Source: Global Times

[Feng Yaren Yu Wen, special correspondent of the Global Times in the United States] US President Trump said in an interview on the 12th that the suspect who killed his political ally and well-known conservative activist Charlie Kirk has been arrested, and he hopes that he will be sentenced to death. On the morning of the same day, FBI and Utah officials held a press conference to confirm that the suspect who shot Kirk at a university in Utah on the 10th was arrested. However, the political tear in the United States caused by this incident continues. The Associated Press said that in the early days after the incident, officials of both parties maintained restraint and etiquette, but anger quickly erupted. Is Kirk a "great martyr" or a "instigator of violence"? MPs from both parties have attacked each other, with far-right forces calling online for "revenge" over Kirk's death. Reuters commented on the 12th that the situation in the United States is in a tense state, and the assassination of Kirk marks a watershed in the surge of political violence in the United States.

FBI and Utah officials held a press conference on the 12th to announce that Taylor, the suspect who shot Kirk,by RobinsonThe Internet (Visual China)

22-year-old suspect ¡°reported by his father¡±

On the morning of 12 local time, officials such as FBI Director Patel and Utah Governor Cox held a press conference at the University of Utah Valley where Kirk was shot and announced progress in the capture operation.

Cox said 22-year-old Taylor Robinson, the suspect in the Kork shooting, had been caught, thanking Robinson's family for "doing the right thing" and bringing him to law enforcement. Robinson was not a student at Utah Valley University and was thought to have individually planned and implemented the operation. Trump revealed in an interview that day that the suspect "was by his father."

Regarding the suspects¡¯ criminal motives, Cox said Robinson¡¯s family told investigators that the suspect had been passionate about politics in recent years and criticized Kirk at a family gathering ¡°full of hatred and spreading hatred.¡±

Photos of Taylor Robinson (Visual China)

Prior to this, FBI Director Patel was criticized by all parties for admitting that he had made a mistake after announcing that he had "caught the murderer" on the social platform. He said at a press conference on the 12th, "In less than 36 hours, 33 hours to be precise, the suspect was captured, which is a historic moment." Cox said that the attack on Kirk was "an attack on all of us" and he called on Kirk's supporters to resist the violent impulse. He said that the incident was a watershed in American history, but what kind of watershed it is remains to be seen. "Is this the end of a dark chapter in our history or the beginning of a darker chapter?"

Trump said in an interview with Fox News on the 12th that Kirk was "like a son" to him, that he was a "smart man" and "helped me on TikTok". Trump said that after Kirk's death, the political organization "American Turning Point" founded by him will continue to work to mobilize and attract young voters. According to CNN, Kirk and "American Turning Point" played an important role in ensuring Trump's victory in the 2024 election, including canvassing in Arizona, a key battlefield state that Trump recaptured from the Democratic Party.

On the 11th, U.S. Vice President Wences temporarily cancelled the trip to New York to participate in the "9¡¤11" terrorist commemoration activities, shifted to Utah, through the Vice President's special aircraft "Air Force 2", transported Kirk's spirit from Utah to Kirk's home in Phoenix, Arizona before his life.

'Don't post laughing at Kirk's death'

The murder of Kirk triggered a polarized reaction in American society, with some remarks celebrating his killing popping up on the Internet. US Department of War (formerly Department of Defense) Secretary Hegerseth wrote on social platform X on December 12, warning: ¡°It is completely unacceptable for U.S. military and civil servants to celebrate or mock compatriots¡¯ murders. The Department of War has taken a zero-tolerance stance on this. We are closely monitoring these issues and will deal with them immediately.¡±

According to the website of Capitol Hill, at least two American universities announced the expulsion of employees who "made cold, numb and inappropriate remarks about Kirk's killing online," saying that these remarks violated the values of the school. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Landau said on the 11th that the State Department will "take appropriate actions" against foreigners who "praise, rationalize or despise" Kirk's death in the United States, possibly including immediate revocation of visas.

According to the Guardian, many famous right-wing and influential figures quickly qualified his assassination as a left-wing act of war and vowed to go back. Conservative political strategist Steve Bannon said in his show: ¡°We must have a steel-like determination. Charlie Cook is a victim of war, our nation is in the midst of war.¡± American billionaire Musk wrote on the X: ¡°If they don¡¯t give us peace, then our choice is to fight or die.¡±

The New York Times said that after Kirk's assassination, the fear and mutual resentment of members of Congress intensified. Republicans lashed out at Democrats and the media, saying their language and news coverage incited the killers. The Democratic Party accused Republicans of obstructing gun control legislation, saying that the legislation could have prevented countless shootings.

US lawmakers demand strengthening their own security

According to several U.S. media reports, after Kirk was killed, lawmakers from both sides begged Congress leaders to provide them with more security and the people in the building were frightened to die,¡± The New York Times quoted Democratic lawmaker Moscovitz as saying, ¡°Al not many publicly acknowledged, they would run to the president to talk about security ¨C many Republicans.¡±

CNN said that after Kirk was killed, the political operation mode in the United States was in danger, and many people considered no longer engaging in outdoor political activities. Speaker of the Houseby JohnsonOn the 11th, it was said that it would seriously discuss providing more security for members outside the Capitol. However, the report also said that it is impossible to provide every member with the kind of security guarantee enjoyed by senior congressional officials such as Johnson.

The media statistics are shocking. Reuters quoted scholars on Monday as saying that in the first six months of this year, the United States experienced about 150 political-motivated attacks ¨C almost twice as many as last year¡¯s same period. American political scholar Jason said: ¡°We are now in a very dangerous situation, and if we can¡¯t control the situation, it can easily escalate into wider civil unrest.

related news

Wans personally picked up the coffin for Kirk, Trump says it will strike the left-wing madmen.

On September 10th, Charlie Kirk, an American conservative political activist, was shot and killed while giving a speech at a university in Utah. The suspect is still at large. According to reports from CNN, Politico and other media on September 11th, US President Trump blamed Kirk's death on "radical left-wing madmen" after the incident, while Vice President Vance personally went to Utah to carry Kirk's coffin, and used the special plane "Air Force Two" to bring Kirk's coffin back to his home in Phoenix.

Trump, speaking on the South Grass at the White House on 11th, responded to reporters¡¯ questions about the Kork murder and said: ¡°We have a great country.

Trump also said: ¡°Our country has a group of extreme-left madmen, absolute madmen, and we will surely solve this problem.I only care about the country.¡±Then, however, Trump encouraged supporters to deal with the shootings in a non-violent way and mentioned Kirk himself as a ¡°non-violent advocate.¡±

As for the investigation into Kirk's attack, Trump said: "I heard that they (investigators) have made significant progress, and we will wait and see."

On September 11, Trump spoke to reporters at the White House.

Trump in this speech blamed Kirk¡¯s death on the ¡°radical left.¡± Trump also said at the time that these ¡°radical leftists¡± compared Kirk to the ¡°Nazi¡± and the world¡¯s most brutal killers and criminals, and that Kirk¡¯s death has a causal relationship with these ¡°evil remarks¡± of the Left, which also ¡°directly led to the terrorism we see in America today.¡±

On the morning of the 11th, Trump also announced that he would pursue the Kirk's Medal of Freedom.

On the other hand, Wance brought the crown of Kirk from Utah to his home in Phoenix, Arizona, where he lived, on the 11th via the Vice President¡¯s aircraft Air Force II. Some family and friends, including Kirk¡¯s widow, were also in line with the shipment.

From a video currently circulating on social media in the United States, Vance himself can be seen carrying Kirk's coffin on the tarmac of Utah airport, with a serious expression.

Wans picked up the coffin for Kirk at the airport on social media "X"

Photos show that when Air Force Two arrived at Phoenix Airport, Vance's wife and Kirk's widow were the first to get off the plane hand in hand. However, according to CNN's quotation of informed sources, Vance only escorted Kirk's family and coffin off the plane, but he himself did not leave the airport to see Kirk off his "last journey". Vance soon reboarded Air Force Two.

Vance himself posted after the shooting incident on the 10th that he and Kirk were very close friends, and Kirk had supported him to become Trump's running mate in last year's presidential election "in front of the stage and behind the scenes", and finally helped him become the vice president of the United States. Vance also praised the "American Turning Point" organization founded by Kirk for its many contributions in supporting Trump.

¡°Charlie Kirk is a real friend,¡± Wance said in a tweet.