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The responses to Charlie Kirk’s death from US president Donald Trump and former president Barack Obama couldn’t be more different – and people are concerned.
Conservative influencer Kirk was shot dead on Wednesday (10 September) at a speaking event at Utah Valley University in Orem.
A gunman shot Kirk from the rooftop of a nearby building while he participated in an outdoor debate event on the college campus. A single bullet is believed to have struck his neck.
Two individuals were arrested but later released. The perpetrator has yet to be identified and is still at large. There is a manhunt ongoing.
Trump announced Kirk’s death in a post on Truth Social, where he wrote: “The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead.” Kirk, who co-founded the organisation Turning Point USA, is believed to have played a key role in galvanising support for Trump among young people.
His death has been met with condolences from across the political spectrum, though some, such as Elon Musk, have been slammed for using the moment to politicise his murder, despite having no facts about the killer’s motive.
Every living US president has made a comment in the aftermath, but what people have found stark is the difference between the messaging from former president Obama and the current US president Trump.
In a video statement, Trump blamed the “radical left” as being “directly responsible” for political violence in the US.
By contrast, Obama condemned political violence from anyone and reiterated that fact that the killer’s motivation is not yet known.
“We don’t yet know what motivated the person who shot and killed Charlie Kirk, but this kind of despicable violence has no place in our democracy. Michelle and I will be praying for Charlie’s family tonight, especially his wife Erika and their two young children,” Obama wrote.
“A presidential response,” UK former journalist and political strategist Alastair Campbell wrote of Obama’s statement.
The same could not be said for Trump’s response.
Someone argued: “This is the time to bring the country together, not be divisive.”
Another dubbed Trump, “The Divider-In-Chief”.
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