Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk died after a fatal gunshot at an event on Wednesday afternoon at Utah Valley University. He was 31 years old.
Kirk's death was confirmed by President Donald Trump.
CHARLIE KIRK DEAD: LIVE UPDATES
"The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
"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!"
Kirk campaigned for Trump heading into the 2024 election.
Turning Point USA is a nonprofit that empowers students to support and advocate for free markets and limited government.
Business leaders and business groups reacted to the news.
The advocacy group connected to deceased billionaire philanthropist Foster Friess, who was an early funder and supporter of Turning Point USA, wrote in an X post that they were praying for Kirk's wife, children and family.
"Foster was excited to write a check to help start Turning Point. Foster knew then that Charlie would move the culture and change history… and he did," Friess wrote, adding "We are devastated by this news."
Billionaire hedge fund manager and Pershing Square Capital CEO Bill Ackman wrote several posts on X in tribute to Charlie Kirk.
"I feel incredibly privileged to have spent a day and shared a meal with @charliekirk11 this summer. He was a giant of a man," Ackman wrote.
David Sacks, a venture capitalist and Trump's artificial intelligence and crypto czar, called Kirk the "best of America."
"My friend Charlie Kirk was the best of America. A self-made man, a young husband and father, and a patriot, he was relentlessly positive about the future," Sacks wrote in an X post Wednesday evening.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Erika and his family," he added.
"RIP Charlie Kirk," Portnoy, Barstool Sports founder, wrote on X.
"It doesn’t matter what your opinion is of Charlie or his politics if you don’t view this as one of the darkest days in American history than you are part of the problem."
"Charlie Kirk was an incredible patriot — brave, tough as hell, and a dear friend to our entire family," Trump wrote on X. "In his honor, all @Trump properties will fly their flags at half-staff. We will always celebrate his life, strive to make him proud, and pray that God watches over Erika and their precious kids."
"Rest in peace to my friend, Charlie Kirk. My heart is with his loved ones at this devastating time," Bessent wrote on X. "This inexcusable violence belongs nowhere in a civilized society. Charlie was a brave man, a devoted husband, a loving father, and a great patriot. Please join me in praying for his family and our country."
Jared Kushner, a businessman who is married to Trump's daughter, Ivanka Trump, said Kirk was "a close friend and a special human being."
Kushner said Kirk always came to the White House with "big ideas, is easy to work with and always overdelivers."
In the Wednesday evening X post, he said Kirk helped foster the MAGA movement during Trump's 2016 campaign and election.
"The world lost a powerful force today, way before his time," Kushner wrote.
Shaun Maguire, a partner at Sequoia Capital, made a series of X posts expressing his shock over Kirk's assassination. He called Kirk a "personal friend" in one post.
He also wrote in another post that with Kirk's passing "we lost a future president."
In another post, he wrote: "We love you Charlie. You were a warrior and a leader. History will be very kind to you down here on Earth. We will take care of your family."
FOX News Digital's Sarach Rumph-Whitten contributed to this report.
