Charlie Kirk: Division or a Path to Unity?

Charlie Kirk (1993–2025) was a prominent conservative activist and co-founder of Turning Point USA, known for energizing young Republicans and helping Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign. On September 10, 2025, while speaking at a college event in Utah, Kirk was fatally shot in what authorities called a “targeted” attack. He was 31 and is survived by his wife, Erika, and two young children. Within hours, law enforcement identified 22-year-old Tyler Robinson as the suspect. Robinson surrendered peacefully to police and was arrested on charges including aggravated murder. Prosecutors have since indicted Robinson on capital murder charges and announced they will seek the death penalty. In court documents, Robinson is reported to have written: “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it” (apnews.com), underscoring that investigators view the crime as premeditated.

Charlie Kirk at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in July 2024. Photograph: Cheney Orr/Reuters

Investigators note Robinson held left-leaning political beliefs and “disliked Kirk” suggesting a political motive. Utah officials described the shooting as a “targeted attack”. Governor Spencer Cox (R-UT) emphasized that both parties must “tone down their rhetoric” in response. “I really don’t have a dog in this fight,” Cox said on CNN, noting if the suspect had been a MAGA extremist he would have condemned that too (cbsnews.com). The bipartisan condemnation reflects the gravity of the event.

Reactions and Aftermath

News of Kirk’s murder sent shockwaves through both parties. President Joe Biden tweeted that “there is no place in our country for this kind of violence. It must end now,” adding that he and Jill Biden were praying for Kirk’s family. On the right, former President Trump expressed devastation, calling Kirk “such a talented guy” who he believed “could have been president”. Vice President J.D. Vance flew to Utah to assist the family and later honored Kirk at a memorial. Congressional leaders from both parties spoke out. House Republican Steve Scalise, himself a 2017 shooting survivor, warned that “we cannot let what happened yesterday be the norm” and reminded Americans that political disagreements must be settled “at the ballot box” rather than with violence.

Across the aisle, prominent Democrats also urged calm. Former President Barack Obama, in a rare comment on the issue, said that President Trump’s recent rhetoric (including plans to label some liberal groups as domestic terrorists) “has further divided the country rather than work to bring people together” (apnews.com). Senate Democrats likewise condemned the attack and called for unity. Utah Senator Mitt Romney urged empathy, and Utah Governor Cox noted that investigators described bipartisan “condemnation from both sides” of the political aisle.

Many Americans also expressed grief and a desire for a healing response. For example, one student at Utah Valley University told reporters, “The way that we treat each other in our words can ultimately lead to things like this… I think everybody understands that a little bit better now” (apnews.com). This sentiment — that hate-filled rhetoric can have tragic real-world consequences — became a common theme. Lawmakers and commentators on both sides publicly reminded citizens that violence is unacceptable. Cumulatively, these reactions kept the nation focused on ending the cycle of political hatred.

Forgiveness

On Sept. 21, 2025, a massive public memorial was held for Kirk in Arizona. Estimates suggest 90,000–100,000 people attended the Glendale service, making it one of the largest memorials ever for a private citizen. Turning Point USA organized overflow venues and viewing areas due to the huge turnout. In contrast to the violence of recent years, the atmosphere was overwhelmingly peaceful. Kirk’s family and allies spoke of faith and forgiveness. His widow Erika Kirk took to the podium and announced: “Our Savior said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’ … I forgive him [the shooter]… because it was what Christ did, and it’s what Charlie would do.” (foxnews.com). This act of forgiveness – embraced by hundreds of attendees – drew a standing ovation.

Erika Kirk - Joe Raedle/Getty Images

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt praised Erika’s response as “one of the greatest acts of grace this world has ever seen.” In her speech, Erika also spoke of a “revival” spirit: “We didn’t see revolution… We saw what my husband always prayed he would see in this country. We saw revival.” Conservative leaders echoed this message of unity and faith. For example, Republican National Committee surrogate Mehek Cooke told Fox News, “When Charlie Kirk was assassinated, conservatives didn’t riot, loot or torch cities… As Erika said, we gathered, we prayed and we embraced revival.” (foxnews.com). The memorial concluded with many heads bowed in prayer rather than anger.

Other memorials and vigils sprang up nationwide. At Utah Valley University itself, students and local residents placed flowers and notes at the site where Kirk fell. Many remarked that the scene – decorated with flags and candles – contrasted sharply with images of destruction from past protests. Indeed, on social media some pointed out that conservatives had channeled their mourning into constructive action (Tennessee’s Karl Dean even declared “no unity with people who celebrate his death”). Even on the left, voices advocated peace. CNN commentator Van Jones wrote an op-ed praising Kirk’s willingness to debate across the aisle: Kirk had reached out to Jones for a civil discussion just before he was killed. Jones emphasized that “neither Charlie nor I ever wanted to see the other person harmed or silenced… I would have wanted to beat Charlie Kirk intellectually — by out-debating him. I would have wanted to see progressives beat him politically — by out-organizing him.” (foxnews.com). In other words, even some liberal figures underscored that ideas and elections — not violence or hatred — should decide America’s future.

Jimmy Kimmel Controversy

A week after Kirk’s death, late-night host Jimmy Kimmel addressed the assassination on air — and sparked a separate uproar. Kimmel joked that some in the “MAGA gang” were trying to distance the shooter from their movement. Many conservatives condemned these remarks. The ABC network promptly suspended “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” indefinitely. The incident ignited a fierce debate over media, free speech and sensitivity.

After six days off the air, Kimmel returned for an emotional monologue. He insisted “it was never my intention to make light of the murder of a young man” (cbsnews.com). Through tears, he said he had immediately offered condolences to Kirk’s family online and never meant to joke about the tragedy. He did not issue a blanket apology, but acknowledged his timing had been poor and “hurtful to some”. Kimmel also used the moment to advocate for free speech and thank those who defended him. He specifically thanked commentators like Ben Shapiro, Clay Travis, and even Sen. Ted Cruz for speaking up on his behalf, saying “It takes courage for them to speak out against this… and they deserve credit” (cbsnews.com).

Getty Images

Thus, the Kimmel saga produced some unexpected crossovers: Left-leaning celebrities rallied around him (the ACLU collected hundreds of signatures decrying the suspension), while some conservative media apologized for the harsh reaction. Disney/ABC ultimately reinstated the show, and the network’s statement noted the suspension was meant only to “avoid inflaming a tense situation". Nevertheless, several broadcast affiliates (Nexstar and Sinclair) decided to continue preempting Kimmel’s show, citing the controversy. The whole episode underscored how polarized and fractious political discourse had become.

Division in America and the Path to Unity

The assassination of Charlie Kirk laid bare America’s deep divisions. Nationwide polls underscore this mood: a 2024 Gallup survey found a record 80% of Americans believe the nation is greatly divided on its most important values. The number of people who think the country is united is barely one in five. This sense of fragmentation stretches across demographics – Republicans, Democrats, urban, rural, young and old all report similar doubts about unity. Only in the unique aftermath of 9/11 did a majority of Americans feel truly united. The takeaway is clear: most people sense a crisis of polarization today.

Yet history shows unity can prevail in tragedy. After 9/11, Americans rallied around shared values and leaders. The challenges now are different, but the opportunities for connection remain. Learning from Erika Kirk’s example of forgiveness could be one step. Her mercy – praised even by the White House – reminded many that hate begets hate. Likewise, Van Jones’s appeal for civil debate argues that communication can replace animosity. We can also heed the words of Steve Scalise and others who insist that disagreements belong at the ballot box, not the gun barrel. This means rejecting calls to demonize opponents and refusing to “celebrate” political violence.

9/11 Helpers. NY Post

Concrete steps toward unity include: emphasizing empathy, promoting dialogue, and modeling respect. Schools and community groups have already used this moment to teach that hateful words can lead to real harm. Political leaders from both parties have called for civility and stressed common ground (Sen. Vance noted that Kirk and he had “one of the first friendships” despite being skeptics before discovering shared values). On the cultural level, many Americans retreated from outrage after Kirk’s killing. As one young conservative commenter said, his “first thought was prayer” for Kirk and his widow, not vengeance. Those conscious choices – focusing on prayer and purpose rather than anger – offer a model.

Ending the spiral of hate will also require broad civic engagement. One way individuals can help is by joining anti-hate initiatives. Pledge4Peace has launched a “No Hate in the U.S.” campaign to encourage Americans to commit publicly against political hatred. By signing onto such pledges and supporting voices of reconciliation, citizens can push back against the notion that violence is ever justified for political ends. In an age when Gallup finds nearly all subgroups see division, grassroots efforts that promote understanding are essential.

Ultimately, healing requires recognizing that our differences do not make us enemies. As Van Jones put it, neither side should want the other “silenced” – instead, we should see each other as worthy opponents in debate. If more Americans remember Kirk’s own spirit of engaging opponents and Erika’s grace under tragedy, the country can begin to close the rift.

To take action against hate, you can endorse the Pledge4Peace “No Hate in the U.S.” campaign here: https://www.pledge4peace.org/campaigns/no-hate-in-the-united-states. By committing to civil dialogue and respect, citizens can help ensure that no American is targeted because of their beliefs, and that our common values ultimately unite us.

Hero image: Charlie Kirk sits on a bench on the George Washington University campus in Washington in April 2018. | André Chung for POLITICO