Donald Trump blames ‘radical left’ after Charlie Kirk’s death

US President Donald Trump has described the killing of rightwing political commentator and conservative activist Charlie Kirk a dark moment for America and accused the radical left of inciting such political violence across the country reported news agency ANIIn an address late Wednesday local time Trump paid tribute to Kirk calling him a patriot and a martyr for truth and freedom while expressing condolences to Kirks wife Erica and their two childrenThe prominent rightwing commentator and founder of Turning Point USA was fatally shot in the neck while speaking at Utah Valley University on Wednesday as reported by The New York TimesTo my great fellow Americans I am filled with grief and anger at the heinous assassination of Charlie Kirk on a college campus in Utah Charlie inspired millions and tonight all who knew him and loved him are united in shock and horror Charlie was a patriot who devoted his life to the cause of open debate and the country that he loved so much the United States of America Hes a martyr for truth and freedom Our prayers are with his wife Erica the two young beloved children and his entire family who he loved more than anything in the world This is a dark moment for America the US President said reported ANITrump also condemned what he described as years of demonisation of conservative voices which he claimed had created a culture of hatred and violenceIts long past time for all Americans and the media to confront the fact that violence and murder are the tragic consequence of demonising those with whom you disagree day after day year after year in the most hateful and despicable way possible For years those on the radical left have compared wonderful Americans like Charlie to Nazis and the worlds worst mass murderers and criminals This kind of rhetoric is directly responsible for the terrorism that were seeing in our country today and it must stop right now he said reported ANITrump referenced several highprofile incidents of violence in recent years including the assassination attempt on himself at a campaign rally in Butler Pennsylvania last year as examples of what he called a pattern of politically motivated attacks by the far leftFrom the attack on my life in Butler Pennsylvania last year which killed a husband and father to the attacks on ICE agents to the vicious murder of a healthcare executive in the streets of New York to the shooting of House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and three others Radical left political violence has hurt too many innocent people and taken too many lives he stated reported ANICalling for national unity and a return to civil discourse Trump urged Americans to honour Kirks legacy by recommitting to core American valuesTonight I ask all Americans to commit themselves to the American values for which Charlie Kirk lived and diedAccording to the New York Times citing a Utah Valley University spokesperson Kirk was approximately 20 minutes into his presentation when gunshots were heard from a nearby buildingThe university informed students that a single shot was fired on campus toward a visiting speaker and a suspect has been taken into custodyA spokesperson confirmed that Kirk was the only person shot during the eventWith inputs from ANI