American Comeback Tour. The conservative star was doing a question-and-answer session with students on campus when he was struck by a single gunshot.
He was then rushed to the hospital before later being publicly pronounced dead.
Here's the latest on the Charlie Kirk shooting in Utah
- Police identified Tyler Robinson, 22, as the alleged assassin who fatally shot Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10.
- Robinson was charged with aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury and obstruction of justice.
- Law enforcement confirmed that Robinson was living with a transgender roommate, and communications between the two helped the feds catch the alleged assassin.
- Kirk, the 31-year-old Turning Point USA co-founder, was attending an event on his American Comeback Tour when he was struck in the neck by a single shot.
- President Trump was among many who have called for the assassin to receive the death penalty.
- Kirk’s body was brought to Arizona from Utah on Air Force Two, accompanied by Vice President JD Vance, and taken to Phoenix’s Hansen Mortuary Chapel.
- Kirk’s funeral, which Trump has promised to attend, is scheduled for Sept. 21 at State Farm Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals.
- Kirk, a rising MAGA star, is survived by his wife and two young children.
“No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie,” President Trump mourned on Truth Social.
“He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!”
Trump also ordered the US flag to be flown at half-staff through Sunday.
Kirk was doing a Q&A session with students on campus when he was struck by a single gunshot. via REUTERS
JD Vance posts on X with the caption “Dear God, protect Charlie in his darkest hour,” after Charlie Kirk was fatally shot by an unknown assailant at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025. X/@JDVanceKirk founded Turning Point USA when he was just 18 years old, and the group quickly grew into one of the largest and most influential conservative activist organizations in the country.
Many political analysts have credited him with playing a key role in helping Trump get reelected last November through his grassroots work in battleground states.
Kirk is survived by his wife Erika and two children.
