Statement by President George W. Bush:
"Today, a young man was murdered in cold blood while expressing his political views. It happened on a college campus, where the open exchange of opposing ideas should be sacrosanct. Violence and vitriol must be purged from the public square. Members of other political parties are not our enemies; they are our fellow citizens. May God bless Charlie Kirk and his family, and may God guide America toward civility."
R.I.P. Charlie Kirk
I didn't know Charlie personally. But he did send me a kind message last year. "I love all people" is what he said. If that is any indication of who the man was, then this country has lost someone special today.
Partisan politics did not stand in the way of him paying me a compliment, and it should not stand in the way of mourning him either.
We cannot become a society where expressing political views, even controversial ones, leads to violence. Whatever you think of his politics, Charlie was a decent man, a patriot, and a brave defender of his values. My heart goes out to his wife and his kids.
The death of Charlie Kirk has honestly left me distraught.
My heart hurts for his wife, his kids, and his loved ones. I have way too many feelings for twitter, and haven’t been able to put them together.
I’ll try to find the words and share them at the end of @speakeasytlkshw tonight at 8:40pm est.
https://t.co/SyNBwAw6gZ
“Mourn with those who are mourning.”
I’ll see y’all soon.
We don’t yet know what motivated the person who shot and killed Charlie Kirk, but this kind of despicable violence has no place in our democracy. Michelle and I will be praying for Charlie’s family tonight, especially his wife Erika and their two young children.
I’m shocked and devastated to learn about the passing of Charlie Kirk.
Above all else, Charlie was a follower of Jesus, a husband, and a dad. He was a man of passion, courage, and devotion to making an eternal impact.
Demi and I are praying for Erika, his two children, and everyone who loved him.
Charlie Kirk, a name synonymous with having the courage to speak what you believe and seek/welcome conversations with those whom you disagree with.
I’m not a political person but I am a proud American citizen and today was startling, saddening, and maddening all at the same time.. I’ve realized that I’m a bit naive to how crazy it all has become but watching a man get hunted and slayed in broad daylight because of his opinions made me disgusted and devastated.
This can’t be what we actually are or become as a country.. I believe that the good people will always outnumber the evil people but damn… today was an alarming day in our country’s history.
2 kids lost a dad.. a wife lost a husband.. and societal discourse lost a voice.
RIP @charliekirk11.. I send my prayers, thoughts, and love to his family and friends.
Charlie’s children will be raised with stories instead of memories, photographs instead of laughter, and silence where their father’s voice should have echoed.
Charlie Kirk’s life should serve as a symbolic reminder that compassionate awareness elevates family, love, and country.
I’ll go one step further…words are not violence, debate is not violence, and to repeatedly condemn opposing views as violent implicitly justifies the use of violence in opposition to those views/words.
Things feel pretty dark right now
Evil is real. There is no doubt, the enemy is hard at work.
These last few days, the weight of evil has been heavy across our nation.
But this I know: It will not have the final word. One day, God will make all things right.
Until then, we pray. We weep with those who weep. And we keep fighting, knowing the victory has already been won.
A brilliant man is cut down in the prime of his life. A man who fostered respectful engagement, something sorely needed in these divisive times. A man half my age, yet someone I revered as one of the most effective debaters I have ever seen. That is it. I am brokenhearted.
The Charlie Kirk Shooting was disturbing, disgusting and wrong.
Praying for Charlie Kirk’s wife, kids and family.
It’s okay to disagree with someone’s political views, but celebrating his death makes you a despicable human.
No one deserves to be gunned down for their beliefs.
We live in a really broken world. I am praying for comfort and protection for Charlie Kirk’s wife and two little children. I know people will have strong feelings and/or snide remarks. I hope you’ll save them in realizing this is such a tragedy regardless of your political party.
sickening day. whatever your political beliefs, a 31 year old young man with a beautiful young family was assassinated for having an opinion that some disagree with.