Charlie Kirk Dead

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Five — “Charlie Kirk Dead” (FOX News Podcasts, Sept 10, 2025)

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Main Theme & Purpose

This solemn episode of "The Five" centers on the shocking assassination of Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA, who was shot and killed at a campus event in Utah. The hosts process their grief, recall Kirk's influence, debate the implications for political discourse and public safety, and discuss the national reactions—including statements from Presidents Trump, Biden, and Obama. The episode also features insights into the ongoing manhunt for the assassin and reflects on the prevalence of political violence in the United States.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

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Breaking News: The Shooting ([01:01]–[04:44])

• Dana Perino opens with a Fox News alert: President Trump announced Charlie Kirk’s death, offering condolences.
• Jonathan Hunt reports from Utah Valley University:
  • Kirk was shot by a distant marksman in a public outdoor event, the crowd panicked in terror, and the perpetrator is still at large.
  • Initial custody of an elderly man proved unrelated; the manhunt continues.
  • The precision of the shooting, use of a high-powered rifle, and escape point to careful planning.

Jonathan Hunt: “From the way it played out ... this was very much planned and carried out by somebody very familiar with and competent with the use of a high powered rifle. The ultimate outcome: Charlie Kirk dead at 31.” ([04:42])

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Personal Reflections, Kirk’s Legacy, and Nation in Mourning ([04:44]–[11:16])

• Dana Perino: Describes Kirk as a “giant human ... with a huge heart,” calls the shooting a “watershed moment” for America.
• Greg Gutfeld: Emphasizes Kirk’s persuasiveness and the sense of camaraderie he fostered.

Greg Gutfeld: “He was brilliant and funny, but what scared people was his persuasiveness... if you believe in Charlie, you gotta believe in yourself, because he believed in you.” ([05:48–07:50])

• Jesse Waters: Expresses deep sorrow and anger, vowing that Kirk’s death will be ‘avenged’ by upholding his ideals, not violence.

Jesse Waters: “He was like Socrates. He asked questions and he did it with a smile. There’s nothing controversial about saying socialism is worse than capitalism.” ([08:02])

• Perino: Announces President Trump ordered flags at half-mast for Kirk.
• Joe Biden and Barack Obama issue statements calling for an end to political violence.

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Political Discourse, Free Speech, and Kirk’s Impact ([11:16]–[22:06])

• Harold Ford Jr.: Notes the lack of justification for violence, even amidst deep political disagreements. Praises Kirk’s contribution to political debate.
• Kennedy: Highlights Kirk’s skill in engaging young people, using Socratic questioning on campus, sparking ideological discussion.

Kennedy: “It is okay to be polarizing ... It is not okay to take someone’s life.” ([13:42])

• Jeanine Pirro: (Guest) Characterizes Kirk as a “force of nature” who “inspired millions of young people,” empowered conservatives to speak up in hostile environments, and always championed debate.

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Turning Point USA: Growth and Social Effects ([19:39]–[27:58])

• Gutfeld & Perino: Detail Turning Point’s reach — 3,500 campus chapters, 750,000 student activists, $81 million in revenue, and the Professor Watch List initiative.
• Waters: Calls Kirk potentially the “greatest community organizer in American history,” credits him with political shifts in key states.

Jesse Waters: “He’s credited with sometimes winning Arizona last election and what he did on the ground in places like Michigan. The President owes him big time.” ([22:52])

• Kennedy: Compares Kirk to inventors and philosophers who challenged the status quo. Kirk made it “cool to be conservative when you’re young.”

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Reflections on Kirk’s Methods & Influence ([27:58]–[32:41])

• Harold Ford Jr.: Shares personal history of political debate and encourages everyone to find common ground, in tribute to Kirk.
• Paul Morrow (guest, ex-NYPD): Praises Kirk’s courage and effectiveness, notes his resonance with youth, and raises concern about the rise of “leftist violence.”

Paul Morrow: “...it dawned on me slowly how significant a figure he was. And I’m talking about high school level now.” ([32:41])

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Manhunt & Security Context ([32:41]–[40:53])

• Morrow: Analyzes the evidence, suspects a distant shooter took the shot with a high-powered rifle. Urges witnesses to submit any video footage.
• Gutfeld: Questions whether public, outdoor political events are now ‘a relic’ due to heightened danger.
• Waters: Outlines geographical challenges facing the manhunt, fears a protracted search.

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Was This Shooting a “Message”? Political Violence, Chilling Effect ([40:53]–[53:52])

• Gutfeld, Kennedy, Ford Jr.: Contemplate if the assassination was intended to send a message or to intimidate political speech.

Kennedy: “This is an assassination. This is an act of terrorism … his power came from joy and igniting a movement … that was enough of a threat that they had to take his life.” ([42:46])

• Perino: Reads the official Turning Point USA statement, emphasizing the magnitude of loss.

• Joey Jones (guest): Compares Kirk’s brave public presence to warriors at war; urges honoring Kirk by refusing to “cower.”

Joey Jones: “We owe it to those we lost in battle to live our lives and live it well. And that’s exactly what we owe Charlie Kirk.” ([47:03])

• Discussion with Jason Chaffetz and reports on venue logistics reinforce the planned nature of the act.

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Media & National Conversation ([50:48]–[55:16])

• MSNBC’s Matthew Dowd is called out for suggesting Kirk was a divisive figure whose rhetoric might have led to violence.

  • Gutfeld: “He’s right for the wrong reasons… Hateful words do lead to hateful actions and it was his side that … called everyone Hitler and Nazis.”
  • Ford Jr.: Advocates restraint and fact-finding before further debate or blame.

• Waters: Demands Dowd's firing, argues that the ‘real message’ sent is that speaking out is dangerous, but insists, “Never be afraid to say what’s in your heart … that’s what this country is founded on, freedom.” ([53:52])

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Final Thoughts & Closing Reflections ([55:16]–[60:47])

• Charlie Hurt (guest): Remembers Kirk’s ability to model “good faith debate” as foundational to American democracy.
• Kennedy: “We have to get back to the place where we respect human life. It is not disposable, especially when we have political disagreements.” ([58:03])
• Ford Jr.: “Words, not weapons, no matter how much you disagree…again my prayers to his family” ([58:35])
• Waters: “If they can kill Charlie, they’re capable of anything … move forward with passion and conviction, just like Charlie would have wanted.” ([58:53])
• Gutfeld: “If you thought that you were gonna shut a movement down, you’re gonna get a rude awakening. You woke us the fuck up.” ([59:30])

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Greg Gutfeld:
  • “Charlie’s power just got released in all of us. He’s going to be bigger now than he ever was on this chaotic planet.” ([07:37])
• Jesse Waters:
  • “He was such a beautiful boy… he made politics fun… He electrified and made them patriots.” ([08:02])
• Kennedy:
  • “He confronted the sophistry of socialism and progressivism on college campuses. That was his life’s work.” ([13:42])
• Jeanine Pirro:
  • “We had someone who literally was a voice for a generation, someone who literally could turn out young people and change an election.” ([16:03])
• Joey Jones (on honoring Kirk):
  • “The only way to honor his legacy is to stand in his place ... we can’t cower. We can’t run away from what we believe in.” ([47:03])
• Charlie Hurt:
  • “Kirk was shot because of his efforts to speak with good faith and debate with people in good faith with whom he disagreed, which of course is the foundation of our country.” ([55:48])

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Important Timestamps

• [01:01]–[04:44]: News of the shooting and initial details from Utah
• [05:48]: Gutfeld’s personal tribute
• [08:02]: Waters’ reflection & broader context of political violence
• [13:42]: Kennedy on free speech and Kirk’s Socratic method
• [16:03]: Pirro: Kirk as a generational leader
• [22:52]: Waters on political organizing and campus activism
• [32:41]: Paul Morrow on courage and security risk
• [42:46]: Debate on whether this was meant as a chilling “message”
• [47:03]: Joey Jones compares loss to wartime, urges “Don’t cower”
• [50:48]: Criticism of MSNBC’s reaction, per Gutfeld and Waters
• [55:48]: Charlie Hurt: the national tragedy and loss for democracy
• [58:03]–[60:47]: Round of final thoughts, commitment to honor Kirk’s legacy

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Episode Tone

The episode is a blend of deep sorrow, outrage, retrospection, and resolve, with personal stories, raw emotion, and a call to national introspection. The hosts’ language is both reverent and forceful, often urgent, sometimes defiant, united in warning against further violence and advocating the honor of Charlie Kirk’s legacy by speaking out, not retreating.

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For listeners new to the tragedy, this episode comprehensively traces the event, responses, and meaning, serving as a memorial, a warning, and a rallying call not to let violence mute the American spirit of debate and free speech.

Transcript

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[Dana Perino]

Fox News alert and welcome to THE Five. President Trump just announcing that Charlie Kirk has died after being shot at an event in Utah for his Turning Point USA organization. The President said 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 than Charlie. 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 Erica and family. Charlie, we love you. You will have everyone on THE Five's reaction in just a moment, but let's get you caught up on the news with the latest. Jonathan Hunt joins us now. Hi, Jonathan.

[Jonathan Hunt]

Hi Dana. A tragic scene unfolding on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem, Ut, Utah. That's about 30 minutes south of Salt Lake City where Charlie Kirk was holding an event. The first event, a small tent in an outdoor area of the campus, a sort of amphitheater, buildings facing him about 100 to 200 yards away. He was addressing a crowd that looked to be up to a couple of thousand strong. He had been handing out baseball caps, smiling with the crowd, talking to those who would come to eagerly see him and listen to his words. And then in video we have seen but are not showing for very obvious reasons, you hear after Charlie Kirk sits down behind a desk underneath that small tent, you hear a single shot ring out. It appears to be from some sort of high powered rifle, clearly shot from a distance. And then in one particularly gruesome video, you can see the bullet strike Charlie Kirk. It appears to hit him directly in the neck. You see a gush of blood. And then obviously, as you can imagine, the crowd running in every direction, absolutely terrified. We have seen pictures of Charlie Kirk then Being carried away by people to be who appear to be security guards not in uniform. There are obviously going to be questions about the security that was in place there. But this was, as Jason Chaffetz was saying, who was there on scene. An outdoor event in a, in a conservative part of a conservative state. It's a very crime free city, Orem. I know it well personally from family connections there and nobody expected anything like this. It is a dreadful scene there. Now the shooter appears to still be on the run at this point. Somebody was taken into custody earlier. We saw that on video appeared to be a more elderly gentleman. As we understand it, Dana, that man has now been released from custody and had nothing whatsoever to do with the shooting. So there is obviously very much now an urgent manhunt underway to find whoever carried out this shooting. And from the way it played out, the way it was set up, Dana, you have to think that this was very much planned and carried out by somebody very familiar with and competent with the use of a high powered rifle. The ultimate outcome of all of this, Charlie Kirk dead at 31. Dana.

[Dana Perino]

Thank you, Jonathan. And so we cover a lot of events here and many of them don't touch us personally, but this one does. Charlie was a giant human, especially to me, one of the tallest people I've ever been around, but a huge heart. And what an impact Kennedy and I just saw earlier in the green room. You know, he was born in 1993. And you have to take, if you're our age, you think about that and like the impact that this young man had. And this shooting is a watershed moment for our country. And I believe, and I think my colleagues here will agree the nation needs a circuit breaker. This is unacceptable. It's so tragic. And he touched a lot of people and a lot of people's hearts. You're going to hear a lot about more, more about that in the next hour and in the coming hours here on FOX News. His first television hit, Greg Gutfeld was FOX News, Fox and friends in 2012, believe it or not. So we've known the young man for a long time and may he rest in peace.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Yeah, he's, I've known him for probably 10 years. I mean, I it's hard to gather your thoughts beyond just horror. So instead, I mean, you know, Charlie was such a force of nature. He was brilliant and he was funny, but what scared people was his persuasiveness. The only way to take him down because he could persuade you so strongly was to kill him. You know, and the shock and despair that we are feeling. And I mean, we as in shared by everyone at home and around this table and in this building. It's a testament to the impact of Charlie's friendship and his bravery and his character. And it's so deep a wound that we all feel. It's because it feels like he's one of us, he's part of us, because he was such genuinely a patriot and a great person. So how do you. How do you work through this stuff? You know, it's not about him or me. It's us, the viewers. You are us. What do we do? Well, you still do what you always do, but you do more of it. You stand up, you speak up, and you share the risk. Right now, you are recoiling, but you have to come back and return stronger, more fortified and more resilient. What is ironic, fittingly, I guess, is that this is a turning point. You know, if you believe in Charlie, you got to believe in yourself, because he believed in you. You know, this isn't over. This is the beginning. And Charlie's power just got released in all of us. He's going to be bigger now than he ever was on this chaotic planet. He made us all bigger. So I think that if you're at home and you're feeling bad, just get through it and remember that he would want you to get stronger and not back down.

[Dana Perino]

Jesse, before I go to you, President Trump has announced that the flags will fly at half mast for Charlie Kirk until Sunday evening at 6pm I know you knew him well, too.

[Jesse Waters]

Yeah, we're sick, we're sad, we're angry, and we're resolute, and we're going to avenge Charlie's death in the way Charlie would want it to be avenged. He was such a beautiful boy. He was an American boy, and he was incredibly positive. He was full of energy and life, and he made politics fun. You see it at his events when things blow up and the music plays, and we haven't had that in a very long time in this country. Every time he did a hit on my show, he would text me afterwards, thank you, Jesse. I really appreciate having you on. And my daughter loved them. I mean, she's 13 years old. This is a man who touched an entire generation of Americans and electrified them and made them patriots. And this is not a controversial person. This is not a polarizing guy, a divisive person, a firebrand that he's being described as in the media. This is like a guy that you have a barbecue with at your summer House. This is the kind of guy, if you came back with your daughter, you'd say, thank God, we got a good one. He's a great athlete, he's a great person. He's a great Christian. You see his family out there, yet his kids not facing the photos because he wanted to protect them, because he knew how evil people were. So when he goes out to these college campuses, he's not provoking anybody. He's like Socrates. He asks questions and he does it with a smile. And there's nothing controversial about saying socialism is worse than capitalism. Men and women are different. Let's put America first. Because that's all he was about, putting America first. And as Greg said, this hits differently because Charlie was one of us. And Trump gets hit in the ear. Charlie gets shot dead. They came after Kavanaugh with a rifle to his neighborhood. They went after Musk's cars. They just shot two Jews outside the embassy. Think about it. Scalise got shot, barely survived. It's happening. We've got trans shooters, you got riots in la. They are at war with us. Whether we want to accept it or not, they are at war with us. What are we going to do about it? How much political violence are we going to tolerate? And that's the question we're just going to have to ask ourselves. Now. Charlie would want us to put as much pressure on these people as possible. Dana nailed it. This is unacceptable and has to stop and it has to stop now. And everybody's accountable. And we're watching what they're saying on television and who's saying what? The politicians, the media and all these rats out there. This can never happen again. It ends now. Greg's right again. This, this is a turning point. And we know which direction we're going.

[Dana Perino]

Turning point used so appropriately there. This also in Joe Biden has posted on X a statement. He said, there is no place in our country for this kind of violence. It must end. Now, Jill and I are praying for Charlie Kirk's family and loved ones. Sure to have many more of these statements to come through. Harold, you also knew Charlie Kirk.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

I met Charlie a few times. First off, my condolences and prayers to his family. This is a young dad. The kind of pain that his wife has to be experiencing as she is channeling her own kids. She should know she'll be lifted in my family's prayers tonight. You all have said it. This is horrifying. It's profoundly sad. A 31, 32 year old young man, I know he was born in 1993. I don't know his. His exact birthday. He'd been 32 this year, if he wasn't already. We. I don't know all the details about the shooter or any of those things. I'm sure we will learn and rightly learn, but our infatuation with our own politics and our own ideas causes us, I think, to drown in these thoughts and these justifications. I've read some things and seen some things that people have said today who have talked about Charlie's politics in a way that it sounds as if they are trying to bring some understanding or justification for this. There is no justification for this. Charlie and I didn't agree on a lot of politics, a lot of the paths to solve political problems, but I viewed his thoughts and ideas as ways to try to help make my thoughts and ideas better. Politics at its best is that we're going to hear a lot over the coming days on both sides, those who adored Charlie and his politics, those who did not like Charlie, did not like his politics. But there's no place in our country. There's no place. If you love America, if you love freedom, if you indeed want to make America, whatever side you sit on, Democrat or Republican, the greatest nation in the world and believe it is, you can't in any way defend this or justify this. I close where I started. I don't know, Erica. But my thoughts and prayers to her and to those to his daughter and to his son.

[Dana Perino]

Free speech lives high in your list of priorities, Kennedy?

[Kennedy]

Absolutely. And you think about all of us. Go out there and we want to meet the public. We want to speak. We want to speak our minds. We are fortunate enough to have been given microphone and this medium to talk about ideas and amplify what we believe is right. It is okay to be polarizing. It is okay to be a lightning rod. It is okay for people to disagree with you. It is not okay to take someone's life. And you know, there are people who have tried to justify what happened based on the reaction that Charlie Kirk stirred in people. I will tell you this. As Jesse said, his daughter loved Charlie Kirk. My daughter is a junior in college. A lot of them only get their news from TikTok. And they all know who Charlie Kirk is because using the Socratic method, he has confronted the sophistry of socialism and progressivism on college campuses. That was his life's work. And they all knew who he was. And as they shared those videos, many of those young people question their beliefs. Maybe for the first time in their lives. And it's okay to do that as well. And I hope they continue to do that and that his shadow resonates for generations of people who are able to sit down with those they disagree with and have a conversation with them and confront them with the inadequacies of their arguments, hoping that they come to the side that Charlie Kirk lived and believed was right.

[Dana Perino]

And he did it with good cheer. A happy warrior. There's one other thing I want to mention before we bring in our next guest that you're going to want to hear from. In the last several months, there have been new studies that show that younger people, especially younger men, more than ever, want to get married, want to have children, want to become good fathers, want to have families. And because his following went from 2012 through today, in 2025, you have to I believe that he was a part of that change and good for him for having done so. I want to bring in somebody else who knew him well and he used to sit here with us. Janine Pirro, U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C. joins us. Good morning. Good afternoon, Judge. Excuse me.

[Jeanine Pirro]

Hi, everyone. It's nice to be with you, but certainly on a day like today, it's heartbreaking for all of us, like everyone. I've known Charlie for 10 or 12 years, and I'm heartbroken. I'm heartbroken because we had someone who literally was a voice for a generation, someone who literally could turn out young people and change an election. He was a passionate voice for conservative values and he empowered young people. And he used this Prove Me Wrong tour to spark open debate on campuses across the country. His work inspired millions of young people. And he will leave a legacy of challenging ideas and fighting for what he believed in. He today. And I'm brokenhearted as I look at his photos. I mean, right now we have lost a true warrior for freedom and open discourse. And Charlie wasn't just a commentator or an activist. He was, and I think Greg may have said this, and I agree, he was a force of nature. He built Turning Point USA from the ground up. And he gave young conservatives a platform in a world that often tried to silence them, silence them on university campuses, preventing them from saying what they believed, getting people to write papers that they didn't agree with just to get a good grade. His movement embodied everything that he believed in. He invited the tough questions and he debated ideas head on. And he proved what we've always known, but so few people use it. He proved that truth wins when it's tested. That's what Charlie Kirk did. And look, I knew that he was a bold voice many years ago and a man of deep conviction. And I gotta tell you, Dana, you're right. I mean, his belief in family is marrying Erica, his two children, his unwavering loyalty to his friends. I mean, he leaves behind an incredible legacy, a movement that will only become stronger because of this young man who made a decision to take a different course. He created it, and he had all of us following him. And, you know, they talk about, you know, fascism and all that. The ones that are trying to silence the dialogue, they're the ones who are the true fascists. And what I know of Charlie is that he would want us to keep fighting. He would want us to keep fighting with words, to build a debate, to prove our doubters wrong. And in the end, Charlie proved us all right about what matters. And what we need to tell Charlie is that we will continue to carry the torch that he created on the road that he took, because this is a man who will be legendary. He changed. He changed. As far as I'm concerned, he changed an election because he was strong and he believed in young people.

[Dana Perino]

Judge. Jeanine, your voice is most welcome here today. Thank you. We'll be in touch with you as well. Greg. One of the things that Charlie did, I don't know what happened early on in his life, but at 18, was when he enthusiastically cried, created Turning Point, the goal of going into the lion's den of these college campuses.

[Greg Gutfeld]

It's so funny because I didn't have that when I was in college. And so the amazing thing about Turning Point was that it connected you with other people that may think like you or even not even like that, but might not fit in with the orthodoxy of the left wing campus. So it wasn't like, hey, we're all going to become right wingers. It was more like, you know, there are other people like you here that may not just may not agree with what's going on. And he kind. He. He's like, he. He reminded. He reminds me of the late Andrew Breitbart in the sense that it was like, you know, why not. Why not do this? You know, why not challenge this leftist orthodoxy? Does it have to be? It doesn't have to be. I don't know if he was that ambitious because, I mean, I don't know if you could foresee something this big happening. But I remember, like, speaking at these events and just walking around and going like, I could not imagine having this when I was in college. It's insane. And how lucky did you need it then?

[Dana Perino]

Or do you think things have changed so much that he was a part of?

[Greg Gutfeld]

Oh, I think. I think that, well, when I was in school, there was only one side. I went to Berkeley. And you kept your mouth shut. So what he did was he was able to give students the confidence to sit in a classroom and challenge a professor when he says, America is the land of the oppressed, the genociders. And this kid will raise his hand and go, you know, maybe I disagree. It goes back to those three words that I always use. Well, he create a mechanism to share the risk. And you saw, I mean, this was a machine that literally shared the risk. You're not alone. You're going to meet all these people that are just like you and it's going to be easier.

[Dana Perino]

There's a lot of power in that. I was going to bring this up, Jesse. I'll give you a couple of statistics just to have a transition here. So he has a nationwide campus reach, 3,500 high school and college campuses have a turning point chapter. There are 750,000 student activists. He has 300 full time staff, 85 million online followers. And you can see also that in the UK and Europe, this is also starting to take a hold a little bit there. Its revenue was $81 million. They had things like the Professor Watch list initiative that would try to find a way to root out professors that were discriminating against conservative views or promoting just liberal ideologies. That's really an incredible thing for somebody that young.

[Jesse Waters]

He would smile if I said that he was the greatest community organizer in American history, but he is. I mean, you name the chapters and the amount of people that he inspired. Inspired at that level. He is credited with sometimes winning Arizona last election and what he did on the ground in places like Michigan. The President owes him big time. And the President is obviously incredibly grateful. He's so much more than a campus guy. I mean, this guy was walking in the halls of power for the last several years. He had huge amounts of input on policy. One of the greatest communicators of the generation. Tight with the President, with vance, with Don Jr. It can't be understated how big of a figure he was in this movement. And the fact that they took out a lieutenant with a bullet makes me so angry. And Greg is so right. Two men, Breitbart and Kirk, were taken way too early. And it feels like a piece of America was taken. This guy loved this country so much. He dedicated his entire life to this job. Charlie never took vacation. I never knew him to take vacation. He always was working. And the fact that he went in, as you mentioned, to these college campuses, he went into the belly of the beast. And he knew these campuses were the kind of the cauldron of anti Americanism. And he went right in. And he watched the professors and he went right in and he galvanized the students to stand up for themselves and push back and use logic and their gut instincts to change the course of history. And he did. And now it's cool to be conservative when you're young. I mean, completely flipped the script.

[Dana Perino]

I was thinking about that the other day. Like, who would have thought that we were. We'd become mainstream? He apparently, I got this from my assistant, Casey. He said, Charlie Kirk said he always felt like a bit of an outsider in high school and because he was open about his conservative views while most of his peers leaned left. And when he started Turning Point USA, Kennedy, he was 18 years old. He worked from his parents garage making cold calls to raise money. And this was the mission statement. Identify, educate, train and organize students to promote the principles of freedom, free markets and limited government. And we are watching here live, Kennedy, the flag being lowered to half mast in honor of Charlie Kirk's life. This was at the order of the President of the United States who issued the first statement after Charlie Kirk's death had been confirmed. And these flags will fly at half mast until 6pm on Sunday evening this weekend. Kennedy, more thoughts.

[Kennedy]

It's stunning. So, yeah, I'm going to go back to Socrates who did the very same thing and challenged the bureaucrats and the status quo and those in power because he knew that through using skepticism and philosophy, he would come to the right answer. And he paid with his life. He was sentenced to death. And who was shocked into a career in philosophy to continue the fight, Plato. So there are. There's an entire generation of people who have heard Charlie Kirk's message. They have interfaced with him on campus. They have been moved into action at Turning Point USA events. And now is a time for them to be galvanized to the next stage of their life and take the movement into the next generation and the next direction. I remember being on the Bob Dole 96 hours to victory tour and asking one of his strategists, a Republican strategist, why don't you reach out to younger people? Because I knew I couldn't have been alone at the time. I was a Republican while I was on mtv and I was very scared, skeptical of the Clintonian Democrats and the way our direction would lurch leftward if left unchecked. And he said at the time, kids don't vote Republican. You know, what's the point of wasting the time and money? And Charlie Kirk found that philosophy unacceptable. And that's why he is a great American inventor, because this is how the Industrial revolution went forth was because of tinkerers and inventors who saw problems and chose to solve them themselves. And he did that from a very young age because he knew that he wasn't the only one who was being ignored. He knew he wasn't the only one who was being shepherded into groupthink. So he decided to make a change because he knew under the right circumstances, with the right message, it would become a conflagration.

[Dana Perino]

And let me just read this to you. The RNC has released the following statement on the shooting that took the life of Charlie Kirk. It says, Charlie Kirk was a father, husband, and dedicated patriot who spent his life defending conservative values and inspiring young Americans. Our hearts break for his wife, children, loved ones, and countless supporters across the country. The horrifying violence at Utah Valley University that took the life of Charlie Kirk is utterly appalling. Republicans and Democrats alike must stand united in condemning this brutality that has no place in America. In just a moment, we're going to have a chance to talk with Paul Morrow because we have a situation on our hands where the shooter is still at large. And we'll get an update on that and also the broader discussion with him. I do have actually here a statement from President Obama. Let me read it here. President Obama posted this on X. We don't yet know what motivated the person who shot and killed Charlie Kirk, but this kind of despicable violence has no place in our democracy. Michelle and I will be praying for Charlie's family tonight, especially his wife, Erica, and their two young children, Harold, before we talk to Paul.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

When I was in high school in D.C. a big club on my campus is called the Government Club, and we were divided into liberals and conservatives. And frankly, I didn't fully understand what those terms meant. I knew what the vernacular and what the political dialogue at the moment was. And I was president of the club for the liberals, and my friend was the president of the conservatives. We had some of the greatest conversations. Our friendship flourishes today. I'm godfather to one of his kids. We don't agree on everything. I would hope that tonight, as an appreciation and a salute to Charlie, if you are around a family member or a friend or a co Worker whom you have disagreements with politically or for that matter, on any matters, find something before you leave them this afternoon or this evening that you agree on and hug. Let us understand the debate is good. I've shared around this table. When I was in law school, we'd have these great raging debates in con law and at the Constitutional law. And I would take my friends that were on one side and take the friends who were on my side and I'd have dinner. My dad was kind enough to invite the dinners on Wednesday night there on State street, and we'd sit. And the only rule was that if someone said something that deconstructed or defeated or undermined your argument, you had to concede, not stop, but concede and talk about your answers and the things that you wanted, that you wanted to see happen. And we had some of the great, great, some great discussions, great debates. And some of those guys, not some of those guys, many of those people, not all of them remain great, great friends of mine. And we still have these conversations today. One of the things that exercise taught me, and I think one of the things that Charlie taught those who agreed with him, who didn't agree with him, he fought, Matt. He fought valiantly and with dignity, with lots of words and no weapons. And that should be the message today as well, is that if you're an active thinker, if you seek to be smart and seek to be informed, then you'll never be a static or stationary thinker. And what I draw from all of this is this low, unfortunate, tragic place we've descended to as a country where we think violence. Someone, I think it might have been you, Greg, that said, maybe you, Jesse had said that you shoot him and you kill him and you take his ideas, you won't take his ideas off the table by shooting him. Or for that matter, shooting someone you disagree with or trying to kill someone you disagree with. We're the greatest country in the world. And you talked about the foundation that Kennedy, you talked about Socrates and Plato. And everyone around the table has one thing I'll leave you with. We talk about Socrates and Plato. No one ever asked during that era who was the richest person they wanted to know who was the most thoughtful, who had the best ideas, and who was willing not just to have an open mind, but who was willing not only to debate, but to make things better. Again, my prayers and condolences to young Erica Kirk and her family before we.

[Dana Perino]

Go to Paul Morrow. I don't think that Paul Ryan would mind me sharing this story. I was Once at a bar where there was a small event and Paul Ryan, the former speaker, and Charlie Kirk were having a good conversation and just sitting around having a drink. And these younger people that worked at the bar came up and they really wanted to get a picture, but not with Paul Ryan. They wanted a picture with Charlie Kirk. And Paul Ryan took pictures for each of them on their phones. Paul Ryan taking the pictures of those young people with Charlie Kirk. And it was a sweet memory that just came to mind. Let's bring in Paul Morrow. He's a former NYPD inspector. He's a Fox News contributor who can speak to one. I think the manhunt is of interest. And then a broader story. Paul, of course I know you have a lot of thoughts about somebody like this and the impact that they had in just 31 years on earth.

[Paul Morrow]

Yeah, of course I do. You around the table have all echoed a lot of it. You know, Maya Angelou said that courage is the virtue that's required for all others. And when I see something like this, it's all I can think of in terms of what he was made of. This is a guy who knew that there were a lot of people against him. And his how efficacious he was is what inspired that. I know a lot of young people in my family who were aware of him before even I was. And it speaks to how effective he was as a communicator, using media, building that organization. It dawned on me slowly how significant a figure he was. And I'm talking about high school level now. And that is, that's so important because that meant that you had high schoolers going away to school, away from their normal support networks, family, etcetera, Going in well instructed, let's say, or well prepared, better word for the fact that they were going to be hearing ideas that they didn't have to necessarily wholesale acceptance. And I just go back to the idea that the guy's courage was reminded me, as many of you have mentioned, Greg, our old friend Andrew Breitbart, very, very similar. A guy who said, you know what, I know there's danger. I know there's a lot of people who want to shut me up. I'm going to debate with them and I'm going to debate with them in a genial way and be collegial and debate points. Unfortunately, there is an element and the right has their crazies, too. But we're in an era, we're in a season now of leftist violence. And I'm not going to sugarcoat it. I'M now on the phone because I'm down in Florida to cover the Ryan Roop trial. And all this happened when I was in the air. I just learned of it upon touching down. And the irony of that is not lost on me. And what's not lost on me as well is that horrific video that we've all seen by now of Charlie Kirk. Transposed that to Butler and think about how close we came there. And then I got to think forward, being a cop, and I say, how many others are out there? How can we prevent them? And I just hope that the Secret Service is up to the task because, you know, I'm not entirely reassured by some of the things I've been hearing. And so I just hope we're vigilant because this is no way to run a nation. We're a nation of ideas. This is not who we are.

[Dana Perino]

Do you have any. I know you just told us that you're there to cover the second assassination attempt on President Trump by covering the Ryan Routh trial gets underway after jury selection and that starts tomorrow. But do you have any information about the manhunt that's underway right now for the person who shot Charlie Kirk?

[Paul Morrow]

Only things that I can glean from the limited reporting that's out there, a couple of things I heard, and I have a little bit of a source on this. But again, I don't want to say anything that's not really confirmed in such dire circumstances. So let me just say this. There was that early report of that one individual that they grabbed and they had on his knees and he was saying, I don't want to talk. And that went out viral as, okay, here's the shooter. That didn't ring true for me because I thought, I mean, we've all seen the video. That is almost certainly a high powered round. The school reportedly is saying that the shot came from 200 yards away. If that had been somebody who was in the crowd up front near the stage, you would have seen a long gun, because that is a long gun round from what I can see. I'm not a ballistic expert and I wasn't there. But again, from what I can glean, it argues to me that the person they grabbed in front of the stage. Since we have not seen any images of a long gun there, it argues to me that the actual shooter is someplace off the set that is not someplace entirely visible, because I'd imagine a lot of people had their phones out, they were taking video. So we know that right now the shooter appears to be unapprehended the person that they did grab might be involved, might not, we don't know. But that was not a handgun round. Now, the bullet that did hit Charlie, God bless him, is right now a vital clue, along with all the stuff we always talk about, the video, doing some digital forensics, etc. But the round is going to tell you a lot, and it'll tell you likely how far away it came from and, you know, what kind of rifle was used. And that's going to be a node that they're going to exploit. But I would say this. If you were there, and I'm sure the police are saying this, if you were there or anywhere near it and you have video, do not hesitate, no matter how low to the ground, unimportant you think it is. I'm sure they're setting up the intake on all of this. You don't have to necessarily go right to the campus police or the local cops. You know, wherever you are, there's going to be a lot of jurisdictions yet what you have up the chain, somebody out there saw and knows something. And right now, we are in a manhunt. And anything that we can do to apprehend this obviously very dangerous individual is going to be really important. So if you're hearing my voice and you were there and you have video, get it to the cops, man, because they're gonna really be pressing on this.

[Dana Perino]

Paul Morrow, thank you so much. And before we go to Jackie Heinrich at the White House, we'll get a few more comments from around the table. And I was thinking also, Greg, I noticed you just made a note about we like to be outside. We're humans and these big events, it's fun to gather with people who think like you do. Well, you want to go to the concert? You want to go to the event?

[Greg Gutfeld]

Yeah, it's, I would say, like, for my job here, I would say the work that I do, 80% is indoors. You know, maybe I'll do an. I'll do an event in somewhere else or go here or go there. But it's. I'm an. I'm an indoor cat, you know, and Charlie's the reverse. Like, I would say 80 to 90% of what he did was out there outside, which meant he often had his back to people. He was never armed. He was out there, and he did that. He must. He probably knew that he was vulnerable, but, you know, he had faith. And I get the sense that maybe these outdoor events are going to become a relic of an earlier time, especially with Things like drones and self driving cars and you know, I mean, you know, I know when I get home my wife is going to say, you're not doing that thing, you're not going to that thing. You know, she's going to say it. I'm going to have to say, no, everything's fine, we're good. I'm supposed to do a turning point event. I don't know when it is. It might be December and, and I'm sure, well, I'm going, yeah, you know, and.

[Dana Perino]

I don't know, but we have to think about these things, unfortunately. Jesse.

[Jesse Waters]

Yeah, so he wasn't doing them in auditoriums because he had so many people coming and you couldn't fit them in a school auditorium. So we do them out in the quad or somewhere like this. And it's kind of what you see is what you get like come all come at me, I'm not afraid. Bring it on. I'm gonna say what I'm gonna say, you say what you're gonna say, we'll have a good time and I'll go on to the next campus. And that's what he did. And so we're hearing also from the New York Times that the shooter fired a round from a building which was at higher elevation and shot down 200 yards away, which was only 50 yards farther than the Butler Assassin. And so again, this is a pot shot with any sort of high powered rifle. And if you look at the geography around the area, you can just walk down from that building, get in your vehicle and you could be in the mountains in 10 minutes. You could be at the airport in Provo in five minutes. I'm a little worried that this manhunt is going to go on for a long time because if they don't have this guy now, there is no telling where he or she or they could be.

[Dana Perino]

Harold.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

I agree with you, Jesse. I was hoping that Paul might, maybe he can react to that and we'll react to that a little later. This university first reported this was 200 yards away. I'm sure we'll get more and more details about why they detained the first person. But I pray, I know you pray that you're wrong, that this guy or this person or this group of people were able to get away. I just end where I started. We are in a terrible, terrible place. The intervention needed. I heard someone say earlier, and a friend texted me a little while ago about how Charlie used words and not weapons and how and he disagreed with him on a lot of things and he knew him as well. And how the country. You know, we're going to have to wrestle with the fact as we get through these next two or three days here, next 24 to 48 hours, and learn more about what happened. This intervention the country needs around our politics is more urgent than it's ever been. And I'd say it again, Huck. Find something you agree with, somebody you disagree with this afternoon and tonight, be it anybody in your family or friend or co worker, whatever it might be. And remember, if you can't find something to agree on, we can at least agree that we're all Americans and we love the country. And if you can't agree on that, find something in sports. Find something you can agree on with someone you so passionately disagree with. And again, my prayers to his family.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Do you think this was a message?

[Harold Ford Jr.]

I think. What? The shooting was the message, Yeah. I don't know. Well, I think we'll learn. I'm hesitant to speculate. I think we're going to learn. I think they're going to catch this guy, and when they do, I think we're going to learn. We're going to learn a lot more.

[Greg Gutfeld]

I mean, it's. When you say message, it's not an unimpressive feat. What happened that was hard to do.

[Kennedy]

Okay. I mean, you ask if it's a message. I say it's absolutely a message. This is a message meant to silence people. Mean, this is an assassination. This is an act of terrorism. Because although Charlie Crook was not a politician, he was political and he was powerful, and his power came from joy and igniting a movement and being really, really convincing. And that was the threat. That was a threat to a group of people. That was a threat to the other side. That was a threat to someone, and that was enough of a threat that they had to take his life into their hands. And yes, it was a message and yes, it was political. And that person intended for this assassination to silence everyone who agrees with him and to silence everyone who wants to go out on a limb and make their case and refute so much of what, especially younger people are being fed. And like I said at the beginning, it is okay to refute things that you disagree with. That is an appropriate avenue. He was not scared and he was joyful because he knew his message was entirely appropriate.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

I'm not naive enough to say I don't disagree with you, but that I just interpret your question differently.

[Greg Gutfeld]

I meant in the sense that, like, it might have been easier to strike him in another place. But they chose that.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

Right?

[Greg Gutfeld]

I mean, this is planned, as Jonathan Hunt said, carried out competently beyond, I mean, professional.

[Dana Perino]

Right.

[Greg Gutfeld]

So they didn't have to do it. I mean, this, it makes me think that it's a, it's not just, it's a bigger message than we. It's like you could be next for me.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

I'm sorry.

[Dana Perino]

We want to get to Jackie Heinrich, but I do have this Turning Point release in a statement. Okay. Here, I'm going to read it here. Turning Point saying that it is with a heavy heart that we confirm that Charles James Kirk has been murdered by a gunshot that took place During Turning Point USA's the American comeback Tour campus event at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025. May he be received into the merciful arms of our loving savior who suffered and died for Charlie. We ask that everyone keep his family and loved ones in your prayers. We ask that you please respect their privacy and dignity at this time. Jackie Heinrich joins us from the White House. Is Secret Service posture changing there, Jackie, at the White House?

[Kennedy]

So we've reached out to the Secret Service and they're saying out of, you know, their policies, they're not going to be describing any changes that are going to be happening. But they say they always adjust the posture as needed to mitigate threats. And the threat environment, as we know, is at an all time high. You hear that from, from law enforcement officials across the board even before this happened. But of course, we're talking about a president who survived two attempts on his own life and the suspect, as far as we know, still not in custody. So as folks go home from the White House tonight, including the staff who work here, who love Charlie Kirk and are now reeling with his death, which is hitting very close to home, I do expect we're going to be seeing or feeling at least something different than the usual posture out here. I will say there are still people moving around in front of the White House gate, but it's not the music playing and sort of the party that we've seen out there, including earlier this afternoon. We are awaiting any updates on the president's schedule. He was supposed to have a dinner later on tonight. Unclear if he is still going to attend that dinner. This is obviously an evolving situation and you've seen, seen the heartfelt condolences coming out from the President, the vice president, Secretary of State, secretary of war on down through the Cabinet, down to the press secretary as well. Everybody just really shocked.

[Dana Perino]

And this has got to be a very shocking thing for them there. I mean, they are very, very close friends with him. And when you go through a campaign like the ones they've been through, those relationships are forged in fire. Jackie Heinrich, thank you so much. I want to bring in Joey Jones, who I believe is available now with us, who knew Charlie well and get your thoughts. Joey, are you with us?

[Joey Jones]

Yeah, I'm here.

[Dana Perino]

Hi. Get your thoughts today?

[Joey Jones]

Yeah. First of all, thoughts are with Charlie and his family and his children. I've got a six year old little girl and I just can't imagine what his children will go through these next several years. And it's not fair, it's not right. I've seen this happen with men that went to war with me and the idea was always we went to war and we watched these things and with any luck survive them or sacrifice to them. When I say these things, gruesome death so that things like this don't happen at home, so that we don't get attacked by our enemies this way at home. And to sit here today and to think that the propensity, the odds of getting attacked in this way are greater as a public figure espousing conservatism than a warrior at war, just, I don't know how to sit with that tonight. I don't know how to understand that. Because of that, I have to think of words that have been spoken in honor of men that I've served with that died in war. And my friend Jacob Schick said very matter of factly, we owe it to those we lost in battle to live our lives and live it well. And that's exactly what we owe Charlie Kirk. We owe him. We can't cower. The only way to honor his legacy is to stand in his place. And Greg, you just talked about that. The idea that there's a turning point event that you're going to show up at and this idea that I can't make a decision for each and every person at that table on how you do public events moving forward. And I think that you're perfectly justified in reevaluating that. But we can't cower. We can't run away from what we believe in and the chosen profession we have, which is to stand up for those things and say them honestly. Charlie Kirk did that. Charlie Kirk saw what happened to President Trump. I can't imagine there aren't verified threats against his life by the list that he saw going into this event today. But he sat there in one of the most vulnerable positions you can be in, which is in deprade to A possible attack in the bottom of a pit. And he said the things he believed. And he said the things he believed to be true. And he did it without malice or ill will. He did it with conviction. It's not our place to have retribution. Nobody should be seeking retribution for Charlie, but they should be seeking to honor him and his legacy and the work he did. That is winning, that is righting the ship. That is righting and correcting the wrong that was done today. We have to stand loud and stand proud with conviction and love for this country, not with hate in our hearts. And that's hard to do. It's hard not to be pissed off right now. It's hard not to be broken hearted right now. But I don't think that would be his response. And we have to honor him.

[Dana Perino]

There are so many tentacles of emotions, it almost feels like it could choke us. But we will keep talking. Joey Jones, thank you so much. I just got news that the officials are going to give a news conference at 6pm Eastern. So in just about 10 minutes time, I do want to play one thing for you. So our colleague Jason Chaffetz, former congressman from Utah, he was there at the event. He had just texted with Charlie. Let's listen to him right here.

[Jonathan Hunt]

Charlie was sitting under an awning. This is sunken down. So if you're sitting where Charlie is, it graduates up.

[Jesse Waters]

Now, are there angles where buildings are available?

[Jonathan Hunt]

And to a would be assassin?

[Harold Ford Jr.]

The answer unfortunately is yes, I can.

[Jonathan Hunt]

Tell you, just sitting there.

[Jesse Waters]

And again, maybe it's the emotion of.

[Jonathan Hunt]

It and not looking or expecting it.

[Jesse Waters]

It seemed like the shot was closer.

[Jonathan Hunt]

And that it was more direct.

[Dana Perino]

Jason Chaffin, Sarah, shaken up but available to speak with us. I also want to play one more thing that's getting a lot of attention on X and elsewhere. This is Matthew Dowd over at MSNBC and his reaction earlier.

[Greg Gutfeld]

He's been one of the most divisive, especially divisive younger figures in this who is constantly sort of pushing this sort of hate speech or sort of aimed at certain groups. And I always go back to hateful thoughts lead to hateful words which then lead to hateful actions.

[Dana Perino]

Greg Gutfeld comment?

[Greg Gutfeld]

Well, I mean, he's right for the wrong reasons. I mean hateful words do lead to hateful actions and it was his side that had pretty much ran the gamut, calling everybody Hitler and Nazis and instead of viewing people as wrong, viewing them as evil. I, I think, I think that Matthew Dowd is, I won't criticize him because I think there's something wrong with him. I do think. I feel like it is such a. Such a strange thing to say when somebody is shot and near death. He said it before he was confirmed death. Like, what. What is going on in that man's head? It's interesting. I. You know, we don't know who did this, but I do know it doesn't help the left, which makes me think, is it the left? I don't know. I don't know.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

I.

[Greg Gutfeld]

We don't know. But it feels professional. That's all it feels to me.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

You know, Greg, you asked me a question about a message. I think I'm not naive enough to think there's not something here, but I view it. The message I take from it is that if you have a view that might be the minority in some place and you're trying to share your view, and Charlie had a minority view as it relates to his views, and then he helped enliven it and awaken a group of people who shared his view that they're going to be. We are almost embracing and okaying. We're not, but society is and our culture is. There's no decency. There is an embrace of violence and there's almost a justification. I know Matthew. I'm gonna give him the benefit of the doubt, but whatever. If he felt that he shouldn't have said that at that moment. This is not the time to be talking about.

[Greg Gutfeld]

He's got an issue.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

No, no.

[Greg Gutfeld]

But I'm a serious problem.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

This is not. I think even some of the conversation that's probably. Probably going to be had over the next 24 hours about the. I just think this is not the moment. We need to get the facts. We need to capture this guy. I think Jesse is right. This guy's on the loose and we don't know if it's a team of people or what it might be. So I'm hoping that. And then we can. We can have that conversation.

[Greg Gutfeld]

Who's at fault and whose side is my favorite analysis. Harold came from MSNBC when they said it could have been a support Porter shooting a gun off in celebration from.

[Kennedy]

200 yards and hitting him.

[Greg Gutfeld]

I mean that if it wasn't such a horrible event, that would be a punchline.

[Dana Perino]

It's like, why can't you just say we don't know when we're looking for you might have more information, but I have no idea. Let's get one more thought from Jesse here and then we'll go to Charlie Hurt and take around the table before.

[Jesse Waters]

We end well, Dowd should be fired immediately. I expect him to be terminated within 24 hours. You can't say Charlie deserved to die. Just can't say that. And I hope he loses his job. It's dangerous, Greg. That's the message. It's dangerous to open your mouth, so shut it. That's the message they're sending. And they usually send messages to the politicians, whether it's Trump, jfk, Reagan, whatever, or John Lennon, you know, take a shot at the biggest star in the world. And I'm not saying they took a shot at Charlie because I'm lowering his status. They took a shot at Charlie to tell you it's dangerous to speak your mind. And that's the message. And you can either take that message and then go crawl into a corner and shut up, or you could do what Charlie would want to do and speak louder and speak even more clear to more people as much as you possibly can. And never be afraid to say what's in your heart and get everybody else saying what you believe, because that's what this country is founded on, freedom. And if they can take that away from us, we don't have a country.

[Greg Gutfeld]

But what was he saying?

[Jesse Waters]

We don't know. And that could have been trans. It could have been maga. You don't know. And we can't speculate, but we will find out when they catch this goon.

[Dana Perino]

I think that right before we go to Charlie Hurd, I was going to just mention that one of the things that, that makes you think it could have been planned is that because it's a big event, you have to announce it weeks, maybe months in advance. You know that your event is in December.

[Jesse Waters]

Yes.

[Dana Perino]

So there's plenty of time to try to do that. And they don't have. So they don't have presidential level Secret Service. Well, neither did former President Trump before he won again in Butler. Charlie Hurt, you were most recently, I believe, guest hosting Fox and Friends weekend with Charlie Kirk. And get your thoughts. Thanks for being here today.

[Paul Morrow]

Yeah. And actually a group of us had a hunting trip set up for a couple of weeks from now, and I think he was going to try to make it as well. You know, obviously, on a personal level, it's an incredibly. This is just incredibly shocking and sad. But also on a very, you know, on a national level, it's a cataclysmic day to think about the fact that, as you all have pointed out, I mean, Charlie Kirk was shot because of his efforts to speak with good faith and debate with people in Good faith with whom he disagreed, which of course is the foundation of our country. That's the whole point. The way a republic works is that we can debate about these things that we don't agree with. All three of my kids are all either in college or just out of college. They've all, they're all absolutely slack jaw stunned by this. They are, all their friends are stunned by this. Friends who agree with Charlie Kirk, friends who don't agree with Charlie Kirk. They're all absolutely sort of almost to the point of just in, you know, it's a day that they will never forget kind of day. Part of it has to do with the, the graphic video. And I'm at a loss of words to say to them, except to say kind of what you were just saying, Jesse, which is that, you know, Charlie Kirk realized that there were threats against him. He did not live in fear. He lived his life with purpose every single day. And if there is a silver lining from this day, it's that Charlie Kirk caught us all to live with that sense of purpose and we should live every day with purpose. And hopefully, you know, that is the only way we might begin to sort of heal this country.

[Dana Perino]

Thank you, Charlie Hurt. Let's take it around the table one more time. Let's maybe start over here, Kennedy with you for final thoughts before we turn it over to Special Report. And just a reminder for everybody, There is a 6pm Press conference conference coming up right after the 5.

[Kennedy]

And you know, even after discussing this for an hour, we have so many outstanding questions, it does not make sense. I am in utter shock. I look at those pictures of him and his children and it breaks my heart. And it breaks my heart that this is the place our country is in. Because it doesn't matter your political stride, you love your family and we have to get back to the place where we received respect. Human life, it is not disposable, especially when we have political disagreements.

[Dana Perino]

It is sacred, Harold.

[Harold Ford Jr.]

Words, not weapons, no matter how much you disagree or how much you do agree. And two, hug somebody tonight that you disagree with. And three, let's show some restraint until we get all the facts here. And again, my prayers to his family, Jesse Waters.

[Jesse Waters]

So if they can kill Charlie, they're capable of anything. And this is a huge message that was sent to the entire world. And we just have to grasp the gravity of it and let it sink in and then move forward with passion and conviction, just like Charlie would have wanted. And my thoughts and prayers go out to Erica and his two young kids and I love them and I love Charlie and it's just a very, very sad day, especially right before 9 11.

[Dana Perino]

Greg?

[Greg Gutfeld]

Yeah, I know that it's somewhat object of mockery to say thoughts and prayers, but thoughts and prayers for his family. They need it from all of us. And Jesse's right. If they could do this, they are capable of anything. I think that was the message. I believe that was the message. It's really hard to radicalize Republicans. Yeah, you know, it's like we're not the radical type, but if you thought that you were gonna shut a movement down, you're gonna get a rude awakening. You woke us the fuck up.

[Dana Perino]

And we will end here in just a few moments. So there's a press conference at 6pm the manhunt is underway. Maybe we'll get more information here. I also, I agree with you. I think it's very scary to think that this person might have gotten away, that they had it planned. And I'm also hearing from friends who have college age students across the board. As Charlie Hurt was just saying, you're saying like these Charlie Kirk's life mattered big time. And our prayers are with Charlie Kirk, his family. And we will turn it over to Brett Baer of Special Report. Charlie Kirk, may he rest in peace.

[Jesse Waters]

This is Jason Chaffetz from the Jason.

[Paul Morrow]

In the House podcast.

[Jesse Waters]

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[Paul Morrow]

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[Greg Gutfeld]

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