House Republican plans to leave Congress after more than 2 decades in office
Republican Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas will not run for re-election in 2026. The long-serving lawmaker noted during an appearance on ABC’s “This Week” that he will serve the rest of his current term but is seeking a “new challenge.” McCaul has previously chaired the House Committee on Homeland Security and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. ‘JUST EVIL’: TOP REPUBLICAN DETAILS RUSSIA’S ‘HORRIFIC’ MASS ABDUCTIONS OF UKRAINIAN CHILDREN “It has been the honor of a lifetime to represent the people of central Texas and to chair the prestigious Homeland Security and Foreign Affairs Committees,” the congressman said in social media posts. “My father’s service in World War II inspired me to pursue a life of public service, with a focus on defending our great nation against global threats, and I have been proud to carry out that mission in Congress for more than two decades. I am ready for a new challenge in 2027 and look forward to continuing to serve my country in the national security and foreign policy realm,” he noted. GOP REP MCCAUL URGES TRUMP ADMIN TO PRIORITIZE ‘AGGRAVATED FELONS’ WHEN DETAINING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS McCaul has served in the U.S. House of Representatives for more than two decades. The lawmaker from the Lone Star State took office in 2005. GOP REP. MICHAEL MCCAUL ‘BRIEFLY DETAINED’ BY POLICE AT AIRPORT FOR ‘APPEARING INTOXICATED’ CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Rep. Don Bacon, a Republican from Nebraska, described McCaul as “a great Congressman, a great American and a great friend.”
‘Gradually and then suddenly’: Reagan speechwriter talks political violence in aftermath of Kirk’s death
The assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk signals a troubling new chapter in America’s political violence, former Reagan speechwriter Peggy Noonan said. Kirk, 31, died after he was shot in the neck during his “American Comeback Tour” at Utah Valley University on Wednesday. The assassination comes a year after two attempts to take the president’s life. “We like to say that something happened gradually and then suddenly,” Noonan wrote in the Wall Street Journal on Thursday. “It’s from Ernest Hemingway’s ‘The Sun Also Rises’: A character, asked how he went bankrupt, says, ‘Two ways, gradually and then suddenly.’ That’s how political violence in America has been growing in this century. I would say the 2024 assassination attempts on Donald Trump, and now the assassination of Kirk, are the ‘suddenly’ moments. The reality continues while the dark tempo is picking up.” CHARLIE KIRK WARNED ‘ASSASSINATION CULTURE IS SPREADING ON THE LEFT’ IN EERIE ONLINE POST MONTHS BEFORE MURDER “We know this can’t continue and we don’t know how to stop it,” Noonan wrote. “That is our predicament.” Noonan, now a columnist for the Wall Street Journal, served as President Ronald Reagan’s head speechwriter from 1984 to 1986. Kirk’s assassination is one of multiple examples of political violence – or attempted political violence. For example, 20-year-old gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire on Trump from a rooftop during a campaign rally in July 2024, and one of the eight bullets shot grazed Trump’s ear. The gunman also shot and killed Corey Comperatore, a 50-year-old firefighter, father and husband attending the rally, and injured two others. CHARLIE KIRK HAD ‘NO FEAR’ GOING INTO UTAH EVENT WHERE HE WAS ASSASSINATED, FRIEND SAYS Likewise, Ryan Routh was apprehended and charged with attempting to assassinate Trump at his Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, in September 2024. Routh was charged with attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, among other things, and his trial is currently underway. Other instances include an assassination plot against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Nicholas John Roske, 29, pleaded guilty in April to attempting to kill Kavanaugh in June 2022, according to the Justice Department. CHARLIE KIRK’S MURDER THE LATEST IN INCREASING POLITICAL VIOLENCE NATIONWIDE, FROM PA GOVERNOR TO SCOTUS Trump said Friday on “Fox & Friends” that an arrest had been made in Kirk’s assassination, and Utah officials confirmed the suspect as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson. “I hope he’s going to be found guilty, I would imagine. And I hope he gets the death penalty,” Trump said Friday. “What he did, Charlie Kirk was the finest person, he didn’t deserve this. He worked so hard and so well. Everybody liked him.”
Prosecution presses forward as Ryan Routh trial resumes on Day 6
The federal trial of Ryan Routh, accused of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump during a round of golf in September 2024, resumes Monday after a week that saw jurors seated, opening statements delivered and a flurry of early testimony. In just two days of testimony last week, prosecutors called 13 witnesses — mostly FBI and Secret Service agents — to walk jurors through the investigation and security response to the alleged attack. Prosecutors opened Thursday by reading Ryan Routh’s own words — “Trump cannot be elected” and “I need Trump to go away” — to argue he plotted for months, traveled from Hawaii, and positioned himself at Trump International Golf Club with a rifle chambered and ready to fire. RYAN ROUTH TRIAL: JURY SELECTION BEGINS IN TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT CASE Routh, representing himself, delivered a seven-minute opening statement that Trump-appointed Judge Aileen Cannon cut short after he veered into rambling remarks about Adolf Hitler and the Wright brothers, at one point telling jurors, “This case means absolutely nothing. A life has been lived to the fullest.” The week’s witnesses included a Secret Service agent who testified Routh smiled at him while pointing a rifle “directly at my face,” a civilian who identified Routh fleeing in a black Nissan Xterra, and bomb squad and FBI agents who described the alleged sniper’s hideout — backpacks clipped to a fence, a camera zip-tied to it, and Vienna sausages on the ground. RYAN ROUTH TRIAL OPENS WITH BIZARRE JURY QUESTIONS AND WITNESS DRAMA Jurors were also shown photos prosecutors said linked Routh’s clothing to the scene, including pants with a red stain prosecutors compared to red paint on a bag recovered from the brush. Routh’s cross-examinations were brief and sometimes bizarre, from asking witnesses “Is it good to be alive?“ to quizzing them on AK-47 mechanics. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee, told jurors to expect the trial to go until 5:30 p.m. daily. More FBI agents and law enforcement witnesses are expected to take the stand Monday as the government continues presenting evidence.
Iryna Zarutska killing exposes GOP split on possible federal intervention in Charlotte
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C. warned he would have a problem if the White House decided to focus its attention on his state as scrutiny grows on Democratic policies and their connection to crime. Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee, was killed in Charlotte, North Carolina, last month while taking public transit. The suspect in the crime, Decarlos Brown Jr., had previously been arrested 14 times before being arrested and charged with murder. CHARLOTTE TRAIN MURDER FRONT AND CENTER IN CRUCIAL 2026 SENATE BATTLE: ‘SOFT-ON-CRIME POLICIES’ As the story, propelled by a harrowing video of the alleged interaction between Brown and Zarutska, has spread nationally, so too has criticism of Democratic crime policies in blue cities like Charlotte. President Donald Trump charged that “blood is on the hands of the Democrats who refuse to put bad people in jail,” and Attorney General Pam Bondi, who directed Justice Department prosecutors to federally prosecute Brown, contended that Zarutska’s “horrific murder is a direct result of failed soft-on-crime policies that put criminals before innocent people.” Their sentiment comes as the Trump administration has pushed for federal intervention in Democratic-led cities. The administration has already sent troops into Washington, D.C., and is planning to send the Guard to Memphis and possibly Baltimore next. CHARLOTTE MAYOR SCORES PRIMARY RE-ELECTION VICTORY AMID NATIONAL BACKLASH OVER GRUESOME TRAIN MURDER Tillis told Fox News Digital that there were “a lot of cities that we should be going to before Charlotte.” “And I, for one, don’t think that we should be the nation’s police force, because, you know what happens? We’re going to mask the failure of Democrat leaders that are making their cities less safe,” Tillis said. “But we also have to be realistic and see that there are some cities and red states that are also in the top 20 list.” “All I’m saying is we’ve got an issue, and I’m down there working before it became a national thing, work that we need to do down there to fix basically the free ride of the subway there,” he continued. “But it doesn’t rise to a level of national intervention. I think that’d be an overreach that I’m against, generally.” TRUMP SAYS DEMOCRATS HAVE ‘BLOOD ON THEIR HANDS’ AFTER DEADLY CHARLOTTE TRAIN STABBING Sen. Ted Budd, R-N.C., had a different view of the situation. He argued that it was “broken policies” encouraged by former Gov. Roy Cooper, who is running for Tillis’ seat, and current Gov. Josh Stein, D-N.C., that led to “this reimagining criminal justice nonsense.” “What I want to see is local government to operate like it should,” Budd said. “That’s city government without these leftist, cashless bail crimes on the streets turning a blind eye to homelessness and drugs. If they will stop doing that, those crazy policies, then sure there’s no need to send in the National Guard.” “I would say being negligent, like those local governments have been in that case, invites greater rule,” he continued. “And that’s the feds, and they’re doing it in Chicago, they’re doing it in Washington, D.C. That’s because it’s been negligent locally. So policy matters, and policy matters at home, too.” Fox News Digital reached out to Stein’s office for comment but did not immediately hear back.
Trump heads to UK for rare second state visit, then to Arizona for Charlie Kirk’s funeral
President Donald Trump will make a state visit to the U.K. this week, marking his second such stop during his presidency. Later in the week, Trump will travel to Arizona to attend the funeral of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Trump’s return to England is unusual, as U.S. presidents rarely make more than one state visit during their time in office, underscoring both the political and symbolic weight of the occasion. KING CHARLES PLANNING ROYAL SPECTACLE FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP, WITH STAR-STUDDED GUEST LIST Trump and first lady Melania Trump will be hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle. Buckingham Palace is under renovation. The Trumps will also meet with Prince William and Princess Catherine of Wales during their visit. Following a formal welcome, Trump will take part in a series of ceremonial events, including a carriage procession, a gun salute and a flyover by military fighter jets. Festivities will culminate with a lavish state dinner. An estimated 150 guests are typically invited to the state dinner based on their cultural, diplomatic or economic links to the country being hosted. Darren McGrady, who was a personal chef to the late Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Diana and her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, told Fox News Digital there is no room for error when it comes to the menu. He served as a royal chef for 15 years and cooked for five U.S. presidents. CHARLIE KIRK HONORED AS ‘GENERATION’S GREATEST’ AT MASSIVE LONDON RALLY Trump will head to Chequers on Thursday, the country house of the sitting U.K. prime minister, where he’ll meet Keir Starmer for a series of bilateral meetings, followed by a joint news conference later that day. Trump, 79, and King Charles, 76, have known each other for decades, dating back to Charles’s visit to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in the late 1980s. More recently, Charles sent Trump a personal note after he survived an assassination attempt during a rally in Butler, Pa. COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CHARLIE KIRK Trump will end his week traveling to Arizona to attend the funeral of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated on Wednesday. Kirk, the charismatic founder of Turning Point USA, was shot during an outdoor debate on the Utah Valley University campus. In the wake of his death, Kirk’s widow, Erika, vowed to carry on her husband’s mission. “To everyone listening tonight across America, the movement my husband built will not die,” Kirk said in a video statement on Friday. “I refuse to let that happen. No one will ever forget my husband’s name. And I will make sure of it. It will become stronger. Bolder. Louder and greater than ever,” Kirk said. Andrew Kolvet, executive producer of “The Charlie Kirk Show,” wrote on X that in the past 48 hours, Turning Point USA has received more than 32,000 inquiries from people wanting to start new campus chapters. In a separate post, Kolvet wrote, “This is the Turning Point.”
Trump says ‘we’ll see what happens’ when asked about possibility of striking Venezuela amid rising tensions
President Donald Trump on Sunday responded vaguely to questions about the possibilities of the U.S. striking mainland Venezuela as well as additional drug-smuggling boats amid rising tensions between the two countries. Trump answered several questions about Venezuela while speaking to reporters in Morristown, New Jersey, on Sunday — including the possibility of striking the country and whether he fears escalation from President Nicolás Maduro. “We’ll see what happens,” Trump said on Sunday in response to a question about the likelihood of a U.S. strike on the Latin American nation. “Look, Venezuela is sending us their gang members, their drug dealers and drugs. It’s not acceptable.” VENEZUELAN MILITARY JETS BUZZ US NAVY SHIP IN ‘HIGHLY PROVOCATIVE’ MOVE, PENTAGON SAYS The president also said that the number of boats seen off the coast of Venezuela, where his administration recently bolstered the U.S. Navy’s presence, has decreased significantly. “We’ll see what happens,” Trump told reporters for a second time when asked if he intends to launch additional strikes on Venezuelan drug-smuggling boats. “There’s certainly not a lot of boats out there. …. There’s been very little boat traffic.” TRUMP TOUTS US STRIKE AS MADURO SLAMS MILITARY ‘THREAT’ OFF VENEZUELA When asked on Sunday if he was concerned about a possible escalation from Maduro, who has labeled some of Trump’s actions illegal, Trump pointed to the millions of drug deaths that occurred in the U.S. last year. “What’s illegal are the drugs on the boat, and the drugs that are being sent into our country and the fact that 300 million people died last year from drugs, that’s what’s illegal,” Trump fired back. TRUMP ANNOUNCES US MILITARY CONDUCTED ‘LETHAL STRIKE’ ON VENEZUELAN DRUG BOAT IN CARIBBEAN The remarks from Trump come amid escalating tensions after a U.S. military strike earlier this month blew apart a Venezuelan drug boat in the southern Caribbean, leaving nearly a dozen suspected Tren de Aragua (TdA) narco terrorists dead. On Saturday, Venezuela’s foreign minister accused U.S. Navy personnel of boarding a tuna boat with nine fishermen in Venezuelan waters, according to The Associated Press. “A lot of drugs are coming out of Venezuela. A lot of Tren de Aragua,” Trump told reporters. “They’re trying to get out, but we’re stopping them successfully at the border in Venezuela.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP In February, the Trump administration also designated drug cartel groups like Tren de Aragua, the Sinaloa Cartel and others as foreign terrorist organizations.
Zohran Mamdani lands key endorsement in New York City mayoral race
It took nearly three months, but the top Democrat in New York state has finally endorsed New York City Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani. “New York City deserves a mayor who will stand up to Donald Trump and make life more affordable for New Yorkers. That’s @ZohranKMamdani,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Sunday evening in a social media post. The governor’s endorsement is significant, as it may help Mamdani secure the backing of other key members of the party’s establishment. And it will likely put more pressure on two other top Democrats in New York State who are still withholding their backing of Mamdani – Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, the top two Democratic Party leaders in Congress. Mamdani, in a statement, said he was “grateful to the Governor for her support in unifying our party — as well as the work she’s done standing up to President Trump, securing free lunch meals for our kids, and expanding access to childcare.” TRUMP REVEALS NEW NICKNAME FOR MAMDANI Hochul announced her support for Mamdani, the 33-year-old democratic socialist state lawmaker from Queens who shocked the political world in June with his convincing win over former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and nine other candidates to capture the Democratic Party’s mayoral nomination, in the New York Times. “In the past few months, I’ve had frank conversations with him. We’ve had our disagreements,” the governor wrote. “But in our conversations, I heard a leader who shares my commitment to a New York where children can grow up safe in their neighborhoods and where opportunity is within reach for every family. I heard a leader who is focused on making New York City affordable — a goal I enthusiastically support.” POLL POSITION: JUST HOW LARGE IS MAMDANI’S LEAD IN THE NYC MAYORAL RACE? The Ugandan-born Mamdani, if elected, would become the first Muslim and first millennial mayor of the nation’s most populous city. He is the clear frontrunner in the latest public opinion polls in the mayoral race in the Democrat-dominated city. Mamdani is sitting on 22-point margin leads over Cuomo and the rest of the field in surveys released last week from Quinnipiac University and New York Times/Siena College. And a survey from Emerson University and the Hill also indicates Mamdani comfortably ahead by double digits. CUOMO SHAKES UP CAMPAIGN IN BID TO TAKE DOWN MAMDANI Guardian Angels co-founder Curtis Sliwa, who for a second straight election is the Republican mayoral nominee in the Democrat-dominated city, was a distant third in the polls, with embattled incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, who is running as an independent after deciding to skip the Democratic primary amid anemic polling, further down in fourth place. Both Sliwa and Adams have repeatedly committed to staying in the race in recent weeks amid multiple reports that Trump’s advisors floated administration roles for both mayoral hopefuls if they dropped out. On Sunday, following a new report that Adams would drop out in the coming days, the mayor’s spokesman fired back. “Let me be perfectly clear: any rumor or tweet suggesting Mayor Adams is stepping down this week is complete bulls—,” spokesman Todd Shapiro wrote in a statement. “These lies are being spread by desperate opponents who can’t match the mayor’s record, his campaign energy, or his support across this city.” Mamdani surged to the Democratic primary victory thanks to an energetic campaign that put a major focus on affordability and New York City’s high cost of living. It was fueled by a grassroots army of supporters and backing from top national progressive champions, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont. Mamdani made smart use of social media platforms, including TikTok, as he engaged low-propensity voters. He proposed eliminating fares to ride New York City’s vast bus system, making CUNY (City University of New York) “tuition-free,” freezing rents on municipal housing, offering “free childcare” for children up to age 5 and setting up government-run grocery stores. Mamdani has been heavily criticized by his rivals for his past critical comments of the New York City Police Department (NYPD), and his proposal to shift certain responsibilities away from the NYPD and focus on social services and community-based program. Hochul recently said an apology from Mamdani was in order, and the mayoral hopeful told the New York Times a couple of days ago that he intended to apologize. Hochul said that in her conversations with Mamdani she made “it very clear that our police officers should have every resource to keep our streets and subways safe. I urged him to ensure that there is strong leadership at the helm of the N.Y.P.D. — and he agreed.” The governor also addressed Mamdani’s past critical comments about Israel. “We discussed the need to combat the rise of antisemitism urgently and unequivocally. I’ve been glad to see him meet with Jewish leaders across the city, listening and addressing their concerns directly,” Hochul said. Hochul’s endorsement may not only benefit Mamdani, but could also help the governor shore up support from the Democrats’ progressive base as she seeks re-election next year. Mamdani praised Hochul for her focus on tackling affordability. “I look forward to fighting alongside her to continue her track record of putting money back in New Yorkers’ pockets and building a safer and stronger New York City where no one is forced to leave just so they can afford to raise a family,” he said. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP But Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York, a top Trump ally who is expected later this year to launch a 2026 run for governor, took aim at Hochul. “At the exact moment when New Yorkers are looking for strong leadership from their Governor with a majority opposing Zohran Mamdani, Kathy Hochul embraces this raging Communist who will destroy New York making it less affordable and more dangerous – once again putting criminals and communists first, and New Yorkers LAST,” Stefanik argued
Knives are out for embattled FBI Director Kash Patel, despite Trump support
On Monday, former Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey – once President Trump’s top pick to lead the FBI – will be sworn into a new power-sharing role with deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino. Bailey’s installment comes at a perilous time for FBI Director Kash Patel, whose leadership atop the nation’s premier law enforcement agency is under fire, according to ten sources from multiple federal offices granted anonymity to speak freely. The White House’s reasoning to create an unprecedented office for Bailey has not been explained and left FBI leadership confused, two people at the agency said. “The White House, Bondi, Blanche have no confidence in Kash,” one source with knowledge of ongoing personnel discussions said. “Pam in particular cannot stand him. Blanche either,” they said, referring to Attorney General Pam Bondi and her deputy, Todd Blanche. Bondi and Blanche denied the characterization, and White House officials denied any plans to remove Director Patel from his position. KASH PATEL’S FALSE START ON CHARLIE KIRK KILLER DRAWS SCRUTINY, BUT FBI NABBED SUSPECT IN THE END But allies of President Trump and Patel’s harshest critics have begun to circulate word that contingency plans for Patel’s ouster are forming. They also claim his hopeful successor, Andrew Bailey, made clear that he would not leave his post as Missouri’s AG – or abandon his aspirations to run for state governor – only to serve as Patel’s number two. Under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998, Bailey, who starts at the Bureau on September 15th, would be eligible to fill the FBI Director post – should it become vacant – after he has been employed by the FBI for at least 90 days. Multiple sources close to Trump acknowledged the president was not thrilled with some past episodes of Patel’s performance – including a public feud with AG Bondi over the administration’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case. One senior White House official involved in personnel decisions also framed Patel’s botched communications during the manhunt for Charlie Kirk’s assassin as something Patel likely wished he could do differently, if he could do it all over again. Trump did not call for any action to be taken in response to it, the person said. Patel’s purported off-ramp, which the White House denies, would not involve his firing but a reassignment to another administration role, according to multiple people who described it. “He’ll get Billy Long-ed,” one person said. Less than two months after his Senate confirmation, recent former IRS Commissioner Billy Long was nominated to become the next U.S. ambassador to Iceland. Such decisions would originate from the White House, and a senior official involved in decision-making there dismissed the allegations as baseless and even wishful thinking from figures who might benefit. Three sources also pointed out co-Deputy Director Dan Bongio’s days are more likely numbered than Patel’s, as he threatened to quit amid fallout from the Epstein feud with Bondi. Bongino declined to respond to claims from anonymous sources. In a phone call, he emphasized the FBI’s accomplishments in the short tenure of the new administration, including the success of Operation Summer Heat against violent crime nationwide. After DOJ leadership announced Bailey’s new position, Patel’s allies began quietly inquiring with figures inside and outside the administration about whispers of plans for his departure. Some of the claims were less whispers than shouts, with some going so far as to claim White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles was supportive of plans to replace Patel. Wiles strongly denied ever making such statements and described Kash as a friend of many years. NEW FBI DEPUTY DIRECTOR ANDREW BAILEY BEGINS WORK ALONGSIDE BONGINO Bailey said in a statement to FOX, “Any suggestion that I was brought in to replace anyone in leadership at the FBI or spin my appointment into a sign of division, is simply false – I am honored to serve the FBI and Department of Justice as we work together to keep our nation safe.” Wiles also told FOX, discussions surrounding Bailey’s hiring pertained only to the co-deputy director job he is set to serve in, starting Monday. Fox is told Patel has received ongoing guidance from Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio on improving his working relationship with Bondi. A senior White House official close to President Trump also expressed a desire for Patel to limit his presence on social media, given the gravity of the position he holds. Patel’s conduct online sparked the latest flashpoint in concerns over his ability to effectively carry out his duties as FBI Director. On Thursday, investigators in Orem, Utah delayed an afternoon press conference citing “rapid developments” as Patel jetted in from New York to appear alongside Gov. Spencer Cox. When officials took to the podium late in the evening, the FBI Director did not speak. Multiple sources told FOX he was forcefully instructed not to – adding that investigators had still not identified a suspect when the briefing was delayed. The unusual field appearance from the FBI Director – which current and former agents say can grind time-sensitive fieldwork to a halt – followed Patel’s hasty announcement on social media Wednesday that “the subject for the horrific shooting today that took the life of Charlie Kirk is now in custody.” The news came as an apparent surprise to local authorities about to deliver an update in a televised briefing, who indicated the killer was still at large. Shortly after, the FBI clarified that two people had been questioned and released, and the search was ongoing. “Total amateur hour,” one federal official said of the incident. The back-to-back communications fumbles sparked fury from AG Bondi, Deputy AG Blanche, and the White House, multiple sources told FOX. On Friday, when authorities announced that the 22-year-old Utah man suspected of Kirk’s murder was in custody, Governor Spencer Cox took the leading role in handling the press. There was concern, one source told FOX, that “letting Kash talk much could f*ck up the prosecution”. Asked
Turning Point USA says campus chapter requests surge to over 32,000 after Kirk’s assassination
Turning Point USA has seen a massive surge in inquiries for new college chapters as the organization works to advance Charlie Kirk’s vision following his assassination last week. Andrew Kolvet, executive producer of “The Charlie Kirk Show,” said Sunday that, in the past 48 hours, Turning Point USA (TPUSA) has received more than 32,000 inquiries from people wanting to start new campus chapters. “To put that in perspective, TPUSA currently has 900 official college chapters and around 1,200 high school chapters, with a presence of 3,500 total,” Kolvet, who is also a TPUSA spokesman, wrote on X. SLEEPING GIANT’ LIKELY WOKE UP FOR TURNING POINT USA AFTER CHARLIE KIRK’S ASSASSINATION “Charlie’s vision to have a Club America chapter (our high school brand) in every high school in America (around 23,000) will come true much, much faster than he could have ever possibly imagined,” Kolvet added, calling the response to expand Kirk’s mission “truly incredible.” In a separate post, Kolvet wrote, “This is the Turning Point.” Kirk was assassinated during an outdoor event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday afternoon. The event was the first in what was supposed to be a series called “American Comeback Tour.” Kirk, the charismatic 31-year-old founder of the conservative youth activist group, gained recognition for his signature political debates on college campuses. COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CHARLIE KIRK On Thursday evening, the second family escorted Kirk’s casket and family from Utah to their home state of Arizona on Air Force Two. A video of the moment showed his wife, Erika Kirk, visibly emotional on the tarmac as the casket passed before her. The couple have two young children. Kirk’s celebration of life ceremony is scheduled for next Sunday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. President Donald Trump said he will attend Kirk’s funeral. On Friday evening, Kirk’s widow galvanized the TPUSA movement and vowed to carry on her husband’s mission. ‘DARK MOMENT FOR AMERICA’: TRUMP DECLARES KIRK’S VOICE ‘BIGGER AND GRANDER’ AFTER ASSASSINATION “To everyone listening tonight across America, the movement my husband built will not die,” Kirk said. “I refuse to let that happen. No one will ever forget my husband’s name. And I will make sure of it. It will become stronger. Bolder. Louder and greater than ever,” Kirk said. She also said that TPUSA’s annual “AmericaFest” conference in Phoenix this December will continue as scheduled. Judah Waxelbaum, a former campus activist at Arizona State University for Republican causes, said that the assassination likely awoke a “sleeping giant” and will likely see an increase in members. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “Turning Point’s not going anywhere. Turning Point, I think, will probably actually get significantly larger in the wake of what happened to Charlie,” he told Fox News Digital in an interview on Saturday. “You couldn’t do youth politics in Arizona, really anywhere in the United States without coming across Charlie Kirk. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they’ve woken up a sleeping giant.” Fox News Digital’s Cameron Arcand contributed to this report.
Death penalty looms for Charlie Kirk’s accused killer but legal bar is high as Trump, Cox mount pressure
Law enforcement officials arrested the man accused of shooting and killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Utah on Friday after a frantic 33-hour manhunt. The suspect’s fate now hinges on whether the state pursues capital charges as political pressure mounts. Prosecutors have not yet filed charges against Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old accused of killing Kirk after driving nearly four hours to Utah Valley University, where the longtime Trump ally was speaking. It also remains unclear whether they will seek the death penalty, a step publicly urged by both President Donald Trump and Utah Gov. Spencer Cox. At a Friday news conference, Cox said investigators used surveillance footage from the stadium and tips from Robinson’s family and friends to identify him before the arrest. He also said charges would be filed “soon.” “We got him,” Cox said. ‘THIS IS ON ALL OF US’: LAWMAKERS TAKE HARD LOOK AT HOW POLITICAL RHETORIC PLAYED ROLE IN KIRK’S ASSASSINATION The governor vowed that Robinson would be “held accountable” for Kirk’s death, which he called a “political assassination.” “This is certainly about the tragic death, assassination, political assassination of Charlie Kirk, but it is also much bigger than an attack on an individual,” Cox said. “It is an attack on all of us. It is an attack on the American experiment.” Kirk’s graphic death and the scant public information revealed in its wake have left the nation reeling and revived heated debate about political violence in the U.S. It’s also sparked a litany of questions about how prosecutors will bring the case against Robinson, with Utah law and years of precedent making capital punishment difficult to pursue. ENGRAVINGS ON SHOOTER’S AMMO EXPOSES CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSINATION MOTIVE Robinson is being held at Utah County Jail. A probable cause affidavit reviewed by Fox News Digital lists potential charges including aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious injury and obstruction of justice. Utah law allows prosecutors to seek the death penalty only in cases where an individual is charged with “aggravated murder” — or a murder that knowingly “created a great risk of death” to another person besides the victim or defendant. The offense is listed in the affidavit, which could open the door for prosecutors to seek the death penalty. The clock is ticking: Utah law requires state prosecutors to file a specific notice of intent within 60 days after an individual is arraigned on aggravated murder charges to notify the court and defense attorneys that they plan to try the case as a capital felony. Doing so sets into motion a complex legal process — including a two-part, or bifurcated trial, to decide both guilt and whether the defendant should receive capital punishment. Otherwise, the case is tried under charges of a “noncapitalist fist-degree penalty,” eligible for a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole. TRUMP SAYS SLAIN CONSERVATIVE ACTIVIST CHARLIE KIRK WAS ‘LIKE A SON’ TO HIM IN EMOTIONAL TRIBUTE Cox and Trump both suggested in interviews earlier this week that the state should seek the death penalty against Kirk’s killer, even before Robinson was named as a suspect. “I hope he gets the death penalty,” Trump said Friday morning on “Fox & Friends,” calling Kirk “the finest person.” The Beehive State is one of 27 states that still allows the death penalty, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. It’s also one of just five states where execution by firing squad remains legal. SECRET SERVICE UNDER PRESSURE: WHAT KIRK’S ASSASSINATION MEANS FOR TRUMP’S SECURITY Even so, capital punishment cases are rarely pursued in Utah. The state has carried out only two executions in the past 20 years, and inmates spend an average of 34 years on death row. Only four men are currently on death row in Utah, each for “decades,” according to KUTV. For Robinson, whose criminal trial will draw national attention, particularly from the president and his allies, it’s still far too early to predict the outcome. Already, Robinson’s case has fueled intense speculation — even as some lawmakers urged calm. “History will dictate if this is a turning point for our country,” Cox said, “but every single one of us gets to choose right now if this is a turning point for us.”