WATCH: Bipartisan group of lawmakers express shock, grief after Charlie Kirk’s killing
Republican and Democratic lawmakers alike mourned the “horrific” fatal shooting of conservative leader Charlie Kirk Wednesday. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., praised Kirk’s faith and positive message to young people, saying he “leaves a huge legacy.” “It’s going to be hard for anybody to fill his shoes,” she said. “He’s extremely important. Students all over the country would get very excited if they found out he was coming to their college campus. He brought in thousands of people to hear him speak. Even people that didn’t agree with him would come, ask questions, even argue with him. “He would go on college campuses and tell young people to get married and have children and just talk about how wonderful it is to be married and to have children,” she added. “He shared the word of God. He was a Christian, and he shared the gospel of Jesus Christ and encouraged young people.” LIVE UPDATES: MANHUNT FOR CHARLIE KIRK SHOOTER CONTINUES VANCE SHARES HOW HE LEARNED CHARLIE KIRK WAS GUNNED DOWN DURING WEST WING MEETING Greene added that she believes Kirk was “killed for the words that he says and the things that he stood for.” “He was always about the debate, and Charlie Kirk was never for violence. And to see him murdered in such a graphic way in front of the camera and that video is too gruesome,” said Greene. “We’re honestly shocked. We’re devastated,” she said. “I’m at a loss for words, and I’m not often at a loss for words.” Democrats have also expressed grief over Kirk’s death. Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., said, “It’s awful. It’s absolutely awful.” “I’m sorry for his family. There’s no room for political violence in our country, and we all can do more to just condemn it and hopefully that’s the antidote to it, but it’s awful, period,” said Swalwell. MESSAGES FOUND ON CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSIN’S GUN, SOURCES SAY Asked whether he was concerned about the safety of other political figures and members of Congress, Swalwell said, “We don’t have enough resources to protect the people who are threatened around here. But I don’t want to make it about us right now. This is just, it’s awful. “It has no room in our politics, and we can’t normalize political violence.” Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., blamed Kirk’s death on the media and Democrats who he accused of “fueling the political violence.” “Every single member of that party that is putting out politically violent statements, and so many of them have, should be censured, and they should be removed from every single one of their committees or more people are going to die,” Orden said. “This didn’t have to happen. It did not,” he added. “But it happened because of the violent political rhetoric coming out of the left being amplified by you people in the press. You are partially responsible for this. For both the assassination attempts for President Trump and for Charlie Kirk being shot.” SPEAKER JOHNSON ADDRESSES HOW A PRAYER IN CONGRESS ‘TURNED INTO AN ARGUMENT’ Pressed on whether both sides of the political aisle share in the responsibility for the ongoing spate of political violence, especially in light of the recent shootings of two Minnesota Democratic lawmakers and their spouses, Orden answered, “It’s horrible, I said the same thing.” “Let’s quit convoluting this issue. The vast majority, by orders of magnitudes, of the politically violent speech is coming out of the left. Period. So, until these people stop doing that, and until you stop trying to drive wedges between Republicans and Democrats and everyday Americans, this is going to happen again and again and again,” he said. “So, every single one of you people needs to go home tonight and do some deep soul-searching. There’s a dead man who left two kids in a widow because of you.”
Charlie Kirk’s murder the latest in increasing political violence nationwide, from PA governor to SCOTUS
Before Charlie Kirk was gunned down on a Utah college campus, political violence was already increasing domestically, from President Donald Trump‘s attempted assassination to the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion being attacked by an arsonist during Passover Seder. Kirk, 31, was shot in the neck by a yet-unknown assassin as he addressed a massive crowd at Utah Valley University on Wednesday. Kirk’s death sparked international outrage and mourning from figures including Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. CHARLIE KIRK PAINTED AS ‘CONTROVERSIAL,’ ‘PROVOCATIVE’ IN MEDIA’S ASSASSINATION COVERAGE “Charlie Kirk was murdered for speaking truth and defending freedom,” said Netanyahu, who called Kirk a “lion-hearted friend of Israel” who had been planning a trip to the Holy Land before he was assassinated. Trump has faced two assassination attempts in recent years. Ryan Routh, the suspect in the second alleged attempt, is currently in court in Fort Pierce, Fla., after he allegedly staked out a nearby golf course on which Trump was playing. In 2024, Trump was shot in the ear by Thomas M. Crooks while he addressed a rally in Butler County, Pa. Crooks, who had traveled from a Pittsburgh suburb, was shot dead by law enforcement, and Trump said he would have been killed if he hadn’t turned his head at the last second to describe a graphic on illegal immigration statistics. CHARLIE KIRK SHOOTING LEADS TO OUTPOURING FROM UTAH OFFICIALS, 2025 NOMS ON BOTH SIDES Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a likely 2028 Democratic presidential candidate, was allegedly targeted in another attack earlier this year. A man later identified as Cody Balmer of Dauphin County allegedly hopped a security fence, eluding Shapiro’s detail. Shapiro, Pennsylvania first lady Lori Shapiro, their four kids and another family were in the governor’s mansion after just celebrating Passover hours before with members of Harrisburg’s Jewish community. While no one was injured in the blaze, the historic home was severely damaged. “I refuse to be trapped by the bondage that someone attempts to put on me by attacking us as they did here last night. I refuse to let anyone who had evil intentions like that stop me from doing the work that I love.” Balmer’s voter registration was “unaffiliated,” according to The Associated Press, citing Pennsylvania State Police officials who also described the suspect’s use of Molotov cocktails and prior criminal charges. Charged with terrorism, attempted murder and other offenses, Balmer allegedly walked an hour from nearby Penbrook to the governor’s mansion, at the far end of Front Street from the State Capitol. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP After Kirk was shot, Shapiro condemned the attack, saying that Americans “must speak with moral clarity.” “The attack on Charlie Kirk is horrifying and this growing type of unconscionable violence cannot be allowed in our society,” Shapiro said. While running for governor in neighboring New York in 2022, EPA administrator Lee Zeldin was attacked onstage at a campaign event in Perinton, outside Syracuse. Zeldin, joined by running mate Alison Esposito, was addressing rallygoers when a man identified as David Jakubonis walked on stage sporting a blunt object and shouted to the Republican: “You’re done.” Zeldin, a veteran of the Iraq War, quickly grabbed the man’s wrist and a short scuffle ensued, leaving him with what was described as a “scrape.” After Jakubonis was subdued, Zeldin finished his speech. In 2022, Louisville Democratic Mayor Craig Greenberg and several campaign staffers were attacked by a gun-wielding assailant later allegedly identified as a social justice activist who was running for Metro Council in Kentucky’s largest city. Quintez Brown was later sentenced to 17 years in prison after pleading guilty to several charges, according to the Justice Department. Several shots were fired in the incident, and Greenberg’s clothing was grazed by a bullet, but there were no further injuries. Brown allegedly wanted to kill Greenberg to prevent him from winning the election, according to The Associated Press. On June 8, 2022, Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh was allegedly targeted by a California man upset with the ruling overturning Roe v. Wade via the Dobbs decision, as well as recent mass shooting incidents in the U.S. Nicholas Roske planned to break into Kavanaugh’s Chevy Chase, Maryland, home and kill him before killing himself, according to reports. When Roske arrived in the tony Washington suburb, he was noticed by U.S. Marshals stationed at the jurist’s home and left the scene before being arrested.
Trump to award Charlie Kirk Medal of Freedom after campus assassination
President Donald Trump said Thursday he will award Charlie Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously, after the conservative personality was shot and killed on a university campus on Wednesday. “I will soon be awarding Charlie Kirk posthumously, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The day of the ceremony will be announced, and I can only guarantee you one thing. That we will have a very big crowd. Very, very big.” Speaking at a Pentagon ceremony, Trump described Kirk as “a giant of his generation, a champion of liberty and an inspiration to millions and millions of people.” He added that the ceremony date would be announced soon, but promised “a very big crowd. Very, very big.” “I have no doubt that Charlie’s voice and the courage he put into the hearts of countless people, especially young people, will live on,” Trump said. CHARLIE KIRK PAINTED AS ‘CONTROVERSIAL,’ ‘PROVOCATIVE’ IN MEDIA’S ASSASSINATION COVERAGE Kirk, 31, co-founded the conservative student group Turning Point USA in 2012 and built it into one of the most influential youth organizations on the political right. Known for his fiery campus appearances and a massive social media presence, Kirk was a staunch supporter of Trump and a frequent critic of liberal institutions. Kirk was speaking at a “Prove Me Wrong” debate at Utah Valley University, in Orem, Utah, an event where he invited students to challenge his political and cultural views. A shot rang out around noon local time on Wednesday, and Kirk fell from his chair. The shooter remains at large, though the weapon has been recovered. Event organizers estimate some 3,000 people had been in attendance at the school. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the nation’s highest civilian honor. It is awarded to individuals who have made “especially meritorious” contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, or cultural and public endeavors. Kirk would join a list of recipients from presidents, lawmakers and foreign leaders to athletes, entertainers and human rights figures. ‘DARK MOMENT FOR AMERICA’: TRUMP DECLARES CHARLIE KIRK’S VOICE ‘BIGGER AND GRANDER’ AFTER ASSASSINATION Secretary of War Pete Hegseth also commemorated Kirk during the wreath laying ceremony to mark the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. “The young soldiers who take the oath give me hope. The young cops who wear the badge give me hope. The young firefighters answered the call. Give me hope. The young agents who patrol our border give me hope. The life example and even death of Christ follower, American patriot Charlie Kirk give me hope,” he said. “Sheer courage, no matter the arena. Charlie, we love you know that you have heard the Lord’s words. Well done, good and faithful servant. Full heart, clear eyes.” On Wednesday after the shooting, Trump called it a “dark day for America.” “It’s a long past time for all Americans and the media to confront the fact that violence and murder are the tragic consequence of demonizing those with whom you disagree day after day, year after year,” he said. “For years, those on the radical left have compared wonderful Americans like Charlie to Nazis and the world’s worst mass murderers and criminals.” In death, Trump said, “Charlie’s voice has become bigger and grander than ever before.”
Charlie Kirk to be tapped for Congressional Gold Medal by GOP lawmaker: ‘American hero’
EXCLUSIVE: Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., is introducing a resolution to give Charlie Kirk a posthumous Congressional Gold Medal, the highest award that can be given to a civilian by Congress, following his assassination on Wednesday. Kirk, 31, was assassinated while speaking at an outdoor event at Utah Valley University, and a major manhunt is still underway for the suspect. He was an icon of the conservative movement, primarily known for founding Turning Point USA, which is credited with helping embolden Generation Z and millennial conservative activists. Kirk was a close ally of President Donald Trump and considered a highly influential voice. VIGILS HELD ACROSS US AFTER ASSASSINATION OF CHARLIE KIRK: ‘WE MUST HEAL’ “Charlie Kirk was truly an American hero. He was an embodiment of the ideals that our country was founded upon. A devout Christian, a beloved husband, and a loving father to his daughter and son, Charlie lived a life dedicated to preserving and protecting faith, family, and freedom through respectful and open dialogue with anyone willing to engage with him,” Ogles told Fox News Digital in a statement. “His life was cut tragically short by an assassination at the hands of a terrorist, but his legacy will live on. I’ve introduced a resolution to honor him with the Congressional Gold Medal, a small token of gratitude and recognition for the incredible work he accomplished during his life. America will forever be a better place because of the life, faith, and work of Charlie Kirk,” he continued. According to a draft text of the resolution, which was obtained by Fox News Digital, two medals would be created – one to be given to his family and another to the Smithsonian Institution for “display and preservation.” VIDEO SHOWS MOMENTS BEFORE ASSASSINATION OF TURNING POINT USA FOUNDER CHARLIE KIRK The draft text adds that Kirk had an “undeniable love for his country and inspired an entire generation of young people to boldly protect and defend the principles of the American founding.” On Thursday morning, during a 9/11 memorial ceremony at the Pentagon, Trump announced that Kirk would get a posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom. “Charlie was a giant of his generation, a champion of liberty, and an inspiration to millions and millions of people,” he said. “Our prayers are with his wonderful wife Erika and his beautiful children.” ‘DARK MOMENT FOR AMERICA’: TRUMP DECLARES CHARLIE KIRK’S VOICE ‘BIGGER AND GRANDER’ AFTER ASSASSINATION “We miss him greatly, yet I have no doubt that Charlie’s voice and the courage he put into the hearts of countless people, especially young people, will live on.” Tributes poured out for Kirk following the assassination on Wednesday, with many condemning the heinous act of political violence.
Boys suspended in transgender locker room controversy spark GOP backlash in Virginia
Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, lieutenant governor candidate John Reid and a top Loudoun County Republican all lambasted the county’s school board this week after three students were suspended following a locker room incident involving a transgender student. Parents told Washington, D.C.’s Fox affiliate in August that their sons were suspended after expressing discomfort over a transgender student who identified as male using the boys’ locker room. The school’s original investigation into the complainants led Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares to launch a Title IX probe into the school and ultimately refer it to the Justice Department and federal Department of Education. On Wednesday, state Del. Geary Higgins, R-Waterford, confirmed his presence outside the Tuesday meeting, and told Fox News Digital the school board wrongly “continues to double and triple down on their illegal policy at taxpayers’ expense while putting the privacy and safety of our children in jeopardy.” PARENTS: VIRGINIA BOYS SUSPENDED AFTER QUESTIONING TRANSGENDER LOCKER ROOM POLICY WERE IGNORED BY SCHOOL Higgins, the last Republican state lawmaker in Loudoun County and a former school board member himself, called out what he called LCPS’s “science-denying nonsense” on the transgenderism front, and its “obstinance” to ignore threats of government funding revocation. “Not only is the [board] endangering its own students to advance its radical, science-denying agenda, but it is using our tax money to do it,” he said. “The Loudoun County School Board’s obstinance is truly an embarrassment to our county, a danger to our children, a betrayal of our parents, and a disservice to the countless good teachers and principals at our Loudoun County Public Schools—who are being forced to carry out a radical political agenda that puts students last and keeps parents in the dark.” He said the boys’ case is “intolerable.” “They have been punished and defamed for sexual harassment simply because they were uncomfortable with a female watching them change and filming them in their locker room.” TRANSGENDER POLICIES PUT VIRGINIA DEMS ON DEFENSE AS GOP CONTENDERS BACK FAMILIES: ‘SOMEBODY HAS TO STAND UP’ “These boys are the victims of the school board’s science-denying nonsense, not troublemakers or criminals.” Higgins said the best way to fix the issue is to elect Earle-Sears and Reid and re-elect Miyares, followed by a “commonsense” new school board in Loudoun’s next municipal election. The area was once more rural and Republican, but suburban sprawl from Washington has gradually made it bluer since the second Bush administration. Outside the board meeting Tuesday, Earle-Sears said she and those assembled were “here for [something] very simple.” “This is not what we are against as much as this is what we’re for. We want to ensure that every child has privacy. Every child deserves that privacy,” she said, according to Loudoun Now. “We don’t want to undress at the gym, in a locker room, in front of the opposite sex. And if we don’t want that as adults, imagine our very vulnerable children, especially our girl children.” She also said school board rules precluded her from speaking during the comment period because she is not a county resident or former student there. Higgins cited Loudoun’s liberalization, saying that “not long ago,” the county had a “great school system.” “It was about 2018 when the school board shifted from a conservative majority to a not conservative majority when one of the members stepped down. Since that time, it’s been on this trajectory that seems to be getting worse every year.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP However, the school pushed back in statements to Fox News Digital, denying the boys had been suspended simply because they felt uncomfortable. “At no time would LCPS suspend a student simply because they expressed some kind of discomfort. A reading of our Title IX resources should make it clear that there is a high bar to launch a Title IX investigation and an even higher bar to determine a student is in violation of Title IX,” the LCPS spokesman said. The spokesman also pushed back on Higgins’ sentiments, saying any contention education in the county has declined is “completely not true.”
‘Captured the youth’: How Charlie Kirk helped fuel Donald Trump’s return to the White House
It’s no overstatement to say that Charlie Kirk’s powerful reach and influence among conservatives helped put President Donald Trump back in the White House. Kirk, the MAGA world rock star and ally of Trump and the president’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., turned the extremely influential Turning Point USA youth organization that he co-founded at age 18 into a voter turnout machine for Trump in last year’s presidential election. “His mission was to bring young people into the political process, which he did better than anybody ever,” the president said of his close friend and ally, in a video posted to social media hours after Kirk was assassinated on Wednesday. Vice President JD Vance, who was also very close to Kirk, highlighted his friend’s efforts in the 2024 campaign and in advising the Trump-Vance administration this year. CLICK HERE FOR LIVE FOX NEWS UPDATES ON THE CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSINATION “He didn’t just help us win in 2024, he helped us staff the entire government,” Vance wrote in a statement on social media. Turning Point Action, the political arm of Kirk’s conservative youth organization, was instrumental in boosting younger voter turnout for Trump in last year’s White House race. “Charlie was such an amazing guy. He really captured the youth, the imagination of the youth,” the president told Fox News’ chief political anchor Bret Baier in a conversation on Wednesday. “He really convinced millions and millions of young people that MAGA was the way to go.” CHARLIE KIRK ROSE TO BECOME A CONSERVATIVE POWERHOUSE Kirk, who grew up in suburban Chicago, got his start in politics while in high school as a volunteer in the 2010 campaign of former Republican Sen. Mark Kirk (no relation) of Illinois. In the 13 years since he co-founded Turning Point USA, he turned it into one of the most prominent and influential conservative groups in the nation. Turning Point Action dished out millions of dollars into get-out-the-vote efforts in the key presidential battleground states that Trump ended up sweeping in his 2024 victory over then-Vice President Kamala Harris, who last summer replaced then-President Joe Biden as the Democrats’ national nominee. And Turning Point’s “Chase the Vote” initiative, where staffers built bonds with low propensity voters during the 2024 cycle, helped bank votes by ensuring those people would cast ballots in the presidential election. Turning Point also helped run the Trump team’s grassroots organizing and canvassing efforts, following a decision last year by federal election regulators that allowed candidates’ campaigns to work directly with outside political groups. DEMS, GOP LAWMAKERS JOIN FORCES TO CONDEMN POLITICAL VIOLENCE AFTER CHARLIE KIRK SHOT “This is one where the statistics don’t lie. There were seven battleground states and in six of the seven, there were dramatic gains among younger voters,” longtime Republican strategist John Brabender told Fox News. “It would be hard-pressed for anyone to not understand that Charlie Kirk was a major reason that happened.” Brabender, who served as a media consultant for Trump’s 2024 campaign, said “You could easily make the argument that Charlie Kirk had not only an important effort for the election but ultimately the effort that put President Trump over the top.” A Democratic strategist who served on the Biden and Harris campaigns, pointed to Kirk’s large following and acknowledged that his efforts helped boost crucial youth turnout for Trump. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP And Democrats tried to emulate Kirk’s efforts with Dream for America, a grassroots youth organization founded two years ago. The group, on their website, describes their mission as “building a Turning Point USA for the left.”
Country artist shares why he’s throwing his star power into race to replace top Republican
Country artist John Rich is “rollin’” into Tennessee’s upcoming special election with his own endorsement in what’s shaping up to be a crowded GOP primary race. Rich, who makes up half of the iconic duo Big & Rich, is campaigning alongside his longtime friend, state Rep. Jody Barrett, as he runs to replace former Homeland Security Committee Chair Mark Green in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District. “I’ve known Jody, believe this or not, since we were seniors in high school together. We actually graduated the same high school,” Rich told Fox News Digital in an interview. “We kept in touch, stayed good friends. But in the past four or five years, Jody has been a state rep in Tennessee. And so issues that were happening in Tennessee, Jody and I would join forces, him kind of on the inside of the political world and me standing on the outside with a really big platform and big audience. And we would work together, hand in hand, arm in arm, to make things happen.” GOP GOVERNOR NOMINEE PUSHES REDISTRICTING TO OUST STATE’S LONE HOUSE DEM Barrett is one of 10 Republicans running to replace Green in the Oct. 7 primary. The general election is scheduled for Dec. 2. But in the deep-red 7th District, which President Donald Trump won by more than 20 points in 2024, it’s likely the winner of the GOP primary will come out on top. Barrett, along with state Rep. Gino Bulso, state Rep. Lee Reeves, and former Tennessee General Services Commissioner Matt Van Epps, were the only Republicans invited to debate their candidacy earlier this week by Americans for Prosperity Tennessee, according to Tennessee Lookout. Rich told Fox News Digital that in addition to appearing alongside Barrett at campaign events, he’s also promoted the conservative House hopeful to Trump himself. “I’ve actually texted the president a couple of times about Jody. I said, ‘You’re going to want this guy in Congress. I mean, this is one of your guys.’ And so I’m hoping President Trump, maybe he weighs in on this race,” Rich said. He added, however, that it’s possible Trump stays away from endorsing until after the primary is over. Barrett has supported Trump on a broad range of issues, though he notably broke from the president’s COVID-19 vaccine initiative, called Operation Warp Speed, during the Monday night debate. “We have millions of Americans now who are vaccine injured, dealing with the results of this vaccine mandate,” Barrett said at the time. Nevertheless, Rich said Barrett has connected with Republicans in Tennessee, and he praised him for occasionally challenging establishment GOP aims and decisions in the state. THOM TILLIS ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT FROM SENATE AFTER CLASH WITH TRUMP “What I love about real conservatives is we will call out people in our own party if we think they’re making a mistake, if they’re on the wrong path,” Rich said. “Whereas on the left, they just fall in line and do whatever they’re told every single time. Jody has proven that he will stand up for what his people want.” He said at another point in the interview, “He’s legit. I mean, we start talking about what’s a conservative look like? It’s this guy. And again, when you’ve known somebody since you were 17, and now you’re in your early 50s, and they’re the same guy, that’s pretty rare.” Barrett has also been endorsed by the House Freedom Fund, the political arm of the House Freedom Caucus. “Jody Barrett’s strong conservative record of leadership, not only standing up to Democrats, but also his own party when the RINOs get out of line, is exactly what House Freedom Fund looks for in a candidate,” Allison Weisenberger of the House Freedom Fund told Fox News Digital. Barrett himself told Fox News Digital he was “honored” to have Rich’s endorsement. “John Rich is my lifelong friend, a proud Tennessean, a country music legend and one of President Trump’s strongest supporters in our state. Having his endorsement means a lot, because he has never been afraid to speak the truth and stand up for conservative values,” Barrett said.
GOP congressman reveals how he learned about 9/11 terror attacks in remote Alaska wilderness
On the 24th anniversary of 9/11, Rep. Troy Downing, R-Mont., is sharing his unusual experience that day, which inspired him to join the United States Air Force. Downing was on a moose hunting trip with a friend in the Alaskan wilderness, with the only outside communication being an aviation radio, when he and his friend noticed that no planes were flying over remote Alaska anymore. “I’m thinking nuclear holocaust. I have no idea what could make planes stop flying,” he said in an interview with Fox News Digital. WEST POINT CADET TURNED ARMY VETERAN HONORS BROTHER LOST IN 9/11 ATTACKS THROUGH METS GAME TRIBUTE “We decide if they don’t come pick us up on our scheduled day, which was the 16th, I said we got to hike to Anchorage and, you know, Anchorage was about 350 miles away, so it would have taken quite a while,” he added. On Sept. 16, as they were packing up the hunting camp, a Grumman Goose plane lands on the lake, goes to the shore to pick them up, and the pilot informs them by rolling down his window that “They blew up the World Trade Center.” “Like, who? And I’m just trying to process this. And keep in mind, we didn’t see any of this on TV,” he said, explaining how he was quickly coming to terms with the sadness and anger about what happened thousands of miles away in New York City. DOG-WALKING MAN STUMBLES ON SUSPECTED DEBRIS FROM REAGAN NATIONAL PLANE CRASH 7 MONTHS LATER He said the tragedy ended up as fuel for inspiration to enlist at 34, just one year from the cutoff, like the hundreds of thousands who did after the attacks. “It took a while to get out of Alaska because the airspace was closed over Canada so I couldn’t fly home. And as soon as they opened the air space, I flew home and the next day, I walked into a recruiter’s office,” Downing said, adding that he had no prior military experience and never considered joining before, as he was a tech entrepreneur. “’Hey, I used to teach at New York University. I’ve got a pilot’s license, you know, what can you do with me?’” the Republican asked the recruiter. Downing ended up doing two tours in Afghanistan for the USAF and Air National Guard, including in a combat search and rescue squad. NAVY ACCUSED OF NEGLECTING BRAIN INJURIES AMONG PILOTS IN NEW HOUSE PROBE “And the recruiter looks me in the eye and says, ‘Well, how old are you?’ I said, ‘34.’ He goes, ‘Good, 35 is the cutoff, go take the ASVAB,’” he said. The Republican, who joined Congress earlier this year after serving as Montana State Auditor, said that the unity in the days following 9/11 should be the takeaway decades later and emphasized that “we continue to take care of our veterans.” “We were all just Americans, and you saw those flags everywhere, and you saw this common goal of fighting back, of coming together, of having that real, you know, that pride in being American. And I hate that it took such a tragedy to get us to that spot. But I’m hoping that we can find a way to get to that spot again, where we really look at our common balance of being American,” Downing said.
Pastor recalls last moments with Charlie Kirk: ‘American martyr’
FIRST ON FOX: Pastor Jack Hibbs, a close friend of Charlie Kirk, told Fox News Digital he was in disbelief when he heard the conservative firebrand had been assassinated after having spoken to him just hours earlier. “My initial thoughts, of course, like everyone else, is what is going on in our country?” Hibbs said. “But then quickly, I think my second thought, which is the prevailing thought, is Charlie was obviously a young man of not only profound intellect, he had a great faith in Jesus.” Kirk, 31, was shot and killed Wednesday at the kickoff of his “American Comeback Tour” at Utah Valley University. He leaves behind his wife, Erika, and two young children, ages 1 and 3. Hibbs, pastor of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills in Southern California, said Kirk had “a love for the Bible” and the pair “spent the last several years going through the Scriptures together.” Kirk’s assassination made him an “American martyr” that will encourage an entire generation of “untold Charlies who will follow in his footsteps,” he said. CHARLIE KIRK PAINTED AS ‘CONTROVERSIAL,’ ‘PROVOCATIVE’ IN MEDIA’S ASSASSINATION COVERAGE Hibbs and Kirk have collaborated over the last five years on their podcast shows and culture events. Kirk was invited several times over the years to speak at Hibbs’ church, born out of the Jesus People movement, on topics ranging from gender identity, abortion and school choice to biblical prophecy. Just hours before Kirk kicked off his American Comeback Tour, where he planned to travel across the U.S. to college campuses and invite liberal students to debate and ask him questions publicly, Hibbs reached out asking if he could get his brother entry into the Utah event. “Charlie was so kind and generous to let this stranger have a front row seat,” Hibbs said. “And I know that that was Charlie loving on me by loving on my brother. And that’s just who he was, extremely, extremely generous.” “My brother sent me pictures of him and Charlie, standing together before the event started and everything looked great,” Hibbs said. “And then my brother called me immediately during the shooting, I could hear people screaming and running, and my brother was about 25 to 35 feet away from Charlie.” Hibbs urged Kirk’s supporters to remember his killing was “not the end of Charlie,” because he had immense faith. VIGILS HELD ACROSS US AFTER ASSASSINATION OF CHARLIE KIRK: ‘WE MUST HEAL’ “This just galvanized an entire generation of not only those who follow Charlie, but those who criticized him. They watched a young man lay down his life for his cause,” Hibbs said. “And I do believe that the result of today is going to backfire on anyone who had nefarious plots to silence Charlie.” One of the last appearances of Kirk at Hibbs’ church was in March, an event titled, “A Christian or Pagan Nation.” “What a lot of people don’t realize is they see the Charlie Kirk, so to speak, in his armor, right on stage or on the university campus, but Charlie was a very tender-hearted young man, very, very empathetic,” Hibbs said. CHARLIE KIRK KILLED WHILE LAUNCHING TURNING POINT USA CAMPUS TOUR Kirk rose to prominence during the 2016 election cycle, emerging as one of the most influential voices in the MAGA movement and cultivating a close relationship with the Trump family. As the founder of Turning Point USA (TPUSA), he built a nationwide platform that amplified the voices of young conservatives and brought them into the political arena. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Through large-scale TPUSA events, Kirk positioned himself as a bridge between lawmakers and grassroots youth activists, creating direct connections between the political establishment and a new generation of conservative leaders. His efforts extended to specialized gatherings such as the Black Leadership Summit, where young participants were even invited to the White House during President Donald Trump‘s first term, offering them a rare opportunity to engage face-to-face with the president.
9/11 responder’s wife blasts Mamdani’s link to Twitch streamer who said ‘America deserved’ attacks
Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo hosted a press conference days before the 24th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York City, where speakers criticized Zohran Mamdani for associating with a Twitch streamer who once declared, “America deserved 9/11.” Steps from Ground Zero in Lower Manhattan, Cuomo stood alongside Sal Tururici, a longtime Fire Department of New York City (FDNY) emergency medical technician (EMT) and 9/11 first responder who was later diagnosed with terminal cancer. “I am calling on Zohran Mamdani to disavow Hasan Piker and his hateful words. His association with Hasan Piker disqualifies him to serve in any role for New York City, let alone one as important as mayor,” Tururici’s wife, Wendi, who became an EMT following 9/11, said during Tuesday’s press conference. MAMDANI, CUOMO CLASH OVER WHO IS BETTER AT SUPPORTING LAW ENFORCEMENT AFTER MANHATTAN MASS SHOOTING The Cuomo campaign displayed posters of Mamdani and Piker posing together from earlier this year, as well as an image of Piker from his Twitch stream, where he claimed in 2019 that “America deserved 9/11.” The Mamdani campaign responded in a statement, “Andrew Cuomo knows exactly what he’s doing. He’s holding a press conference to suggest that Zohran Mamdani — who is poised to become New York’s first Muslim mayor — somehow supported 9/11. It’s vile, it’s dangerous, and it’s deliberate.” The Mamdani campaign argued that Cuomo has “used Muslims as convenient punching bags for decades.” “New Yorkers can see this for what it is — a cynical attempt to recycle the ugliest playbook in our politics. Cuomo is not protecting the memory of 9/11 victims; he’s once again desecrating it by weaponizing grief and pain for his own ambition,” the campaign added. Piker himself echoed the Mamdani campaign’s rebuttal during his livestream on Tuesday, Mediaite reported. “These guys are incredibly desperate, and they’ll get even more racist as the election nears,” Piker said, arguing that Cuomo is “leaning on Islamophobia.” ADAMS, CUOMO TRADE JABS IN INTERVIEWS AS DEMS-TURNED-INDEPENDENTS COURT ANTI-MAMDANI VOTE Piker has attempted to clarify his comments since they went viral in 2019, acknowledging it was “inappropriate.” But Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., cited Piker’s comments in a letter to Twitch executives last year, urging them to “stop popularizing those who popularize antisemitism.” After Mamdani appeared on Piker’s Twitch stream earlier this year, he told Politico, “I am willing to speak to each and every person about this campaign, and I’ve said that from the beginning.” Cuomo did not address Piker’s comments directly during Tuesday’s press conference, but Wendi Tururici said Mamdani’s association with Piker is not just politics, but “life and death.” The Tururici family endorsed Cuomo’s New York City mayoral campaign on Tuesday. “This is not just politics, this is personal,” Cuomo said. “Sal’s story is a reminder of why this work matters. Those benefits saved lives and honored sacrifice. Leadership is about life and death, protecting New Yorkers, doing the hard work, and delivering when it matters most.” Cuomo’s press conference was hosted just eight weeks before Election Day, as The New York Times/Siena College poll conducted from Sept. 2–6 and released Tuesday morning revealed that the former governor is trailing Mamdani by 22 points. The Cuomo campaign also confirmed to Fox News Digital on Tuesday two new hires in the final sprint to Election Day — veteran Democratic campaign strategist Greg Goldner and Democratic pollster Cornell Belcher.