Right-wing activist and Trump ally Charlie Kirk wounded in campus shooting

Charlie Kirk, the powerful rightwing activist, Trump ally and executive director of Turning Point USA (TPUSA), has been shot on Wednesday while hosting an event in Utah.

In video posts circulating on social media, Kirk can be seen getting struck while speaking and sitting beneath a tent in the Utah Valley University courtyard. Kirk was there as part of The American Comeback Tour, which is hosted by the TPUSA chapter at Utah Valley. There is also video footage of students on campus running away from the sound of gunshots. 

The TPUSA press team confirmed to Fox News that Kirk had been shot, but that his condition was unknown.

The Utah governor, Spencer Cox, posted on X that he would “continue to share updates” and that “those responsible will be held fully accountable”.

“Violence has no place in our public life. Americans of every political persuasion must unite in condemning this act. Our prayers are with Charlie, his family, and all those affected,” he wrote.

Mike Lee, a Utah senator, posted on X shortly after reports broke that Kirk had been shot to say he is “tracking the situation at Utah Valley University closely. Please join me in praying for Charlie Kirk and the students gathered there.”

Ashley Moody, another Utah senator, also posted on X to say her “office is monitoring the situation at Utah Valley University. I pray for Charlie Kirk, the students, and this nation.”

A spokesperson with Utah Valley University police confirmed to the Guardian that shots were fired on campus.

“What we know currently is that Charlie Kirk was about 20 minutes into his presentation when we heard shots fired from a nearby building and to the best of our knowledge he was hit and taken with his security team away from the premises, and the courtyard was cleared,” a UVU spokesperson told CNBC.

Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social: “We must all pray for Charlie Kirk, who has been shot. A great guy from top to bottom. GOD BLESS HIM!”

JD Vance, the vice-president, tweeted: “Say a prayer for Charlie Kirk, a genuinely good guy and a young father.” Those sentiments were echoed by the secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth: “Prayers for Charlie Kirk. An incredible Christian, American, and human being. May the healing hand of Jesus Christ be upon him.”

The FBI director, Kash Patel, said the FBI is “closely monitoring reports of the tragic shooting involving Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University … Agents will be on the scene quickly and the FBI stands in full support of the ongoing response and investigation.”

The shooting was quickly condemned by the California governor, Gavin Newsom, who said “the attack on Charlie Kirk” was “disgusting, vile, and reprehensible. In the United States of America, we must reject political violence in EVERY form.”

Shortly before shots rang out, Kirk tweeted: “WE. ARE. SO. BACK. Utah Valley University is FIRED UP and READY for the first stop back on the American Comeback Tour.”

The sniper who shot at Kirk has been detained, US media report.