President Trump told reporters that Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika, is “devastated, absolutely devastated,” the day after Kirk was gunned down at a campus event in Utah.
Speaking outside the White House on his way to New York, Trump added that investigators are “making big progress” and that he has “an indication” of the killer’s motive.
The FBI announced Thursday afternoon it is offering a reward of up to $100,000 for information that leads to the arrest of the person who fatally shot Kirk. Authorities said they had recovered what they believed to be the rifle used in the killing, and the FBI released two images of a person of interest.
Utah officials delayed a scheduled afternoon press conference, citing “rapid developments” in the case.
Thursday also marks the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, which killed 2,977 people in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania.
Vice President Vance and second lady Usha Vance flew to Utah to pay respects to Kirk’s family, after being initially scheduled to attend the 9/11 ceremony at Ground Zero in Lower Manhattan. The couple landed around 5 p.m. EDT, and Air Force Two was going to take Kirk’s family and his casket to Phoenix.
Follow along for updates all day.
Govenor warns of ‘disinformation’ surrounding Kirk shooting
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox warned of “disinformation” permeating social media in the wake of the shooting of Charlie Kirk during Thursday night’s press conference.
“There is a tremendous amount of disinformation […] our adversaries want violence,” he warned, citing Russia and China.
“I would encourage you to turn off those streams and spend more time with your families. We desperately need some healing,” Cox said.
Healing can start by “finding this perpetrator and holding him accountable, and we need your help in doing that,” he added.
Authorities share video of shooting suspect
Authorities showed video footage of the suspected shooter of Charlie Kirk in a Thursday night press conference.
The footage showed the suspected shooter running across a roof, jumping off of it and then moving into a wooded area.
The suspect left some palm impressions and a shoe imprint in the process, authorities said.
Senate Republicans invoke ‘nuclear option’ to change rules to confirm Trump nominees
Senate Republicans on Thursday invoked the so-called “nuclear option” and changed the chamber’s rules to more easily confirm dozens of President Trump’s stalled sub-Cabinet nominees.
The 53-43 party-line vote came after negotiations intensified earlier Wednesday on a bipartisan deal to speed the nominations, but it failed to get enough Democratic support and Republicans moved forward with the partisan rule change.
“This … has to be fixed,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), who was visibly frustrated on the floor.. “We offered you a proposal that had your fingerprints on it. It wasn’t even your fingerprints, you initiated it.”
“It’s time to move. It’s time to quit stalling. … It’s time to fix this place,” Thune continued.
The move allows Republicans to confirm nominees “en bloc” and came after weeks of discussion aimed at breaking through a Democratic blockade of the nominations.
Trump: Russian drone incursion into Poland ‘could have been a mistake’
Trump brushed off Russian drones that flew into Poland’s airspace earlier this week as a possible mistake.
“Could have been a mistake. Could have been a mistake,” Trump said. “But regardless, I’m not happy about anything having to do with that whole situation. But hopefully it’s going to come to an end.”
NATO jets were scrambled in a rare move and some of the drones were shot down. Polish leaders described the incursion as a provocation by Russia, which is at war in neighboring Ukraine.
Trump says supporters should respond with nonviolence
Trump was asked how he’d like to see his supporters respond to Kirk’s death, with a reporter noting the conservative activist had been a proponent of nonviolence.
“I think that way,” Trump replied. “He was — he was an advocate of nonviolence. That’s the way I’d like to see people respond.”
Some Republicans have blamed the rhetoric of media and Democrats for Kirk’s death, though no suspect has been arrested or motive determined.
Trump says ‘big progress’ made on manhunt for Kirk shooter
Trump told reporters he heard authorities were making “big progress” on the search for the suspect who shot Charlie Kirk.
“I hear they’re making big progress and we’ll have to see what happen,” Trump said.
He stopped short of answering a question on whether he thought the shooter was a trained assassin.
The president suggested he had an “indication” of the shooter’s motivation, but did not provide details.
“Charlie Kirk was a great person, a great man. Great in every way. Especially with youth,” Trump said. “And what he did, what this man did, was disgraceful. So hopefully we’ll have him and we’ll deal with him very appropriately.”
Trump says he spoke to Charlie Kirk’s widow
Trump told reporters he spoke with Charlie Kirk’s family over the phone on Thursday.
“She’s devastated, absolutely devastated,” Trump said of Kirk’s widow, Erika.
Vice President Vance had flown to Utah on Thursday to be with Kirk’s family and friends.
Lawler bill establishes Sept. 11 as federal holiday
Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) has proposed legislation to create an annual Sept. 11 federal holiday as a “day of remembrance” to honor the nearly 3,000 lives lost in the 2001 terrorist attacks.
“Every day, I meet families whose loved ones gave everything to save our neighbors on 9/11,” Lawler said in a statement. “Almost 25 years on, it matters now more than ever to our communities that we have the chance to pause, to be home, and to be with our friends and families on this day of remembrance.”
Wiles describes ‘sadness’ among White House aides after Kirk death
Chief of staff Susie Wiles described the grief among White House aides following Charlie Kirk’s assassination during an appearance at a university the day prior.
“He was very close to many of us and even those that were not his good friends, we know him. He was so much help in the campaign. So, you know, there’s no question there’s a sadness here,” Wiles said on The Scott Jennings radio show.
She said she told her staff in the wake of the assassination to be careful, but not to lower their voices on issues they care about.
“We have a lot of high-profile people here that engage publicly and in the media and they say things that others might not like,” Wiles said. “So I called everybody in before they went home last night and said, ‘Go home, hug your children, hug your spouse, be careful, take precautions and don’t let your voice get softer. Charlie would want everybody to speak as they had been and more.’”
Luna circulating letter calling for Charlie Kirk statue in Capitol
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) circulated a letter on Thursday calling on House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to install a statue for Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist who was shot and killed on Wednesday, in the U.S. Capitol.
“I owe my entire political career to Charlie Kirk. I would quite literally not be in office today if it weren’t for him. Even when my own party was working against me, Charlie endorsed me and campaigned to help me win election,” Luna said on Thursday in a post on social platform X.
“To honor this legacy, we call upon you to direct that a statue of Charlie Kirk be placed in the United States Capitol.”
Democrat: Trump could show he’s ‘serious about stopping political violence’ by ‘rescinding’ Jan. 6 pardons
Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) said Thursday that President Trump could show he’s “serious about stopping political violence” by “rescinding” pardons for those convicted in the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot.
“If the president is serious about stopping political violence, then maybe he should start by rescinding the pardons for all the domestic terrorists who came to the Capitol on January 6th to kill cops, to kill Speaker Pelosi, to kill — to kill Vice President Pence,” Moulton told CNN’s Kate Bouldan on “CNN News Central,” in a clip highlighted by Mediaite.
“Let’s have an honest conversation about the origins of this political violence and why it has risen so dramatically since Donald Trump’s first term. We need to have that conversation if we’re serious about stopping it,” the Massachusetts Democrat added.
GOP rep tells reporters at Capitol: ‘You are responsible’ for Kirk’s assassination
A House Republican is blaming the media for the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
“Every single one of you here, you’re at fault,” Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI) said pointing his finger at members of the Capitol press corps on Thursday.
When a reporter attempted to interject, Van Orden shot back “knock it off. Knock it off.”
“You are responsible for that assassination yesterday,” he continued. “You should be ashamed of yourself, it’s disgusting.”
As reporters attempted to ask Van Orden more questions, he turned around and walked away.
Trump announces millions in storm recovery funds for North Carolina, Wisconsin, Kansas
President Trump said Thursday he had approved millions of dollars in funding for storm recovery efforts across multiple states, including in North Carolina, where residents are still dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
Trump posted the announcements on Truth Social, saying he had spoken with lawmakers in each state.
The president said he had approved nearly $32 million in aid for North Carolina in response to flooding in July which was caused by Tropical Depression Chantal. Trump cited asks from Sen. Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Senate candidate Michael Whatley (R) and Republicans. Trump said he had informed Democratic Gov. Josh Stein of the move.
Luna: TikTok will remove videos of Kirk shooting
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) on Thursday said TikTok has complied with her request to remove footage of Charlie Kirk’s shooting on the campus of Utah Valley University, which occurred in front of a crowd of approximately 3,000.
“I have just received word from TikTok that they will be removing the horrific videos of Charlie Kirk’s final moments,” Luna wrote in a statement on X.
GOP senator says both sides ‘gaslight the base’ after Kirk shooting
Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) said Democrats and Republicans bear responsibility for escalating rhetoric that has fueled a rise in political violence, following the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.
“It’s all of our faults, right? I mean, we stir up the base. If you stir up the base, what do you expect is going to happen?” Mullin said in an interview on CNN, which presented a list of recent instances of violence against political figures. “If you stir a fire, coals are going to come out of it. If you pour gasoline on a fire, it’s going to explode. And sometimes we gaslight the base, and it’s been happening a lot.”
The Oklahoma Republican and Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) joined CNN’s Dana Bash for an interview intended to highlight their close friendship, despite holding different ideological views.
Mullin and Gottheimer described each other as good friends, noting their daughters are even writing a children’s book together on the importance of getting along.
“We both believe we’ve got to bring the temperature down,” Gottheimer said. “We disagree on lots of things, but, at the end of the day, we spend time to actually try to have debate and discourse the right way — where you actually go at it about policy differences — and then, at the end of the day, you can have a beer and figure out how you’re going to actually get stuff done for the country, without screaming and yelling.”
What is the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and who can be honored?
President Trump announced that he will posthumously award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was fatally shot while speaking at an event in Utah on Wednesday.
Considered the nation’s highest civilian award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom is awarded by the president to “recognize a lifetime of significant achievements in the arts, public service, science, or other fields,” Congress explains.
According to an executive order issued by President John F. Kennedy, the award can be presented to “any person who has made an especially meritorious contribution to (1) the security or national interests of the United States, or (2) world peace, or (3) cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.”
There is no nomination process, with a separate executive order giving the president expansive freedom to bestow the honor upon anyone.
Read more here.
‘South Park’ pulls episode mocking Charlie Kirk after assassination
A “South Park” episode lampooning Charlie Kirk is being pulled from the airwaves following the killing of the conservative activist.
The episode, which is titled “Got a Nut” and premiered last month, will not be airing as part of the Comedy Central show’s linear rotation, ITK has learned.
The episode — which largely focused its satire on Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Vice President Vance — is still available on demand and on Paramount+.
Read the full story here.
Utah officials postpone press briefing due to ‘rapid developments’ in case
The FBI has suspended a planned afternoon press conference on the Charlie Kirk shooting due to “rapid developments” in the case.
The announcement of the delayed press conference with the Utah Department of Public Safety (DPS) came after the FBI released photos of a person of interest in the case.
“Due to the rapid developments in our investigation, we will suspend this,” Utah DPS said in an email, saying a rescheduled time would be announced later.
State Department warns immigrants against praising Kirk’s death
A top State Department official on Thursday warned “foreigners” in the U.S. against praising the death of Charlie Kirk, the conservative influencer who was shot and killed at an event in Utah on Wednesday.
“In light of yesterday’s horrific assassination of a leading political figure, I want to underscore that foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country,” Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau wrote in a Thursday morning post on the social platform X.
Read full story here
Capitol Police respond to ‘incident’ at DNC headquarters
Capitol Police are responding to an “incident” at the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee, according to an alert sent out to Senate staff.
“Staff are asked to remain clear of the police activity,” the alert, obtained by NewsNation, read.
It was not immediately clear what the nature of the incident was. Semafor was the first to report about Capitol Police alert.
The Hill has reached out to Capitol Police and the DNC for comment.
Mace says she’ll start carrying a gun where allowed after Kirk shooting
South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace (R) said she would begin carrying a gun when permitted after the shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
“I’ll start carrying again when I’m back home, and when I’m allowed to carry where it’s reciprocal. In other states, I will have a firearm on my person all the time, and I will have security,” Mace told reporters Thursday outside the Capitol.
The GOP representative said Capitol Police’s allocation of $15 million to protect lawmakers at home amounts to $5,000 per month per lawmaker.
“For those here in Congress who are very vocal and are more well known than others, $5,000 is not much. I’m not personally rich, so we are taking different safety precautions,” Mace said.
Charlie Kirk’s casket to be flown on Air Force Two to Phoenix
Vice President Vance’s plane, Air Force Two, will transport Charlie Kirk’s casket from Utah to Arizona a day after the conservative activist was assassinated during an appearance at Utah Valley University.
A source familiar told The Hill that Vance and second lady Usha Vance will meet with Kirk’s family and close friends in Salt Lake City before the trip.
The casket, along with Kirk’s family and friends, will then be flown to Phoenix aboard Air Force Two, the source said. Turning Point USA, which Kirk co-founded, is headquartered in Phoenix.
FBI offering $100K reward in Charlie Kirk shooting
The FBI is offering up to a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the shooter of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk.
Kirk, 31, was assassinated Wednesday during an event at Utah Valley University. The offer of a reward comes after the FBI released photos of a person of interest in the case.
The images show what the FBI described as someone of an age to have “blended in well with a college institution.” The individual in a photo provided by law enforcement was wearing a hat and sunglasses along with an American flag T-shirt with an eagle on it.
HBCUs face campus threats following Charlie Kirk shooting
Several historically Black colleges and universities said they have received campus threats Thursday, a day after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed at Utah Valley University.
Hampton University, Virginia State University, Bethune-Cookman University, Southern University and Alabama State University are all on lockdown after receiving threats, according to officials.
“Hampton University has received notice of a potential threat and has ceased all non-essential activity, effective immediately,” the school, located just outside of Newport News, Va., wrote in a statement posted to social media.
“The safety and well-being of our students, faculty, staff, and visitors remain our highest priority,” the officials added.
Texas GOP Rep. Morgan Luttrell not seeking reelection
Rep. Morgan Luttrell (R-Texas) announced Thursday he won’t seek reelection after two terms in the House, “choosing a different path” closer to home in Texas.
“When I first ran for Congress, my mission was clear: strengthen our border, stand up for our veterans, and be a strong voice for Texas. I’m proud of the real progress we’ve made,” Luttrell said in a statement posted on social media.
“But over the July 4th weekend, standing in floodwaters alongside my neighbors, I had a moment of clarity. It reminded me that while the work in Washington is important, my family, my community, and my state need me here – closer to home.”
Nadine Menendez, wife of ex-New Jersey senator, sentenced to 4.5 years in prison
The wife of ex-Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) was sentenced to more than four years in prison for her role in a scheme to trade her husband’s political power for lavish bribes.
Nadine Menendez, 58, was convicted in April of plotting with her husband, the former chair of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, to exchange his clout for hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, gold bars and a Mercedes-Benz.
Senators seek last-minute deal to avert ‘nuclear option’ on GOP rules change
Senators are searching for a last-minute off-ramp to avoid using the “nuclear option” to implement a rule change that would allow Republicans to pass President Trump’s sub-Cabinet nominees “en bloc” due to a Democratic blockade.
With a vote on the change on deck in a couple of hours, bipartisan talks have intensified with the goal of reaching a deal with Democrats, according to three Senate GOP sources.
The “nuclear option” allows the majority party in the Senate to change the rules via a simple majority vote. It is so called because it is seen as extremely detrimental to bipartisanship in the chamber.
The latest discussions are centering around a modified version of a proposal made by Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Angus King (I-Maine) two years ago that would have allowed for 10 nominees from the same committee to be confirmed “en bloc.”
Who is Peter Mandelson, former UK ambassador withdrawn over Epstein ties?
Peter Mandelson, who was ousted Thursday as the U.K.’s top diplomat in the U.S., has led a storied career in British politics over the past two decades — including at least two resignations.
Mandelson was removed from his post this week because of his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Stephen Doughty, the U.K.’s minister of state for Europe, North America and overseas territories, announced the move early Thursday, condemning the diplomat for his seemingly tight friendship with the convicted sex offender.
Here’s what you need to know about Mandelson.
Trump believed Charlie Kirk ‘could’ve been president some day’: CNBC’s Joe Kernen
President Trump reportedly told CNBC anchor Joe Kernen that he thought slain conservative influencer Charlie Kirk “could have been president some day.”
“He’s devastated about Charlie Kirk and said that, ‘What a guy, what a great individual,’ and he said he helped him greatly in the last election and thinks that Charlie Kirk could have been president someday,” Kernen recounted Thursday morning after speaking to Trump by phone. “He was such a talented guy.”
Kirk, 31, was assassinated Wednesday while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University. Authorities said in an update Thursday morning that they are still searching for the shooter, who fired a single fatal shot from the roof of a nearby building. The president personally knew Kirk, who co-founded the influential youth conservative activist group Turning Point USA in 2012.
Kernen said Trump reached out Thursday to congratulate him on the 30th anniversary of CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” but the call turned to Kirk’s death. Kernen took the call privately off-camera but relayed points from their conversation on TV.
“He went on to say the country will heal,” the longtime CNBC host continued. “He’s focused on what he has been focused on, and he says, ‘I’m focused on winning, if the country wins and if I do everything I can to help the country win, that we’re all going to be able to come together again.'”
“So, that was his message,” Kernen said.
FBI releases photos of person of interest in Charlie Kirk shooting
The FBI’s Salt Lake City office released the photos of a person of interest Thursday in the Charlie Kirk shooting and is asking the public for tips to track down the individual.
The person appears to be wearing a black, long-sleeve shirt, blue jeans, a hat and black sunglasses.
In an early morning press conference in Utah, FBI leadership said the shooter “blended in well with a college institution,” appearing to be college aged.
The images come after the FBI called on the public to send any footage they had of the event at Utah Valley University, where the 31-year-old Kirk was shot and killed while speaking at an event.