By Emel Akan
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Sept. 11 said law enforcement had made “big progress” in the search for conservative commentator Charlie Kirk’s assassin, as the manhunt entered its second day. Federal authorities released images of the suspected gunman and urged the public’s help in identifying the individual.
Kirk was shot and killed on Sept. 10 at the age of 31 while speaking to a crowd of students at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.
At the time of publication, the shooter remained at large, and the FBI offered a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to his arrest.
“Multiple leads are currently being investigated, but no suspect is in custody,” authorities said.
Law enforcement recovered a high-powered bolt-action rifle in a wooded area where the shooter fled. The FBI is analyzing the weapon, which reportedly bears inscriptions and symbols, though officials have not released further details.
On the afternoon of Sept. 11, Trump took questions from reporters before departing the White House for a game at Yankee Stadium in New York City. He said that law enforcement was making “big progress” in the search for Kirk’s killer. He also said he had “an indication” of the killer’s motive, but added, “We’ll let you know about that later.”
On Sept. 10, a single shot was fired at Kirk while he was speaking at the university on the first stop of his “American Comeback” tour. The bullet struck him in the neck. Hours later, Trump announced that Kirk had died, leaving behind his wife, Erika, and two children.
Trump said he spoke with Kirk’s widow on Sept. 11, describing her as “absolutely devastated.”
Kirk, who co-founded Turning Point USA in 2012 alongside conservative commentator Bill Montgomery, became known as a passionate advocate for conservative values who mobilized young voters across the nation in recent elections.
“There are great people in Turning Point, and I think they are going to carry it forward,” Trump said.
Presidential Medal of Freedom for Kirk
Earlier in the day, during a speech at the Pentagon marking the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Trump took a moment to pay tribute to Kirk.
“Charlie was a giant of his generation, a champion of liberty and an inspiration to millions and millions of people,” Trump said.
“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.”
Trump announced that he would posthumously award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States.
Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance canceled plans to go to New York City to commemorate 9/11. Instead, he and Second Lady Usha Vance flew to Utah to meet with Kirk’s family and escort Kirk’s casket and family home to Arizona aboard Air Force Two.
Trump told reporters that he would attend Kirk’s funeral in the coming days.
“I believe it’s in Arizona, and they’ve asked me to go,” Trump said. “And I think I have an obligation.”
Security Concerns and Political Fallout
The president said he was not worried about his own safety but was concerned for the country, accusing radical left groups of inciting violence.
Kirk’s assassination rattled Washington, prompting lawmakers from both parties to call for enhanced security measures. On Sept. 11, House Speaker Mike Johnson said congressional officials were expediting a planned review of member security.
“We’re in a deliberate review process right now to determine what measures are appropriate, how much we could allocate for that,” Johnson told reporters.
Meanwhile, the assassination of Kirk sparked a heated debate in the European Parliament on Sept. 11. A call by Swedish MEP Charlie Weimers for a moment of silence to honor Kirk and condemn political violence was rejected by Parliament President Roberta Metsola on procedural grounds.
Left-leaning members applauded the decision, while right-leaning members of the parliament began pounding on their desks in protest.
A video was shared by conservative parliament member Dominik Tarczynski of Poland, who accused those who opposed the request of being “incapable of showing human compassion.”
“Therefore, I will organize an exhibition in the European Parliament commemorating Charlie Kirk. His legacy will bear fruit,” he wrote on X.
Hours after Kirk’s assassination, Trump released a video message pledging that his administration would work to identify those responsible.
“My administration will find each and every one of those who contributed to this atrocity and to other political violence, including the organizations 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,” Trump said.
FBI Seeks Public Assistance
On Sept. 11, the FBI shared images of a “person of interest” in connection with the assassination.
The two images posted showed a slim male wearing sunglasses, a baseball cap, jeans, and a black, long-sleeved t-shirt with what appeared to be a graphic of the U.S. flag.
“We are asking for the public’s help identifying this person of interest in connection with the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University,” the FBI wrote on X, along with a number to call—1-800-CALL-FBI—and a link to a tip submission webpage.
Utah’s public safety commissioner, Beau Mason, said security footage showed the suspect arriving on campus at 11:52 a.m. local time on Sept. 10. The footage allowed investigators to track his movements through the campus, up stairwells, and onto the roof to the shooting location. Kirk was shot around 12:20 p.m. local time.
Investigators were then able to track the suspect as he moved onto the other side of the building, jumped off, and fled the campus into a neighborhood.
Nathan Worcester, Jackson Richman, and T.J. Muscaro contributed to this report.
