DALLAS—Trump Reflects on Charlie Kirk’s Assassination Anniversary

On the anniversary of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, President Donald Trump expressed his sadness, labeling the event as “a sad cloud over the country.” This statement was made while he was leaving Dallas after attending a unique midterm Republican National Convention.

Responding to a question from Breitbart News late Thursday, Trump remembered Kirk fondly, stating, “What Charlie did was incredible with young Americans more than anybody else. I mean, I knew him so well, and he was always such a great supporter, and it’s so sad.”

He went on to emphasize the impact of Kirk’s death, saying, “You think about it — it’s just a sad cloud over the country what happened to Charlie. It’s not even believable.”

Trump also touched on how close Kirk was to his family, saying, “He was very close to me and my family, but he was great. I think he’s got—there’s great memories of Charlie. But more than anything else, what he was able to do with young people… young people loved him. They still do.”

Kirk was killed on September 10, 2025, at Utah Valley University during a debate as part of his Ask Me Anything tour. Tyler Robinson, 23, has been charged with aggravated murder for allegedly shooting Kirk with a Mauser bolt-action rifle from a rooftop. Bullet casings found at the scene had various inscriptions, including one that read “O Bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao.” This phrase is associated with “Bella Ciao,” a song recognized as an anthem within some anti-fascist groups, stemming from World War II resistance against Benito Mussolini.

Additional casings bore messages like, “Hey fascist! Catch!” and other remarks that, although seemingly humorous, invoked themes of sexuality and subculture. Kirk’s wife, Erika, became a widow due to his murder, leaving behind two young children and countless Americans who valued his insights on political matters.

As the case continues, Judge Tony Graf has permitted prosecutors to seek the death penalty, while Robinson has entered a plea of not guilty.