America divided even in the face of Charlie Kirk's murder
The unanimous condemnation of the violent act conceals deep political divisions. Trump shaken by death of young ally, right-wing activist among students.
2' min read
2' min read
The assassination of Charlie Kirk, Donald Trump's influential ally and founder of the large conservative youth organisation Turning Point USA, has left America traumatised. But, behind the collective horror and condemnation of all political violence, it also found a country and a capital, Washington, prey to deep divisions and anxieties about the future.
President Trump, commemorating the attacks of 11 September 2001 in a ceremony at the Pentagon, announced that he would present Kirk, posthumously, with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America's top civilian honour. Trump expressed 'horror and sorrow' at the killing of 'a giant of his generation, a champion of freedom and an inspiration to millions'. After having already decided on flags at half-mast until Sunday.
Tributes from the conservative world and Maga, a sign of the 31-year-old Kirk's meteoric rise, followed. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth added that, this 'follower of Christ and patriot' will never be forgotten, like the victims of 9/11. Vice President JD Vance travelled to Utah to visit Kirk's family, 'a true friend', and in a lengthy tribute on social media promised to continue his mission for the conservative cause: 'We'll take it from here.
Strong condemnations of the assassination also came from the Democratic opposition. The governor of California, Gavin Newsom, decried the 'cowardly' act and all political violence as unacceptable.
Behind the unity in the face of the drama, however, lie symptoms of fragility, raising fears of new eras of endemic violence in a nation with a history marked by assassinations and attacks on presidents, politicians and civil society leaders. Utah's Republican governor, Spencer Cox, lamented 'political assassination' and a 'broken nation'.
