‘Sleeping giant’ likely woke up for Turning Point USA after Charlie Kirk’s assassination
The assassination of Charlie Kirk has brought light to his organization, Turning Point USA (TPUSA), and what comes next for the group known for mobilizing young people in the conservative movement. During livestreamed remarks on Friday night, his widow, Erika Kirk, stressed individuals getting involved with TPUSA, adding that the annual AmericaFest conference in Phoenix this December will continue as scheduled. “To everyone listening tonight across America, the movement my husband built will not die,” Kirk said. “It won’t. 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. My husband’s mission will not end. Not even for a moment. UTAH STUDENTS LIFT VOICES IN PRAYER AT VIGIL FOR CHARLIE KIRK’S CHRISTIAN LEGACY: ‘FELT CALLED BY GOD’ “I’ll make Turning Point USA the biggest thing that this nation has ever seen,” she later added. “I love you, baby. Rest in the arms of our Lord.” The address led to some users on X suggesting that she will likely be Kirk’s heir to the group, which has over 2,000 student groups and over 800 faith-based groups, according to its website. “I think Erika Kirk should be Turning Point USA’s CEO,” former TPUSA staffer Anthony DeWitt posted. ANTI-TRUMP VOICES PRAISE CHARLIE KIRK’S LEGACY AFTER ASSASSINATION, SAY HE WAS DOING POLITICS ‘THE RIGHT WAY’ Following his assassination, the group is expected to see a surge in support. Judah Waxelbaum, a former campus activist at Arizona State University for Republican causes, said that the assassination likely awoke a “sleeping giant” with the current size of TPUSA. “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, noting that “you couldn’t do youth politics in Arizona, really anywhere in the United States without coming across Charlie Kirk.” CHARLIE KIRK PAINTED AS ‘CONTROVERSIAL,’ ‘PROVOCATIVE’ IN MEDIA’S ASSASSINATION COVERAGE “They do incredible work with mobilizing and getting voters out there and chasing the vote. And they’re going to be energized. They have to be, and it’s what Charlie would have wanted,” Waxelbaum said. “No one who admires Charlie Kirk is walking away from electioneering or what we’re doing in the youth space. And in a lot of ways, I wouldn’t be surprised if they’ve woken up a sleeping giant,” he added. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Kirk’s celebration of life ceremony is scheduled for next Sunday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. He was assassinated at Utah Valley University during one of his famous “Prove Me Wrong” events, where he would take questions and debate students, on Wednesday. Vigils across the country have been underway for days, including on college campuses.
Charlie Kirk’s alleged assassin lived with transgender partner who is now cooperating with FBI: Officials
EXCLUSIVE: Charlie Kirk’s alleged assassin lived with his transgender partner, senior-level FBI officials told Fox News Digital. Bureau officials confirmed that Tyler Robinson, 22, was in a “romantic relationship” with the unnamed person, who is a male transitioning to a female, and that they shared an apartment in Saint George, Utah. Those FBI officials told Fox News Digital that Robinson’s partner is fully cooperating with the FBI’s investigation. TRUMP PRAISES FBI DIRECTOR KASH PATEL FOR SPEEDY CAPTURE OF CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSIN One FBI official told Fox News Digital the individual has been “extremely cooperative,” and said the person “had no idea” Robinson was allegedly planning to assassinate the Turning Point USA founder. The person is not currently accused of any criminal activity in connection with the assassination. FBI officials told Fox News Digital that the FBI had text messages and other communications between Robinson and his partner that helped FBI agents zero in on Robinson. Officials said the FBI took evidence from their apartment, including computers, which has been sent to Quantico for review, Fox News Digital has learned. WHO IS TYLER ROBINSON? WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT CHARLIE KIRK’S SUSPECTED ASSASSIN The FBI declined to comment on whether Robinson’s partner would be charged with a crime. “The FBI is investigating a record number of tips,” an FBI spokesperson said. “Every connection, every group, every link will be investigated and anyone involved in this matter, anywhere in the world they might be, will be brought to justice.” The apartment Robinson and his partner shared is in the same southern Utah community Robinson’s parents live in. It is approximately four hours away from Utah Valley University, where Robinson allegedly shot Kirk. Kirk was killed Wednesday as he spoke to a crowd at the school’s campus in Orem. Authorities believe a single shot was fired from the roof of a building some 200 yards away. Kirk was 31, and the married father of two young children. Moments before Robinson allegedly shot Kirk, an audience member asked Kirk: “Do you know how many transgender Americans have been mass shooters over the last 10 years?” Kirk replied: “Too many.” Kirk was then asked: “Do you know how many mass shooters there have been in America over the last 10 years?” Kirk replied: “Counting or not counting gang violence?” Kirk was then assassinated. A law enforcement source told Fox News Digital that Robinson’s father, who ultimately turned him in to authorities, told the FBI that he recognized his son from surveillance video images which FBI Director Kash Patel directed to be made public as the 33-hour manhunt unfolded. The source told Fox News Digital that when Robinson arrived at his father’s home, he said he wanted to kill himself. The source told Fox News Digital that the father spoke with a minister the family knew before turning in his son. Meanwhile, the rifle that the FBI believes was used to kill Kirk contained ammunition inscribed with anti-fascist messaging. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox confirmed the messaging at a news conference Friday, saying investigators discovered inscriptions on casings found with a bolt-action rifle near the campus. One used casing and three unused casings contained the writings, Cox said. News of the ammunition inscriptions was first shared on social media Thursday morning in a preliminary bulletin attributed to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Utah leaders urge unity following Charlie Kirk’s assassination: ‘Turning Point for America’
In the days following Charlie Kirk’s assassination, Utahns have united at memorials and candlelit vigils to honor the 31-year-old conservative influencer’s life and legacy. “It’s really important we support each other,” Republican Utah state Senate President Stuart Adams told Fox News Digital. “I’m very proud of our community for coming together to try to support one another as we work our way through this.” As local leaders urge the community to lean on their friends, family and neighbors, many have echoed Utah Republican Gov. Spencer Cox’s call to action against political violence. “History will dictate if this is a turning point for our country, but every single one of us gets to choose right now if this is a turning point for us,” Cox said during a press conference on Friday after announcing the suspect, Tyler Robinson, had been arrested. UTAH STUDENTS LIFT VOICES IN PRAYER AT VIGIL FOR CHARLIE KIRK’S CHRISTIAN LEGACY: ‘FELT CALLED BY GOD’ Adams said it’s vital that Americans put their phones down, as Kirk encouraged, to contribute something constructive to the community. EYEWITNESS DESCRIBES MOMENT CHARLIE KIRK WAS ASSASSINATED: ‘WE KNEW IMMEDIATELY’ “This is a turning point for America as we see what we want to become, what we want to do, what we want America to be, and surely we don’t want America to be filled with hate. We want to fill it with love, with the type of discourse and free speech that Charlie represented,” Adams said. Utah Attorney General Derek Brown told Fox News Digital that Utahns can honor Kirk’s life by modeling his commitment to open dialogue. “He engaged in a productive, respectful dialogue, and he showed a model for how to engage productively with people that you might disagree with,” Brown said, adding that “he was modeling the very behavior that he encouraged people to do” until the moment he died. As attorney general, Brown has collaborated with local and federal law enforcement agencies and the U.S. Department of Justice to ensure Kirk’s assassin “pays the price for what he’s done.” “If that’s state law, if that’s federal law, if that is a combination of both, we’ll make sure justice is served in this case,” Brown said. While Brown carries out his job, he said it’s the community’s job to “learn how to cope with what’s happened, to learn how to heal.” “I have people close to me in my own family and on my own staff even, who were part of the experience. They were there, they saw it happen. I think it’s important for us to process the trauma and the experience and to understand what it is and, ideally, to use it to bring us together,” he said. Taylor Bentley, a Utah resident who said he was 15 to 20 yards from Kirk when he was assassinated, told Fox News Digital that he has loved the message of unity from community leaders, particularly the governor. And Brown agreed that Cox’s unifying message has “showcased the best that we have to offer as a state.” Bentley said Cox has “done a phenomenal job in pushing a message of unity, of faith, of hope and of embracing the message that Charlie pushed out there of open dialogue, and of avoiding violence, and of approaching our disagreements with words instead of violence.” The governor said Kirk’s “political assassination” is an “attack on the American experiment,” and he has urged not just Utah residents, but Americans, to live out Kirk’s legacy by engaging peacefully and condemning political violence. Since the assassination on Wednesday, Utah residents have organized several events honoring Kirk’s life. On Friday night, hundreds of Utah State University students gathered for a vigil hosted by the campus’ Turning Point USA chapter. In Orem City Park on Thursday evening, students and local residents paid their respects during a candlelit vigil. A memorial honoring Kirk at the Timpanogos Regional Hospital is filled with “We love you, Charlie” posters, flowers and American flags. More signs and flowers have been placed for Kirk on Utah Valley University’s campus. Flags are flying throughout the state at half-staff this week, and many also gathered for a vigil at the Utah State Capitol on Wednesday evening hours after Kirk’s assassination.
Trump praises FBI Director Kash Patel for speedy capture of Charlie Kirk assassin
EXCLUSIVE: President Trump on Saturday praised FBI Director Kash Patel for the remarkable speed in which the bureau identified and captured Charlie Kirk’s alleged assassin. Tyler Robinson, 22, was nabbed in his hometown of Washington, Utah, just 33 hours after he allegedly shot Kirk from a rooftop on the campus of Utah Valley University. The capture came after a frantic manhunt that began with only grainy images of the suspect’s figure fleeing the scene. WHO IS TYLER ROBINSON? WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT CHARLIE KIRK’S SUSPECTED ASSASSIN “I am very proud of the FBI,” Trump said, speaking exclusively with Fox News Digital. “Kash—and everyone else—they have done a great job.” Officials shared with Fox News Digital new details of the timeline of the investigation into the identification and arrest of Tyler Robinson and the unusual hands-on role Patel played in the process. According to the FBI, Robinson was seen on the campus on Sept. 10, the day Kirk was shot, presumably conducting reconnaissance between 8:28 and 9:34 a.m. At 11:52 a.m., Robinson returned, climbed an exterior stairway to the roof of the Losee building, and took up a position at the highest level of the roof at 12:22 p.m., according to officials. He allegedly shot Kirk just a minute later. Robinson then lowered himself from the roof and dropped to the ground, authorities said. Two minutes after he allegedly shot Kirk, Robinson ran into a nearby wooded area, where the gun was later found. Local FBI was on the scene immediately after the shooting, and Patel arrived at around 5:30 p.m. local time on Sept. 11. TIMELINE OF CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSINATION Patel was walked through the entire crime scene, and stood where Kirk was murdered. Patel walked each step the suspect took, according to sources familiar with the investigation. Patel also went to the rooftop where Robinson had allegedly perched and retraced his steps as he fled, including into the wooded area where the gun, a Mauser 30.06 rifle, was found. Patel personally directed agents as they processed evidence and prepared to send it to Quantico, ATF labs, or local labs. Sources told Fox News Digital that Patel then directed the evidence to be loaded onto a plane with initial forensics and evidence collected and sent it back to the FBI labs for processing. A law enforcement source told Fox News Digital that, typically, when evidence is collected in an investigation, an agent ships it to the labs. But the source said Patel directed that the evidence and fingerprints be sent back to Quantico via plane—traveling back and forth from Utah collecting and delivering evidence. “The DNA was being analyzed through the night because the director was there and he was directing all of this,” the source told Fox News Digital. “He directed everyone and said ‘You’re going to get the evidence out now.’” The source added: “The evidence was getting back to the labs in rapid-speed. That’s why he was caught so quickly.” Fox News Digital also learned that Patel, against all recommendations, demanded the video footage of the suspect be released to the public. A law enforcement source familiar told Fox News Digital that Robinson’s father, who ultimately turned him in to authorities, told the FBI that he recognized his son in that released video.
‘Speak English, period’: GOP bill axes interpreter loophole in citizenship exam
FIRST ON FOX: People who are not proficient in English could be shut out of taking the U.S. citizenship test under a new House Republican proposal. Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., plans to introduce a bill that would mandate the citizenship test be taken entirely in English, Fox News Digital has learned. There are several different components to the U.S. citizenship exam. While most portions are English-only, the civics test — in which the applicant is asked 10 out of 100 possible questions on U.S. history and government — can currently be taken in other languages, provided that certain criteria are met. Fine’s bill would eliminate those exceptions. HOUSE MOVES TO EXPOSE EPSTEIN FILES, AUTHORIZES OVERSIGHT PROBE “The fact that U.S. citizenship applicants can currently use an interpreter to take the naturalization test undermines the idea of assimilation into American culture. If you want to live in an English-speaking country, you should be able to speak English, period,” Fine told Fox News Digital. “My bill will require all applicants to take the naturalization test exclusively in English, because both metaphorically and literally, everyone who enters our country with the intent of staying should speak our language.” Current law states that people aged 50 or older who have lived in the U.S. as a permanent resident for at least 20 years are allowed to take the civics portion in another language. People aged 55 or older who have been a U.S. permanent resident for at least 15 years have the same exemption. Both groups of people are required to bring an interpreter fluent in English and their native language to the exam. LONGTIME BIDEN AIDE SAYS HE STOOD TO EARN UP TO $8M HAD PRESIDENT WON RE-ELECTION The bill would likely run into opposition from immigrant advocacy groups, however. Fine’s proposal comes after President Donald Trump signed an executive order in March naming English as the country’s official language — the first time in its history that the U.S. has done so.
Professor slammed for ‘despicable behavior’ with controverisal reposts on Charlie Kirk
A University of Pennsylvania senior administrator is under fire for reposts and a controversial post of his own on X following Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk’s assassination. ‘The white on white violence has gotten out of hand,” Professor Michael E. Mann, the director for the Center for Science, Sustainability & the Media, wrote in a now-deleted X post. He also retweeted multiple posts slamming Kirk, including one from Max Granger mocking Ezra Klein’s New York Times column on the conservative activist, which said “Ezra Klein: I had my differences with the head of Trump’s Hitler Youth, but we both wanted the same thing: to make America great again.” FLASHBACK: CHARLIE KIRK WARNED OF LEFT-WING ‘ASSASSINATION CULTURE’ MONTHS BEFORE HIS MURDER He retweeted another post on Klein’s “Charlie Kirk Was Practicing Politics the Right Way” column, dubbing it “whitewashing’ Kirk’s legacy. Mann himself posted that Utah Gov. Spencer Cox “was all ‘thoughts and prayers’ in the press conference” and included a link to Everytown, a gun control advocacy group, regarding a bill Cox previously signed. His posts got the attention of conservative commentators as well as Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Penn. “This is despicable behavior. This dangerous rhetoric cannot and will not be tolerated. I will unequivocally Comden this behavior and demand UPenn take immediate, decisive action,” McCormick wrote. SPORTS OUTLET SEVERS TIES WITH SUNS BEAT WRITER OVER CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSINATION POSTS “When people in positions of power, like [Mann], continually demonize their political opponents, calling them “nazis’ and “threats to democracy,” they cannot act shocked when people act on their inflammatory rhetoric,” Will Hild, executive director of Consumers’ Research, posted. “This is wholly unacceptable, [University of Pennsylvania]. Fire him.” Zach Parkinson, a GOP communications director, pointed out Mann’s past Democratic ties, including being praised by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2024 on climate policy and being listed as a guest at a “Humanists for Harris” event hosted in Oct. 2024 by the Secular Democrats of America. “Mann isn’t some random lefty Twitter troll. He’s a part of the Democratic establishment.” Parkinson wrote. “He’s been repeatedly invited by Democrats to testify in front of Congress, was an advisor to Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign, and is regularly featured by Democrats at political events.” CHARLIE KIRK WARNED ‘ASSASSINATION CULTURE IS SPREADING ON THE LEFT’ IN EERIE ONLINE POST MONTHS BEFORE MURDER Conservative communicator Steve Guest called the reposts “absolutely ghoulish content.” Mann attempted to clear the air following the backlash on Thursday. “I reposted this earlier today. I was simply agreeing w/ the (widespread) criticism of Ezra Klein’s claim that Kirk was ‘practicing politics the right way.’ I do NOT approve of the inappropriate & inflammatory language used to describe Kirk (which I’d overlooked. Have deleted,” he said in regards to Granger’s “Hitler Youth” remarks. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP In another post, Mann wrote that he hopes “they catch him” when referring to the suspect in the Kirk Shooting. “Political violence is completely unacceptable no matter what ‘side’ it is on. I hope we can all agree with that,” Mann wrote. Kirk’s assassination drew an outpouring of tributes for him and his family, but many people continue to fall into the spotlight for comments either praising or downplaying the tragedy. Fox News Digital reached out to the University of Pennsylvania, Mann and his public relations representative for comment.
Activists sound alarm on ‘deeply troubling’ poll showing support for Mamdani’s anti-Israel messaging
A poll released this week showing socialist New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani with a commanding lead in the race also showed him leading the pack when it comes to messaging on the issue of Israel and Palestine. The New York Times/Siena College survey — which was conducted from Sept. 2 to 6 — found that the survey — which was conducted from Sept. 2 to 6 — asked likely New York City voters, regardless of which candidate they support, “which of the following mayoral candidates do you think has best addressed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict during the campaign.” Mamdani led the field with 43% followed by former Gov. Andrew Cuomo at 16%, current mayor Eric Adams at 11%, and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa at 8%. The poll also showed that 46% of likely voters sympathized with Palestinians compared to 29% with Israel. FLASHBACK: ZOHRAN MAMDANI SAYS ‘ISRAEL IS NOT A PLACE’ AND ‘NOT A COUNTRY’ Mamdani’s positions and past comments on Israel have been a hot button issue in the race as he has faced criticism from many in the Jewish community for refusing to explicitly denounce the phrase “globalize the intifada,” supporting economic boycotts of Israel, surrounding himself with advisers that hold anti-Israel views, and a social media post last year that critics say was mocking Jewish people. Human rights attorney Brooke Goldstein told Fox News Digital the term “Israeli-Palestinian conflict” is a “misnomer in itself” and called the poll results “deeply troubling.” “In reality, his record is clear: he is an anti-Israel radical, a pro-Hamas sympathizer in a suit, running for office to undermine the very fabric of what this country stands for,” Goldstein said. “The fact that this has even become a campaign issue reflects just how poisoned our political system has become. Foreign agendas and blood-soaked ideologies have seeped into our politics, shaping them in hateful ways.” Goldstein continued, “Our education system, from K-12 through college, is radicalizing students at an alarming rate. If we do not take this seriously, and if figures like Mr. Mamdani are elevated to office, the consequences for America’s future will be dire.” A spokesperson for StopAntisemitism also told Fox News Digital the poll results are “deeply troubling” and “underscores the growing hostility towards Israel we are seeing in New York”, adding that a Mamdani victory would be “disastrous” for the city. MAMDANI’S FATHER SITS ON COUNCIL OF ANTI-ISRAEL GROUP TIED TO TERROR, LEGITIMIZES ROLE OF SUICIDE BOMBERS “The fact that so many New Yorkers view Mamdani as the best voice on Israel and Palestine is a sign of how deeply antisemitism has taken root in the city,” the spokesperson told Fox News Digital. “His rise is not about thoughtful policy but about the normalization of antisemitism through extremist groups, such as the red-green alliance. New Yorkers deserve leadership that unites, not one that scapegoats Israel and emboldens violence towards Jews in America.” In addition to his positions on Israel, Mamdani has been heavily criticized on the issue of crime due to his past calls to defund the police and hostile comments about the New York Police Department. While the majority of likely NYC voters said that crime and safety are their top concern, 30%, when asked regardless of who they support, which candidate would do the “best” job on crime, said Mamdani. Cuomo followed with 29%, Sliwa with 23%, and Adams with 15%. The poll showed that a head-to-head race between Cuomo and Mamdani would significantly narrow Mamdani’s lead to just four points. Rafael Mangual, senior fellow and head of research for policing and public safety at the Manhattan Institute, told Fox News Digital Mamdani’s numbers in that category are due to having three opponents in the race. UNEARTHED MAMDANI COLLEGE NEWSPAPER WRITINGS PROMOTE ANTI-ISRAEL BOYCOTT, RAIL AGAINST ‘WHITE PRIVILEGE’ “I read that as 70% don’t trust him on crime,” Mangual said. “The problem is that those skeptical of Mamdani’s approach to public safety are split between three candidates.” Overall, the survey found that on the question of who people would support if the contest “were held today,” a whopping 46% of likely New York City voters chose Mamdani, compared to just 24% who selected Cuomo. Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa scored only 15%, while incumbent Mayor Eric Adams earned just 9%. “New York City is not for sale. The backroom scheming from Donald Trump and the billionaire class is backfiring, as New Yorkers see Zohran Mamdani is the only candidate who will fight to make the most expensive city in the country more affordable,” Mamdani campaign spokesperson Dora Pekec said in a statement. “Our campaign is busy building a movement that puts working people first – mobilizing thousands to get involved in the democratic process and fight for a new kind of politics,” Pekec added. Fox News Digital’s Alex Nitzberg contributed to this report.
White House closes week mourning Charlie Kirk, remembering 9/11 terrorist attacks in NY
President Donald Trump closed the week mourning the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, and honoring those who were lost in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Kirk, 31, was assassinated during his “American Comeback Tour” at Utah Valley University on Wednesday. His death comes a year after two assassination attempts against Trump. “To my fellow Americans, I am filled with grief and anger at the heinous assassination of Charlie Kirk on a college campus in Utah,” Trump said in a video address to the nation on Wednesday, hours after announcing Kirk’s death. BASEBALL FANS PAY TRIBUTE TO CHARLIE KIRK AT YANKEES-TIGERS GAME “Charlie inspired millions and tonight, all who knew him and loved him are united in shock and horror,” Trump said. “Charlie was a patriot who devoted his life to the cause of open debate and the country that he loved so much, the United States of America. He fought for liberty, democracy, justice and the American people. He’s a martyr for truth and freedom, and there’s never been anyone who was so respected by youth.” Trump said in an interview with “Fox & Friends” on Friday that an arrest had been made in connection with 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.” ‘DARK MOMENT FOR AMERICA’: TRUMP DECLARES CHARLIE KIRK’S VOICE ‘BIGGER AND GRANDER’ AFTER ASSASSINATION Trump also commemorated the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks at the Pentagon and in New York City on Thursday. Trump, along with first lady Melania Trump, visited the Pentagon on Thursday morning to remember the 2,977 lives lost in the attacks. “This morning, we recall the light of America’s best and bravest and the love that they showed in their final moments,” Trump said. TRUMP ARRIVES AT YANKEE STADIUM, GIVES SPEECH TO TEAM AHEAD OF 9/11 ANNIVERSARY GAME Late on Thursday, Trump headed to New York and visited the Yankees home clubhouse, before being seated in a suite by the third base side with Yankees team owner Hal Steinbrenner and president Randy Levine. “USA” chants broke out before and after the anthem at the game. Trump hasn’t attended a baseball game since the 2021 World Series. Fox News’ Ryan Morik contributed to this report.
Kash Patel’s false start on Charlie Kirk killer draws scrutiny, but FBI nabbed suspect in the end
The FBI’s success in apprehending Charlie Kirk’s alleged assassin came one day after Director Kash Patel initially misreported that the suspect was in custody, a move that sparked consternation and criticism as the nation reeled over Kirk’s violent death. Patel’s misstep during the fast-moving investigation was overshadowed Friday by the breakthrough news that a 22-year-old Utah man had been detained and will face charges for the deadly shooting. But the flaws during the whirlwind 33-hour manhunt did not go unnoticed. Patel on Thursday announced — then quickly retracted — that authorities had detained the person responsible for killing Kirk. Fox News’ Laura Ingraham responded “unreal” to Patel’s revelation that the gunman was still at large. Conservative activist Chris Rufo said Friday he was “grateful” authorities arrested a suspect but that it was “time for Republicans to reassess” whether Patel was fit for the job. CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSINATION: TIMELINE OF UTAH CAMPUS SHOOTING DETAILS ATTACK, MANHUNT FOR SUSPECT “He performed terribly in the last few days,” Rufo wrote on social media Friday, adding that he has been talking with conservative leaders who are questioning the FBI’s leadership structure, which includes Patel, Deputy Director Dan Bongino, and, as of next week, Andrew Bailey, who is taking on the unprecedented role of FBI co-deputy director. A White House spokesman said in a statement that “Patel and his team worked night and day to find this murderer and bring him to justice.” “Anyone who doubts his resolve and dedication – especially when Charlie was such a close friend to him – simply is using this extremely sad moment in a disgusting act of political gamesmanship,” Communication Director Steven Cheung said, adding the suspect will “face the full wrath of the justice system.” The backlash began after Patel said Thursday that “the subject for the horrific shooting today that took the life of Charlie Kirk is now in custody,” before saying less than two hours later that he had the wrong person. It was the second time that day authorities had arrested someone in the case then let them go. “The subject in custody has been released after an interrogation by law enforcement,” Patel then said, adding the investigation was ongoing. CHARLIE KIRK’S SUSPECTED ASSASSIN IDENTIFIED AFTER FATAL SHOOTING OF INFLUENTIAL CONSERVATIVE VOICE IN UTAH At the same time that Patel said the killer had been caught, Utah law enforcement officials were giving a news conference saying the gunman was at large, leading social media users to convey confusion over the mixed messages. The blips during the manhunt for the person responsible for Kirk’s killing also put a spotlight on Patel’s and Bongino’s apparent fixation on social media, a point that a lawsuit against Patel and the Department of Justice laid out in thorough detail days prior. The lawsuit was brought by three top FBI officials who alleged their constitutional rights were violated when they were fired without explanation. One of the fired officials said Patel and Bongino lamented the “political capital” they had to spend to keep the official on the job, a reference to pressure Patel and Bongino were getting on social media about the official. Patel’s and Bongino’s actions were often dictated by social media comments, the lawsuit said. Also fueling the fire was a delayed news conference on Thursday that offered little new detail as the investigation was underway. Patel appeared at the news conference but did not speak. Upon announcing the suspect’s arrest Friday morning, the FBI director gave remarks of gratitude to the agency, local law enforcement, the media and public for contributing to the arrest. Patel made clear that he had been directing the FBI behind the scenes during the past couple days. “Warroom” podcast host Steve Bannon, a former Trump advisor, said on his show that he didn’t “know why Kash Patel flew out there, thousands of miles” merely to thank people. Bannon suggested he wanted more details about the suspect and any possible accomplices. At this stage, the Trump administration has shown no outward signs of wavering on Patel. DEMS, GOP LAWMAKERS JOIN FORCES TO CONDEMN POLITICAL VIOLENCE AFTER CHARLIE KIRK SHOT In addition to the White House commending him, one source familiar said Patel’s social media posting during the Kirk case could have been handled better but that his initial erroneous message and the surrounding criticism of it came during the “fog of war,” as the investigation was rapidly evolving and emotions were high. The source said the focus should be on the success of the FBI’s operation and the “good police work” involved. A spokeswoman for Patel pointed to a statement she posted online highlighting that the FBI’s mission to identify Kirk’s assassin was a success and that Patel was intentional every step of the way. “Over these last few days, what has mattered isn’t ignorant criticism or petty assumptions — it’s been the pursuit of justice. Justice that was promised, justice that has now been delivered,” spokeswoman Erica Knight said. One retired FBI agent who worked at the bureau for two decades said Patel’s premature post seemed “reckless” and “too quick to the draw,” but the retired agent also said he viewed it as a problem that went beyond Patel. “It’s becoming a popularity contest,” the retired agent told Fox News Digital. “It’s not necessarily something that’s new either, because J. Edgar Hoover was big about leveraging the press to make the FBI look good. I mean, he was notorious for that. That tradition in the bureau has continued, but now it’s sort of like that on steroids.”
Following Kirk’s assassination, lawmakers react to lethal political climate: ‘Violent words precede violent actions’
Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle were in agreement that political discourse in the United States has reached a startling level following the assassination of Charlie Kirk and other recent acts of political violence. Kirk’s assassination is the latest in a string of political violence that has left several high-profile figures dead or injured since July 2024, when President Donald Trump was shot while campaigning for his second term in Butler, Pennsylvania. Trump was targeted again by a would-be assassin just months later. In April, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro was the victim of an arson attack. And in June, two Minnesota lawmakers and their families were attacked, leaving two dead. The political violence has had a chilling effect on the nation, with some lawmakers going so far as to cancel public appearances amid fears of physical violence. “We have a climate right now where people who are frankly unhinged … like the two guys who tried to shoot President Trump, one who did shoot him, the person – whoever it is – who killed Charlie, the person who went after the Minnesota lawmakers – these people are nuts,” Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., told Fox News Digital. “But they are egged on by a climate that says, ‘Hey, you know, it’s okay basically to go out and shoot your opponents because they’re really Hitler.’” ANTI-TRUMP VOICES PRAISE CHARLIE KIRK’S LEGACY AFTER ASSASSINATION, SAY HE WAS DOING POLITICS ‘THE RIGHT WAY’ The sentiment was echoed by Democratic lawmakers on the Hill as well. “It’s really sad and just scary, you know, honestly, just how dire things have gotten in this country in terms of our political discourse,” said Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J. “I was actually just remarking the other day how, in a survey, over 50% of Americans surveyed said that they would call people in the other political party ‘the enemy.’ I just think that’s terrifying, that’s so dangerous of a place for our country to be.” Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon added that in order for this Republic to work, people must be able to “passionately share [their] viewpoints and do so knowing that we resolve our differences through advocacy and voting, not through violence.” CHARLIE KIRK WARNED ‘ASSASSINATION CULTURE IS SPREADING ON THE LEFT’ IN EERIE ONLINE POST MONTHS BEFORE MURDER “I don’t know what it says about political discourse, but it certainly says something about violence, and it has no business in political discourse. You can have a robust disagreement with people, but when it turns to violence, something’s gone badly wrong,” responded Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., when asked about what Kirk’s death said about the current state of political discourse. Kirk was known for engaging passionately, but also respectfully, with students of all political stripes on college campuses as part of Turning Point USA, the grassroots organization he co-founded in 2012. He would regularly visit college campuses all around the country and debate with students from different perspectives on various issues of the day. Oftentimes, Kirk would hold “Prove Me Wrong” events, where he would give students a chance to do just that – prove him wrong. “I mean, that’s the shame of this. Charlie Kirk was polite, he had a message, and he spread that message, and he engaged people to speak and debate, and then he lost his life for that,” said Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky. “That’s the thing about this country, we have freedom of speech. Nobody should ever take out violence based on something somebody said.” “I would hope that all people would take a moment, reflect, and bring down this political rhetoric,” Rep. Jonathan Jackson, D-Ill., told Fox News Digital. “These violent words precede violent actions.” Hawley, meanwhile, suggested a tactic to help solve the issue. “I’ll just say again, part of the way we stop it, is we realize that there’s stuff in life that’s more important than politics,” he told reporters.