New York Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez immediately blamed guns and, by extension, Republican inaction on limiting access to certain guns, in the aftermath of the assassination of Turning Point USA founder and leading conservative advocate Charlie Kirk.
In a video posted by the Daily Caller News Foundation, AOC, surrounded by reporters, deferred to the typical Democratic talking point when asked for her thoughts about her the doomsday rhetoric that her party often uses when describing President Donald Trump and his America First movement.
“You know, beyond rhetoric, we need to talk about action,” she began. “Yes, we need to talk about…there are words…but most importantly, we are in the job of leadership. We are in a job of action. We are in a role, a position, where the American people are looking to us to do something about this.
“Every single day people are dying due to gun violence in America, and every single day, there are people in this building that continue to vote against doing anything,” she added as she pointed to the Capitol behind her.
WATCH:
Kirk was shot during a collegiate event around 12:20 p.m. local time, according to a statement made by Ellen Treanor, Associate Vice President, Strategic Communication Management at Utah Valley University, to Fox News.
“We had a speaker, Charlie Kirk, who was invited by a student group, Turning Point USA, who was speaking on campus today at noon,” the statement said.
“At about 12:20 shots were fired from a building about 200 yards from the speaker. To the best of our knowledge, the individual was hit and was taken away immediately by his security personnel,” Treanor said. “The campus is closed for the rest of the day and our campus police has a suspect and custody.”
Seconds before Charlie Kirk was shot, he was heard on video answering a question about transgender mass shooters in America:
Audience member: “Do you know how many transgender Americans have been mass shooters over the last 10 years?”
Kirk: “Too many.”
The same audience member went on say the number is five, and proceeded to ask if Kirk knows how many mass shooters there have been in America over the last 10 years.
Kirk: “Counting or not counting gang violence?”
A fraction of a second later, a pop is heard, and Kirk is seen recoiling in his seat as blood gushes from his throat.
One suspect was detained immediately after the shooting, but was released shortly thereafter after authorities determined he was not the assassin. FBI Director Kash Patel took to social media about a half hour later, announcing another suspect was in custody, but he, too, was eventually released.
The shooter remains at large.
President Trump wrote on social media: “We must all pray for Charlie Kirk, who has been shot. A great guy from top to bottom. GOD BLESS HIM!”
In a statement on X, Vice President J.D. Vance wrote: “Say a prayer for Charlie Kirk, a genuinely good guy and a young father.”
Utah Senator Mike Lee posted to X shortly after news of the shooting broke, writing, “I am tracking the situation at Utah Valley University closely. Please join me in praying for Charlie Kirk and the students gathered there.”
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth wrote: “Prayers for Charlie Kirk. An incredible Christian, American, and human being. May the healing hand of Jesus Christ be upon him.”
Pennsylvania Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro condemned the attack, calling the shooting in a post “horrifying.”
“Political violence has no place in our country,” Shapiro posted. “We must speak with moral clarity,” Shapiro said.
