Featured Image Credit: NewsMax/Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune/Getty Images
Topics: Charlie Kirk, Donald Trump, Politics, US News
Britt Jones
Topics: Charlie Kirk, Donald Trump, Politics, US News
People are a bit confused over Donald Trump’s response when asked how he was 'holding up' after Charlie Kirk’s death this week.
On Wednesday, Kirk was fatally shot after a single bullet pierced his neck while he was taking questions during a college debate at Utah Valley University (UVU).
Over 3,000 people witnessed the shooting, with the right-wing political activist being transported to the hospital by his security team, where he was pronounced dead.
After a two-day search for the suspect, who was caught fleeing the scene on surveillance footage, authorities announced on Friday (September 12) that 22-year-old Tyler Robinson had been taken into custody.
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President Trump first announced the 31-year-old's passing in a post on Truth Social, where he called him 'great' and legendary'.
"He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika and family. Charlie, we love you!" he continued.
He later uploaded a video message, where he slammed the 'henious' assassination of his 'very good friend'. And in her first official statement following the death of her husband, Erika Krik described Trump and Kirk's friendship as 'amazing', adding: "Mr President, my husband loved you. And he knew that you loved him too."
The 79-year-old also ordered the US flags to be at half mast until Sunday to honor Kirk, as he wrote on Truth Social: "In honor of Charlie Kirk, a truly Great American Patriot, I am ordering all American Flags throughout the United States lowered to Half Mast until Sunday evening at 6 P.M"
Because of this, people were left a bit confused by his response to a reporter, who asked Trump how he was doing following Kirk's death.
They asked: “How are you holding up over the last three and a half days?” to which he responded: “I think very good.”
He then continued to discuss the reconstruction of the White House's ballroom, which is projected to cost $200 million, with work having begun at the start of this month.
Trump continued: “And by the way, right there you see all the trucks; they just started construction of the new ballroom for the White House. Which is something they’ve been trying to get as you know for about 150 years, and it’s gonna be a beauty, it’ll be an absolutely magnificent structure.”
“And I just see all the trucks, they just started, so it’ll get done, uh, very nicely and it’ll be one of the best anywhere in the world, actually.”
And social media users have expressed their thoughts on his response, as one person wrote on X: “Now this is how you respect a man’s memory."
Another commented: “What a bizarre way to respond,” while a third replied: “I vehemently disagreed with every single thing Charlie Kirk ever said, and I was able to express more empathy than this.”
However, others said that people can grieve in different ways, as someone else commented: "Stay busy so the mind doesn’t wander. You’ve obviously never experienced deep grief and it shows."
A fifth shared: “Some people don’t react the way you think is best & they don’t owe you an explanation & that’s o.k.”
In response to Trump's comments about how he is 'holding up', as well as online reactions, Abigail Jackson, the White House spokeswoman told UNILAD: “President Trump has delivered numerous heartfelt, powerful, and unifying remarks following the tragic assassination of his dear friend, Charlie Kirk. It’s disgusting that leftists are using Charlie’s death as a political cudgel to attack the President — they should be ashamed."