US President Donald Trump on Wednesday hailed his ally Charlie Kirk as a “martyr for truth” while calling his assassination “heinous” and “dark moment” for America. He vowed that his administration would find “each and every” person who contributed to this atrocity.In a video message addressed to Americans, Trump lambasted the “radical left,” suggesting its rhetoric contributed to the death of Kirk. “For years those on the radical left have compared wonderful Americans like Charlie to Nazis and the world’s worst mass murderers and criminals,” Trump said in the video. “This kind of rhetoric is directly responsible for the terrorism that we’re seeing in our country today, and it must stop right now.” he added.
‘Shock and horror’
Trump, in the video, said that he is filled with grief and anger over the assassination of his ally Kirk at Utah University. He hailed Kirk as an inspiration for millions and prayed for his family.“To my great fellow Americans, I am filled with grief and anger at the heinous assassination of Charlie Kirk on a college campus in Utah. Charlie inspired millions and tonight all who knew him and loved him are united in shock and horror. 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 said.“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. Charlie was also a man of deep, deep faith and we take comfort in the knowledge that he is now at peace with God in heaven,” Trump added.
Trump prays for Kirk’s family
Trump also prayed for Kirk’s family. “Our prayers are with his wife, Erica, the two young beloved children and his entire family who he loved more than anything in the world. We ask God to watch over them in this terrible hour of heartache and pain. This is a dark moment for America,” Trump said. “Charlie Kirk travelled the nation joyfully engaging with everyone interested in good faith debate. His mission was to bring young people into the political process, which he did better than anybody ever, to share his love of country and to spread the simple words of common sense. On campuses nationwide, he championed his ideas with courage, logic, humour and grace,” the US president added.
Trump blasts ‘radical left’
Trump also attacked the radical left, which suggested that its rhetoric contributed to the death of Kirk. “It’s a long past time for all Americans and the media to confront the fact that violence and murder are the tragic consequences of demonising those with whom you disagree day after day, year after year, in the most hateful and despicable way possible. For years those on the radical left have compared wonderful Americans like Charlie to Nazis and the world’s worst mass murderers and criminals. This kind of rhetoric is directly responsible for the terrorism that we’re seeing in our country today and it must stop right now,” Trump added.
US president vows action
Trump emphasised that his administration will find the person behind the assassination of Kirk. He also vowed a crackdown against other political violence, including an assassination attempt against him in Butler, to the killing of a health executive in New York, which is a threat to America and its people. “My administration will find each and every one of those who contributed to this atrocity and to other political violence, including the organisations that fund it and support it, as well as those who go after our judges, law enforcement officials and everyone else who brings order to our country. From the attack on my life in Butler, Pennsylvania last year, which killed a husband and father, to the attacks on ICE agents, to the vicious murder of a health care executive in the streets of New York, to the shooting of House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and three others, radical left political violence has hurt too many innocent people and taken too many lives. Tonight I ask all Americans to commit themselves to the American values for which Charlie Kirk lived and died,” he said. “The values of free speech, citizenship, the rule of law, and the patriotic devotion and love of God. Charlie was the best of America and the monster who attacked him was attacking our whole country. An assassin tried to silence him with a bullet, but he failed because together we will ensure that his voice, his message, and his legacy will live on for countless generations to come,” he added. Trump asserted that because of this heinous act, Charlie’s voice has become “bigger and grander than ever before.”
