California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday reportedly called the shooting of Charlie Kirk, the co-founder of the conservative organization Turning Point USA, “reprehensible” and “vile,” as leaders across the political spectrum reacted with shock and anger to the attack.
“The attack on Charlie Kirk is disgusting, vile, and reprehensible. In the United States of America, we must reject political violence in EVERY form,” Mr. Newsom wrote on X. His statement marked one of the strongest denunciations of political violence to come from a Democratic governor in recent memory.
Mr. Newsom, a frequent critic of conservatives, notably welcomed Mr. Kirk earlier this year to the inaugural episode of his podcast, where he sought to highlight dialogue across the political divide.
That decision, unusual for a high-profile Democrat, underscored the bipartisan recognition of Mr. Kirk as a leading conservative figure, and now, the bipartisan outrage at his shooting.
Mr. Kirk’s condition was not immediately known. The Deseret News, based in Utah, reported that Utah Valley University, where Mr. Kirk had been addressing a crowd, issued an alert stating that a suspect was in custody.
Reactions poured in quickly from leaders in both parties, with many emphasizing the corrosive effects of political violence on American democracy.
President Donald J. Trump, a staunch ally of Mr. Kirk and an outspoken critic of rising hostility toward conservatives, posted on Truth Social: “We must all pray for Charlie Kirk, who has been shot. A great guy from top to bottom. GOD BLESS HIM!”
Democratic leaders also joined the chorus of condemnation. “Political violence has no place in America,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who faced an arson attack at his own residence earlier this year, called the assault on Mr. Kirk “horrifying.” “Political violence has no place in our county. We must speak with moral clarity. The attack on Charlie Kirk is horrifying and this growing type of unconscionable violence cannot be allowed in our society,” Mr. Shapiro wrote.
The bipartisan response reflected a rare moment of unity in a polarized era. Yet the context of the shooting — targeting one of the nation’s most prominent young conservative leaders — highlighted what many on the right argue is an escalating climate of hostility toward conservative voices.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican, said Wednesday afternoon that he was being briefed by law enforcement on the situation. His swift involvement reflected the seriousness with which state leaders were treating the incident.
For conservatives, the attack on Mr. Kirk is not merely an isolated crime but part of a troubling pattern.
While Democrats stressed the need to broadly reject violence, Mr. Trump’s comments carried the weight of warning that conservative figures remain uniquely vulnerable in a political climate that too often dismisses threats against them.
What remains clear is that leaders in both parties, from Mr. Trump to Mr. Schumer to Mr. Newsom, felt compelled to speak with urgency — a recognition that attacks like the one on Mr. Kirk, if left unanswered, threaten to erode the very foundation of democratic debate.
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