The 31-year-old influencer was shot while participating in a debate at a university. Evangelical leaders have reacted with grief and outrage, but also hope.
Charlie Kirk speaking at an event organised by Turning Point USA in the USA, in 2023./ Photo: [link]Gage Skidmore[/link], Charlie Kirk, Wikipedia
Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA and one of the most influential conservative evangelical activists in the United States, died after being shot at a public event held at Utah Valley University. He was 31 years old, married, and had two young children.
Kirk was shot while taking part in a question-and-answer session on an event of his 'American Comeback Tour'. The authorities described the incident as a “political murder” and continue their investigation to identify the shooter.
The news spread quickly across social media, where Kirk had gained considerable notoriety over the past decade. Kirk was one of the most prominent figures in the “culture war” between conservatives and progressives in the United States.
US president Donald Trump lamented Kirk's death, describing him as a “martyr for truth and freedom", stressing that he was a man of “deep faith" who was confident “he is now in heaven”.
He expressed his condolences to Kirk's wife, Erika, and their two young children, and attributed the attack “to the extremist rhetoric of the left”, calling for an end to the demonisation of political opponents. Trump assured that his legacy will endure and that those responsible for this and other acts of political violence will be prosecuted.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox called the shooting a political murder and warned of the need to reflect as a country on the state of free speech and public debate, especially as the United States approaches its 250th anniversary.
On this side of the Atlantic, the European Christian Political Movement (ECPM) issued an statement, expressing its shock at the murder of Kirk, who “has fallen victim to political violence”.
The group unites a range of parties with a Christian worldview in the continent, and has several Members of the European Parliament. “Recognising that we all share human dignity is the best shield against political violence”, the ECPM says.
“In these times of growing polarisation, we must remember that human dignity belongs not only to our friends, but also to those we may call our ‘enemies’. Losing sight of our shared human dignity endangers our democracies”, they add.
This violence “may begin with insults and hostility in parliaments, but its consequences can become much more severe". “The ECPM prays for his family and loved ones at this time of grief”, concludes the statement.
In the United States, numerous evangelical leaders have expressed their sorrow and underlined Kirk's Christian faith.
Pastor Greg Laurie described him as “an unwavering voice of biblical truth" and recalled the Christian hope of eternal life, encouraging believers to follow his example and share the Gospel without shame.
“I just spoke at one of their events only a few weeks ago. And then I said to the pastors who gathered how important I thought Charlie's voice was. And as it has been said, he was such a profound voice on political issues, but also on spiritual issues”, he added. Laurie expressed that “although the media often describe Kirk as a ‘political activist’ or ‘right-wing activist’, first and foremost, he was Charlie Kirk the Christian, and then he was Charlie Kirk the husband and father”.
Pastor Samuel Rodríguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, expressed his condolences. “Our hearts and prayers are with the entire Kirk family as we grieve the death of Charlie Kirk”, he wrote on social media.
Our hearts and prayers are with the entire Kirk family as we grieve the death of Charlie Kirk. We are deeply saddened by the news of this horrific shooting. In moments like these we remember the words of the psalmist, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in…
— Samuel Rodriguez (@nhclc) September 10, 2025
“We are deeply saddened by the news of this horrific shooting. At times like these, we remember the words of the psalmist: God is our refuge and strength, our ever-present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1)".
Franklin Graham emphasised that, beyond his conservative activism, he had “a deep faith in Jesus Christ that he shared boldly” with others.
Doctor Ben Carson, a former neurosurgeon and former Secretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development during the first administration of Donald Trump, said: “Charlie Kirk closed his eyes to this earth for the last time… and opened them to eternity for the first. His life was short, but a life well-lived. Rest in peace, brother. Your wisdom will echo through the lives you’ve touched, and your influence will remain forever irreplaceable”.
[analysis]
[title]Join us to make EF sustainable[/title]
[photo][/photo]
[text]At Evangelical Focus, we have a sustainability challenge ahead. We invite you to join those across Europe and beyond who are committed with our mission. Together, we will ensure the continuity of Evangelical Focus and our Spanish partner Protestante Digital in 2025.
Learn all about our #TogetherInThisMission initiative here (English).
[/text][/analysis]
Las opiniones vertidas por nuestros colaboradores se realizan a nivel personal, pudiendo coincidir o no con la postura de la dirección de Protestante Digital.
Si quieres comentar o