A BEARDED man who was filmed appearing to cheer with glee after Charlie Kirk was shot has broken his silence.
He has now posted a two minute video on X in which he tries to explain himself.
XHe denies he was in anyway cheering Kirk’s death[/caption]
XHe had been in the crowd present at Utah Valley University[/caption]
XDavid said he was not celebrating the shooting[/caption]
Viral footage at the time of the the shocking assassination shows a man with a beard wearing a baseball cap and t-shirt raising his arms and cheering in the aftermath.
He had been in the crowd present at Utah Valley University when the shooting took place.
Going by the name David, one X user has now claimed to be the individual who bizarrely appeared to celebrate the tragedy.
But he denies he was in anyway cheering Kirk’s death, and claims his actions were meant to help “save lives”.
David said he was not celebrating the shooting, but was chanting “USA” to try and create a “distraction”.
Everything we know so far…
Charlie Kirk was shot dead at Utah Valley University
Tyler Robinson identified as shooting suspect
Chilling CCTV shows sniper jump from roof and escape
Kirk’s wife Erika is ‘devastated’, Trump says after emotional phone call
Brave Erika is seen for the first time alongside JD Vance
Trump posthumously awarded Kirk the Medal of Freedom
Kirk was warned about safety just months before being killed
Eyewitness reveal horror details of fatal shot moment
Donning the same baseball cap as he wore in the viral video, he said: “When I heard a sharp crack at first I thought it might have been fireworks or a disruptive prank.
“I looked up to the horizon for smoke.
“When none appeared, I realised it must have been a firearm.”
A friend’s reaction gave him impression he “believed Charlie had been gravely injured”.
He then “instinctively checked the security team’s movement” and got to his feet.
“I stood and shouted ‘USA,’ not as a provocation, but to project strength, encourage others, and create a distraction that might help calm panic or even save lives,” David said.
He added that he’s not overly familiar with Kirk’s content but he “would never wish to celebrate harm to anyone”.
In a cryptic follow up video he said he’s “the happiest person you ever met in your entire life”.
He went on to say “my soldiers, including Charlie, dying so you guys can mock each other”.
David did not clarify who he meant by his “soldiers”.
Charlie Kirk was shot dead on Wednesday at an outdoor student debate event.
His assassination has been widely condemned all over the world and across the political spectrum.
After a days-long manhunt, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson has been apprehended as a suspect in the investigation.
APConservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday[/caption]
APThe terrified crowd rushed for cover after the shooting[/caption]
Charlie Kirk’s rise to hero of the youth MAGA movement
CHARLIE Kirk transformed conservative youth activism from a marginal movement into a powerful force before his assassination on a college campus at 31.
Kirk was an American conservative political activist, author, and media personality who rose to prominence as the co-founder of Turning Point USA (TPUSA).
He launched the organization in 2012 when he was just 18 years old, with the goal of promoting conservative principles to high school and college students and became a significant figure in American politics by building a massive grassroots network, framing himself as a “culture warrior.”
The rise of Turning Point USA
Turning Point USA’s mission was to counter what Kirk and his allies saw as liberal dominance on American college campuses.
It quickly grew to prominence through his use of provocative activism and viral social media campaigns.
They created watchlists of professors pushing leftist propaganda and organized events to debate students on controversial topics.
The strategy helped them gain a significant following and financial backing from wealthy conservative donors.
Kirk’s ability to connect with a new generation of conservatives was one of his most notable impacts.
He cultivated a style of political engagement that was heavily reliant on social media, podcasts, and confrontational public appearances.
His organization’s events, such as the annual Student Action Summit, drew thousands of young attendees and featured prominent conservative speakers, creating a new kind of political ecosystem for young people who felt alienated from traditional conservative groups.
A key ally of Donald Trump
Kirk also became a staunch supporter and ally of President Donald Trump.
He was the youngest speaker at the 2016 Republican National Convention and served as an aide to Donald Trump Jr. during the presidential campaign.
This relationship solidified his position within the Republican Party’s “MAGA” (Make America Great Again) wing, and his organization became an integral part of Trump’s political apparatus.
Through his popular podcast, “The Charlie Kirk Show,” and his frequent appearances on conservative media, Kirk was a powerful voice in the pro-Trump movement.
He often framed political issues as a “spiritual battle” between good and evil and championed a pugnacious, populist form of conservatism.
His influence was so significant that after Trump’s 2024 victory, Kirk was credited with helping to mobilize younger voters for the campaign.
Influence on culture and social issues
Beyond traditional politics, Kirk’s influence extended deeply into social and cultural issues.
He was a vocal opponent of “woke” ideology, particularly in education and media.
He promoted traditional values, often encouraging young women to prioritize becoming homemakers and mothers over professional careers.
Kirk also openly criticized programs related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
He was also a major proponent of Christian nationalism, arguing that there is no true separation of church and state in the United States.
The Turning Point Empire
Kirk’s activism led to the expansion of the Turning Point brand into a larger political and media empire.
He launched Turning Point Action, a political advocacy group focused on voter mobilization, and Turning Point Faith, aimed at engaging evangelical Christian communities in conservative politics.
These affiliated organizations allowed him to broaden his reach and influence beyond college campuses, into a more mainstream political force.
Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
