Who is Charlie Kirk, the ally who lowered the flag to half-mast in mourning for Trump?
In recent years, political violence in the United States has become increasingly severe. Trump himself was targeted by two assassination attempts during his previous campaign. However, his loyal ally and a core figure of the "MAGA" movement, Charlie Kirk, was not so fortunate. On Wednesday, September 10, Kirk was shot dead while giving a speech under a tent on the campus of Utah Valley University. The event had approximately 3,000 attendees, and the police stated that he had spoken for about 20 minutes. Suddenly, a shooter, presumably lying in wait on the rooftop of a nearby building, fired at him, and Kirk was killed instantly. The perpetrator quickly fled the scene.
Although the motive of the attacker remains unclear, the FBI stated that this was a "targeted attack." According to the latest news from AFP, on Thursday, the police said they have found the weapon used in the crime and obtained "clear video footage," in which the suspect's age appears similar to that of a college student. They are now making every effort to track down the suspect. Subsequently, the FBI published a photo of the suspect on the social media platform X and called on the public for assistance in identification, but did not specify the reason for the suspect's arrest. The police also announced that the person providing effective clues could receive a reward of up to $100,000.
Trump posted a memorial post on his social media platform Truth, stating: "Charlie Kirk, a great, even legendary man, has passed away. No one understood the hearts of American youth more than him. Everyone loved and respected him, especially me, and now he is no longer with us." He then ordered the U.S. flag to be lowered to half-mast in mourning until Sunday night.
However, before the investigation results were clear, Trump was eager to direct his criticism towards the far-left. He said, "For years, the far-left has compared excellent Americans like Charlie to Nazis and the worst mass murderers. This intense rhetoric directly led to the terrorism we see today, and it must stop immediately."
So who exactly is this steadfast ally of Trump? The New York Times reported: "He is an active member within President Trump's inner circle, known for his outstanding speaking skills, fundraising abilities, and loyalty to the president. As a political organizer and podcast host, Kirk is popular among young conservatives and wealthy Republicans. Although he has never held public office or participated in any election campaigns, he has accumulated considerable political influence. Kirk revealed in an interview that during Trump's first term, he visited the White House more than 100 times. He was also one of the earliest supporters of J.D. Vance as Trump's running mate. After the 2024 election, Kirk joined a core advisory group responsible for reviewing the loyalty of presidential appointees."
Kirk, originally from Illinois, is a prominent figure of the new right in the United States, representing the populist aspect of Christian nationalism within Trump's camp. As a podcast host and influencer, he not only has strong fundraising capabilities but also leads a youth conservative organization, "Turning Point USA." At the age of 18, he founded this organization and successfully infiltrated American campuses, many of which are strongholds of Democratic voters. In addition, he established 850 branches across the country, and last year helped Trump gain widespread support from young male voters. Kirk's ideas attracted broad support from the American right wing. His organization's income mainly relies on donations, with donations reaching $4.3 million in 2016, and skyrocketing to $92 million in 2023. He is also the author of the bestseller "The Teachings of MAGA," which made him a millionaire. Besides being close to Trump, he is also a good friend of Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr. Earlier this year, he accompanied Donald Trump Jr. to Greenland to support Trump's firm stance on the island's sovereignty. It can be said that he is an important member of Trump's informal power system.
It is reported that Kirk appeared at Utah Valley University on Wednesday precisely to attend the first stop of the organization's tour. The next stop is scheduled for September 18 at the University of Colorado. Kirk usually sits on a small stage, encouraging students to ask questions and criticize him, with his motto being "prove I'm wrong." In the MAGA camp, few people dare to move from online to offline and face criticism directly. Kirk, however, enjoys face-to-face debates and conflicts, but this time, he lost his life in "conflict."
Aside from Trump's two assassination attempts, he has never mentioned that Democrats have also experienced similar incidents. For example, in June, Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband were murdered, and in October 2022, there was an axe attack on the husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. In fact, political violence in the United States has a long history, with four U.S. presidents having been assassinated. However, since 2020, the United States has once again seen a peak in political violence. Severe polarization, the prevalence of hate speech and false information, deepening distrust in government institutions, and the dominance of money in the electoral system have all contributed to the current environment that breeds hatred. And as the driving force behind these issues, Trump is inseparable from them.
Just before Kirk was assassinated, a black man killed a Ukrainian refugee girl, which became a focus for the MAGA camp. Moreover, Kirk's last tweet before his death also commented on this incident, making him a martyr for the MAGA camp. People are worried that this will incite more political violence in the United States.
Finally, Kirk's assassination seems to once again confirm that the horror of violence lies not only in the victim, but also in the possibility that even the perpetrator may eventually be consumed by violence itself.
Source: rfi
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1843047467163652/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.