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Hundreds of South Koreans detained in a massive US immigration raid were being released Thursday to begin the journey home, Seoul said after warning the “bewildering” episode could have a chilling effect on future investment. South Koreans made up the majority of the 475 people arrested last week at a Hyundai-LG battery factory site in the state of Georgia, triggering a delicate effort to resolve the thorny situation between close allies.Seoul confirmed that the “release process was underway” for the workers, who were set to fly back to the South on a chartered plane due to arrive home Friday afternoon.Photographs run by the Yonhap news agency showed the workers gathering around buses, some seen smiling and waving after spending days in US detention.South Korea is a staunch security ally and major investor for the United States, with its top companies pouring billions into developing factories and plants in America.South Korean President Lee Jae Myung called the raid “bewildering” and noted it could have a chilling effect on future investment.Lee blamed the raid on “cultural differences” saying that in South Korea, American nationals teaching English while on a tourist visa was not seen as “a serious issue”.After the detentions, South Korean companies “can’t help but question whether setting up a plant in the US is worth the potential risks,” Lee said.”This could have a significant impact on future investment decisions, particularly when evaluating the feasibility of direct operations in the US,” he added.Many South Korean companies have relied on bringing in their own workforce during project development periods, with industry sources telling AFP it is common practice to use visa workarounds to bring in skilled labour and avoid project delays.Lee said that for South Korean companies “when setting up facilities, equipment and factories, skilled technicians are essential”.”Someone has to install the machinery, and the necessary workforce simply doesn’t exist locally in the US,” he said, adding that the companies had long relied on bringing in their engineers for short-term periods to train local workers.”But now, even that basic request is being rejected,” he said.- Handcuff shock -Lee said Seoul was negotiating with Washington “to ensure that visa issuance for investment-related purposes operates normally”. This could include “securing additional quotas” or even creating a new visa category, he said, adding that he trusted the “US side will find a solution”.”But under the current circumstances, Korean companies will have little choice but to hesitate about making direct investments in the US,” he added.The operation was the largest single-site raid conducted since US President Donald Trump launched a sweeping immigration crackdown, a top political priority since he returned to office in January.The raid came less than a month after Trump welcomed Lee to the White House.Images of the South Korean workers being chained and handcuffed have caused widespread alarm, and Seoul has said it negotiated to make sure the workers were not handcuffed again as they were repatriated.The raid highlights lopsided priorities in the Trump administration, which is “actively bringing in large-scale production facilities while neglecting to train local workers,” said Kim Dae-jong, professor of business at Sejong University.”As a result, South Koreans are having to train the local workforce. Logically, the two sides’ workers should be allowed to work together, not be hindered from doing so,” he told AFP.But Cho Dong-geun, professor emeritus of economics at Myongji University warned that South Korean companies had long been aware of the visa problems. “It is regrettable that there was no earlier intervention to address these matters in response to President Trump’s anti-immigration agenda, as it should have been acted on more swiftly.”

A manhunt was underway Thursday after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot to death at a university in Utah, a killing that sparked fears of worsening political violence in the United States.President Donald Trump lashed out at the “radical left” after the shooting of Kirk, a powerful voice in conservative US politics at just 31 years old, and vowed to crack down on those responsible for what he described as “a dark moment for America.””For years those on the radical left have compared wonderful Americans like Charlie to Nazis and the world’s worst mass murderers and criminals,” a somber-looking Trump said in a video message from the Oval Office just hours after Kirk’s death.”This kind of rhetoric is directly responsible for the terrorism that we’re seeing in our country today.”My administration will find each and every one of those who contributed to this atrocity, and to other political violence, including the organizations that fund it and support it.”Kirk was shot in the neck while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday. Video from the scene showed him addressing a large crowd when the sound of a single shot rang out. The father-of-two appeared to collapse in his chair before the camera swiftly moved and sounds of panic erupted in the audience.The Utah Department of Public Safety said the shooter, dressed in dark clothing, fired from a nearby rooftop in what authorities called a “targeted attack.”Students at the university described the shooting as “crazy” and “scary”.”It makes me feel like I should be very careful about expressing my political ideas,” said Samuel Kimball, a software engineering student, told AFP.”If I was someone considering going into politics, I’d be afraid to get shot.”- Confusion -The shooter remained at large despite door-to-door searches by federal, state and local officers.Orem city mayor David Young said multiple law enforcement agencies were investigating but confirmed that the suspect had not yet been apprehended.The FBI established a digital line for the public to share tips.There was initial confusion over the manhunt, with FBI Director Kash Patel posting on social media platform X that the “subject” had been detained before walking that back an hour later.Trump ordered flags on government buildings — including the White House — to be lowered to half-staff until Sunday in an illustration of how important Kirk was in the 79-year-old Republican’s orbit.Utah Governor Spencer Cox, a Republican, called the killing a “political assassination” and issued a stark warning to the perpetrator during an emotional news conference.”I want to make it crystal clear right now to whoever did this: we will find you, we will try you, and we will hold you accountable to the furthest extent of the law,” Cox said. “And I just want to remind people that we still have the death penalty here in the state of Utah.”- ‘He fell back’ -Former Utah congressman Jason Chaffetz, who was at the rally, told Fox News the shooting had happened while Kirk was doing a question-and-answer session with the crowd.”First question was about religion. He went on for about 15-20 minutes. Second question, interestingly, was about transgender shooters, mass shooters, and in the midst of that, the shot rang out,” a visibly shaken Chaffetz told the network.”As soon as that shot went out, he fell back,” he said. “Everybody hit the deck… a lot of people started screaming, and then everybody started running.”- Turning Point -Kirk had an outsized influence in US politics, powering Trump’s support among younger voters — a key factor in the Republican’s return to power last year.He co-founded Turning Point USA in 2012 to drive conservative viewpoints among young people, his natural showmanship turning him into a go-to spokesman on television networks.Kirk used his enormous audiences on Instagram and YouTube to build support for anti-immigration policies, outspoken Christianity and gun ownership, and to spread carefully edited clips of his interactions during debates at his many college events.News of the shooting provoked horror across the political spectrum.”Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord,” Vice President JD Vance posted on social media.Figures on the left also condemned the attack and urged calm.”There is no place in our country for this kind of violence. It must end now,” former president Joe Biden wrote on X.California Governor Gavin Newsom — a frequent foil for right-wing figures like Kirk — called the attack “disgusting, vile, and reprehensible.” Former congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords — a Democrat who herself survived an assassination attempt — said she was “horrified” by the attack.Kirk’s killing came three months after a Minnesota man shot dead a Democratic lawmaker and her husband in their home.

Back-to-back talks between the United States and China’s top diplomats and defence chiefs could mark “a small step” towards a meeting between the leaders of the two countries, analysts said, but cautioned against expecting an imminent summit.The last time US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping met was in 2019 so all eyes would be on any discussions of flashpoint issues like Taiwan, the South China Sea and US tariffs.Tensions between the world’s two biggest economies simmered this year, but have significantly cooled since April, when both countries slapped escalating tariffs on each others’ exports.Trump and Xi last spoke in June over the phone.The US leader said in August that he expects to visit China this year or shortly afterwards, noting that economic ties between the two countries have improved.While Xi has not publicly commented on a potential Trump visit, Wednesday’s talks between the countries’ defence and foreign affairs heads have raised hopes of a face-to-face meeting between the two leaders.US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in a telephone call on Wednesday that he wanted constructive and open dialogue with China.Wang described the call with Rubio as fruitful but warned that “recent negative words and deeds from the US side have undermined China’s legitimate rights and interests”, according to a Chinese foreign ministry statement. The talks were “a continuance of previous conversations and gestures made by both leaders and negotiations on the trade deal”, said Dylan Loh, an associate professor at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University.”It is, to me, a positive small step but there are many more steps to make,” Loh told AFP.- Uncertainty ahead -In a separate video call the same day, China’s defence minister warned Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth that “containing, deterring, or interfering with China will be futile”, state broadcaster CCTV reported.The two conversations could “pave the way for a Trump-Xi meeting”, said Chong Ja Ian, an associate professor of political science at the National University of Singapore.”But none of that is clear at this point,” Chong told AFP.”The president is known to make and change decisions quickly, so it may be premature to predict that some leaders’ meeting is imminent,” he cautioned, referring to Trump.The calls came days after Xi presided over a major parade to mark the end of World War II, bringing together leaders including Russia’s Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un.Trump accused the three leaders of conspiring against the United States.Xi is unlikely to confirm the date and possibility of a meet with Trump until there is an “agreed scripted list of items to talk about” with his counterpart, said Lim Tai Wei, a professor and East Asia expert at Japan’s Soka University.”China’s unique political system does not allow any surprises to spring up during any summit with Trump,” Lim told AFP. NTU’s Loh said that there was always an expectation that the two leaders may meet during an upcoming APEC summit between late October and early November, which is being held in Korea’s southern city of Gyeongju.”However, given the rapid changes internally and externally, you never really quite know,” Loh added. 

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said Thursday that a massive US immigration raid on a Hyundai-LG battery factory site was “bewildering” and could have a chilling effect on future investment.Seoul is expecting hundreds of workers detained during last week’s raid in the US state of Georgia to be released from detention on Thursday and flown back to South Korea.Lee blamed the raid on “cultural differences” saying that in South Korea, American nationals teaching English while on a tourist visa was not seen as “a serious issue”.After the detentions, South Korean companies “can’t help but question whether setting up a plant in the US is worth the potential risks,” Lee said.”This could have a significant impact on future investment decisions, particularly when evaluating the feasibility of direct operations in the US,” he added.South Korea is a staunch security ally and major investor for the United States, with its top companies pouring billions into developing factories and plants in America.Many South Korean companies have relied on bringing in their own workforce during project development periods, with industry sources telling AFP it is common practice to use visa workarounds to bring in skilled labour and avoid project delays.Lee said that for South Korean companies “when setting up facilities, equipment and factories, skilled technicians are essential”.”Someone has to install the machinery, and the necessary workforce simply doesn’t exist locally in the US,” he said, adding that the companies had long relied on bringing in their engineers for short-term periods to train local workers.”But now, even that basic request is being rejected,” he said.- Handcuff shock -Lee said Seoul was negotiating with Washington “to ensure that visa issuance for investment-related purposes operates normally”. This could include “securing additional quotas” or even creating a new visa category, he said, adding that he trusted the “US side will find a solution”.”But under the current circumstances, Korean companies will have little choice but to hesitate about making direct investments in the US,” he added.South Koreans made up the majority of the 475 people arrested at the Hyundai-LG battery plant under construction last week, according to immigration agents. The operation was the largest single-site raid conducted since US President Donald Trump launched a sweeping immigration crackdown, a top political priority since he returned to office in January.The raid came less than a month after Trump welcomed Lee to the White House.Images of the South Korean workers being chained and handcuffed have caused widespread alarm, and Seoul has said it negotiated to make sure the workers were not handcuffed again as they were repatriated.The raid highlights lopsided priorities in the Trump administration, which is “actively bringing in large-scale production facilities while neglecting to train local workers,” said Kim Dae-jong, professor of business at Sejong University.”As a result, South Koreans are having to train the local workforce. Logically, the two sides’ workers should be allowed to work together, not be hindered from doing so,” he told AFP.But Cho Dong-geun, professor emeritus of economics at Myongji University warned that South Korean companies had long been aware of the visa problems. “It is regrettable that there was no earlier intervention to address these matters in response to President Trump’s anti-immigration agenda, as it should have been acted on more swiftly.”The repatriation was briefly delayed by Trump asking whether the workers should remain stateside, a Seoul foreign ministry official in Washington said.However, South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said that “given the workers’ shock and exhaustion, it would be best for them to return home first and then re-enter the US for work later”.President Lee said the workers were “scheduled to depart the detention facility at 3 pm Seoul time (0600 GMT) today” and would be brought home on a chartered flight, expected to arrive on Friday.

Charlie Kirk, a right-wing activist and close ally of President Donald Trump, was fatally shot during an event in the western US state of Utah. This is what we know.- At a university -Kirk, the head of the largest conservative youth movement in the United States, which he co-founded in 2012 at the age of 18, was speaking around noon on the campus of Utah Valley University.Dressed in a white t-shirt with the word “Freedom” across the front, Kirk sat in a chair under a tent as he answered questions from the large audience gathered around him.The event was the first of about 15 scheduled across the country through the end of October.- A gunshot, then screams -Former Utah congressman Jason Chaffetz, who was at the event, told Fox News that Kirk was responding to a question about “transgender shooters, mass shooters, and in the midst of that, the shot rang out.”The 31-year-old collapsed and blood spurted from his neck, according to a video clip shot from a nearby location.Kirk was then rushed away on a stretcher by his security detail.”As soon as that shot went out, he fell back,” Chaffetz said. “Everybody hit the deck… a lot of people started screaming, and then everybody started running.”- Manhunt for killer ongoing -Authorities have not arrested a suspect in Kirk’s shooting, described as a “targeted attack” in a statement from Utah’s Department of Public Safety. “The shooter is believed to have fired from the roof of a building down to the location of the public event in the student courtyard,” it said.Two men were briefly detained and released after being questioned by law enforcement officials as the manhunt continued. One man, George Zinn, was charged with obstruction. Neither man has “current ties to the shooting,” authorities said.- Trump announces Kirk’s death -Trump announced Kirk’s death, writing on his Truth Social platform: “The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead.”On the other side of the political spectrum, Democratic figures also condemned the shooting, including Kamala Harris, who said that “political violence has no place in America.”- Trump vows crackdown -Although a suspect has not yet been identified, Trump linked rhetoric from the “radical left” to Kirk’s killing and vowed to carry out a crackdown.”This kind of rhetoric is directly responsible for the terrorism that we’re seeing in our country today,” he said in a somber four-minute video, seated at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office.”My administration will find each and every one of those who contributed to this atrocity, and to other political violence, including the organizations that fund it and support it,” the US president said.

Donald Trump lashed out at the “radical left” on Wednesday after the apparent assassination of his right-wing ally Charlie Kirk, vowing a crackdown after a killing that has sparked fears of worsening political violence in the United States.Kirk, a powerful voice in conservative politics at just 31 years old, had been dead only a few hours when a somber-looking Trump sat behind his desk in the Oval Office to deliver an ominous message.”This is a dark moment for America,” he said on video posted to his Truth Social website, hailing Kirk as a “martyr for truth.””For years those on the radical left have compared wonderful Americans like Charlie to Nazis and the world’s worst mass murderers and criminals.”This kind of rhetoric is directly responsible for the terrorism that we’re seeing in our country today.”My administration will find each and every one of those who contributed to this atrocity, and to other political violence, including the organizations that fund it and support it.”Kirk was hit while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University.Video from the scene showed him addressing a large crowd when the sound of a single shot rang out. The father-of-two appeared to collapse in his chair before the camera swiftly moved and sounds of panic erupted in the audience.Investigators said they believe the bullet that killed him had come from a campus rooftop, fired by someone dressed in black, in what appeared to be a targeted killing.There was confusion over the manhunt, with FBI Director Kash Patel initially tweeting that the “subject” had been detained, before walking that back an hour later.”The subject in custody has been released after an interrogation by law enforcement. Our investigation continues,” he wrote on X.Illustrating the huge importance of Kirk in Trump’s orbit, the 79-year-old Republican ordered flags on government buildings — including the White House — to be lowered to half-staff until Sunday. “No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us,” Trump wrote. Utah Governor Spencer Cox told reporters Kirk’s killing was “a political assassination.” Cox, a Republican, appealed for Americans to take a step back from violence as the nation readies to mark a milestone anniversary of its 1776 founding.”We just need every single person in this country to think about where we are and where we want to be, to ask ourselves: Is this what 250 years has wrought on us?”- ‘He fell back’ -Former Utah congressman Jason Chaffetz, who was at the rally, told Fox News the shooting had happened while Kirk was doing a question-and-answer session with the crowd.”First question was about religion. He went on for about 15-20 minutes. Second question, interestingly, was about transgender shooters, mass shooters, and in the midst of that, the shot rang out,” a visibly shaken Chaffetz told the network.”As soon as that shot went out, he fell back,” he said. “Everybody hit the deck… a lot of people started screaming, and then everybody started running.”- Turning Point -Kirk had an outsized influence in US politics, powering Trump’s support among younger voters — a key factor in the Republican’s return to power last year.With natural showmanship, Kirk co-founded Turning Point USA in 2012 to drive conservative viewpoints among young people, turning him into a go-to spokesman on television networks.He used his enormous audiences on Instagram and YouTube to build support for anti-immigration policies, outspoken Christianity and gun ownership, and to spread carefully edited clips of his interactions during debates at his many college events.News of the shooting provoked horror across the political spectrum.”Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord,” Vice President JD Vance posted on social media.Right wing media personality Tomi Lahren called Kirk “visionary.”Figures on the left also condemned the attack and urged calm.”There is no place in our country for this kind of violence. It must end now,” former president Joe Biden wrote on X.California Governor Gavin Newsom — a frequent foil for right-wing figures like Kirk — called the attack “disgusting, vile, and reprehensible.” Former congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords — a Democrat who herself survived an assassination attempt — said she was “horrified” by the attack.”Democratic societies will always have political disagreements, but we must never allow America to become a country that confronts those disagreements with violence,” Giffords said. Kirk’s killing came three months after a Minnesota man shot dead a Democratic  lawmaker and her husband in their home.

Ralph Lauren moved the start of New York Fashion Week a few hours early, presenting a Spring 2026 collection on Wednesday that the designer described as minimalist with a touch of softness.The setting: the designer’s offices on tony Madison Avenue, where models presented a range of fitted and flowing silhouettes mostly in solid colors.Actresses Jessica Chastain and Naomi Watts and singers Usher and Nick Jonas looked on as models walked designs in red, white and black, with occasional stripes and floral motifs.Menswear-inspired jackets worn directly over bralettes alternated with filmy, flowing or tight-fitting dresses and baggy trousers.For accessories, Lauren offered hats with generous, soft brims, oversized silver jewelry, textured bags, and shoes of varying heights. New York Fashion Week officially opens Thursday morning and runs for six days, with shows by Michael Kors, Calvin Klein, Coach and Tory Burch, among others.A highlight is the return of Alexander Wang, whose brand is celebrating its 20th anniversary. On the other hand, new faces such as Luar or LaQuan Smith could draw celebrity powerhouses like Beyonce and Madonna to their shows.But New York Fashion Week is lagging behind its European counterparts, and organizers are considering potential changes in 2027. Among the proposals are financial assistance for small designers to organize shows, events open to the general public, and public funding.

Ghana is accepting west Africans deported from the United States, Ghanaian President John Mahama said Wednesday.Deporting people to third countries — in many cases places they’ve never lived — has been a hallmark of US President Donald Trump’s crackdown on undocumented immigrants, notably by sending hundreds to a notorious prison in El Salvador.Mahama told reporters Wednesday that Ghana had agreed to take in nationals from west Africa, where a regional agreement allows visa-free travel.”We were approached by the US to accept third-party nationals who were being removed from the US. And we agreed with them that west African nationals were acceptable,” Mahama said.He said a “first batch” of 14 people had come to Ghana, including “several” Nigerians who have since returned to their home countries though he did not provide a timeline for when that occurred. Another arrived from The Gambia.Ghana has long been home to Nigerian immigrants, though recent weeks have seen sporadic anti-Nigerian protests in several cities where groups of demonstrators demanded their expulsion, blaming them for rising crime, prostitution and unfair economic competition.In late July, Nigeria sent a special envoy and its foreign ministry urged calm while Ghanaian and Nigerian officials held talks to defuse tensions.- Deal comes amid tariff, visa pressure -The deportation agreement comes as Washington has hiked tariffs on Ghanaian goods and restricted visas issued to its nationals.Mahama described relations between Accra and Washington as “tightening”, though he said relations remained positive.Neighbouring Nigeria, for its part, has pushed back against accepting third-party deportees.”The US is mounting considerable pressure on African countries to accept Venezuelans to be deported from the US, some straight out of prisons,” Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar said in an interview with local broadcaster Channels Television in July.”It will be difficult for Nigeria to accept Venezuelan prisoners,” he said, going on to suggest that recent tariff threats were related to the issue of deportations.In an unprecedented move, Trump has overseen the deportation of hundreds of people to Panama, including some who were sent away before they could have their asylum applications processed.Hundreds have also been sent to El Salvador, with the US administration invoking an 18th century law to remove people it has accused of being Venezuelan gang members. Some were sent despite US judges ordering the planes carrying them to turn around. The White House has also deported third-country nationals to South Sudan, a war-torn, impoverished country.

Right-wing youth activist and influencer Charlie Kirk, a major ally of President Donald Trump, was shot dead Wednesday in a “political assassination” that sparked fears of more political violence in an increasingly febrile United States.Trump confirmed on social media that Kirk, 31, had died from his injuries.”The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.Kirk was hit while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University.Video from the scene showed him addressing a large crowd when the sound of a single shot rang out. Kirk appeared to collapse in his chair before the camera swiftly moved and sounds of panic erupted in the audience.Investigators said they believed the single bullet had come from a campus rooftop, fired by someone dressed in black, in what appeared to be a targeted killing.FBI Director Kash Patel said one person was being held.”The subject for the horrific shooting today that took the life of Charlie Kirk is now in custody,” Patel said on X.Illustrating the huge importance of Kirk in Trump’s orbit, the 79-year-old Republican ordered flags on government buildings to be lowered to half-staff until Sunday. American flags at the White House were lowered shortly after the president’s order.”No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us,” Trump wrote. Utah Governor Spencer Cox told reporters Kirk’s killing was “a tragic day for our nation.””I want to be clear that this is a political assassination,” he said.Cox, a Republican, appealed for Americans to take a step back from such violence as the nation readies to mark a milestone anniversary of its 1776 founding.”We just need every single person in this country to think about where we are and where we want to be, to ask ourselves: Is this what 250 years has wrought on us?”- ‘He fell back’ -Former Utah congressman Jason Chaffetz, who was at the rally, told Fox News the shooting had happened while Kirk was doing a question-and-answer session with the crowd.”First question was about religion. He went on for about 15-20, minutes. Second question, interestingly, was about transgender shooters, mass shooters, and in the midst of that, the shot rang out,” a visibly shaken Chaffetz told the network.”As soon as that shot went out, he fell back,” he said. “Everybody hit the deck… a lot of people started screaming, and then everybody started running.”- Turning Point -Kirk had an outsized influence in US politics, helping the rise of Trump’s support among younger voters — one of the key factors in the Republican’s return to power last year.With natural showmanship skills, Kirk co-founded Turning Point USA in 2012 to drive conservative viewpoints among young people, turning him into the go-to spokesman on television networks and at conferences for the youthful hard-right.He used his enormous audiences on Instagram and YouTube to build support for anti-immigration policies, outspoken Christianity and gun ownership, and to spread viral, carefully edited clips of his back-and-forths during debates at his many campus events.His presence on campuses was seen on the right as a welcome contrast to widespread liberal viewpoints in higher education, but have sparked often fierce opposition.News of the shooting provoked horror across the political spectrum.”Dear God, protect Charlie in his darkest hour,” Vice President JD Vance posted on social media, alongside a picture of the two men and the president’s son, Donald Trump Jr.Right wing media figure Tomi Lahren called Kirk “visionary.”Figures on the left also condemned the attack and urged calm.”There is no place in our country for this kind of violence. It must end now,” former president Joe Biden wrote on X.California Governor Gavin Newsom — a frequent foil for right-wing figures like Kirk — called the attack “disgusting, vile, and reprehensible,” while Biden’s vice president Kamala Harris said “political violence has no place in America.”Former congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords — a Democrat who survived an assassination attempt herself — said she was “horrified” by the attack.”Democratic societies will always have political disagreements, but we must never allow America to become a country that confronts those disagreements with violence,” Giffords said. 

Charlie Kirk, who was fatally shot at a US university on Wednesday, was the eloquent spokesman for a younger generation of Donald Trump’s hard-right Republican movement.The 31-year-old boasted millions of followers on social media who delighted at his whip-smart edits and provocative takedowns of hecklers and ideological challengers.Kirk’s conservative ideology was closely aligned with Trump: he backed the US president’s false claims of fraud when he lost the 2020 presidential election and used his heavyweight influence to lash out at migrants and transgender people.In speaking gigs at American universities, he invited students to debate with him in quick-fire exchanges that often went viral online — especially those with progressives opposed to his views.It was during one of these events in Utah on Wednesday that he was shot in the neck in a moment of violence that was swiftly condemned on both sides of the political aisle. Trump himself announced that Kirk died from his wounds. “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 posted on Truth Social.When Kirk addressed a university crowd in Nevada last October, some in the audience told AFP he was a breath of fresh air on campuses that the political right complains are dominated by liberal ideology.”He brings different ideas to the table,” said Eric Hansen, 22. “Ideas that some of us believe in, but are sometimes afraid” to voice.- ‘Charismatic Christian nationalist’ – Not everyone was full of praise for Kirk.”Charlie Kirk is a charismatic Christian nationalist, who essentially acts as a spokesperson for Trumpism and extremist ideas,” said Kyle Spencer, author of a book that examines the birth of Turning Point USA, a youth movement Kirk helped found when he was just 18.In a little over a decade, it became the largest group of young conservatives in the United States. It nurtured an army of enthusiastic activists, some of whom were bussed to Washington on January 6, 2021 for a rally that turned into a mob invasion of the Capitol with the goal of stopping certification of Trump’s election loss to Democrat Joe Biden. In addition to Turning Point USA, Kirk ran Turning Point Action, one of the main organizations that Trump entrusted with his door-to-door voter drives in 2024.Originally from the suburbs of Chicago, Kirk did not graduate from university but began dedicating himself to activism as a teenager. His strengths soon made him a go-to figure in Republican circles and by 2016 he was serving as a personal assistant to Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr.- Charlie’s ‘truth’ -His pugnacious oratory led to regular spots on frequently right-wing Fox News, and later to the helm of “The Charlie Kirk Show,” one of the most popular podcasts in the country.There, he fed listeners an unmediated diet of half-truths and conspiracies, boosting Trump’s “stolen election” claims and riffing on Covid-19 theories that struck a chord with many on the right.His conspiracy theories sometimes percolated right to the top. For example, in September 2024, Kirk was among the first to share allegations that Haitian immigrants were eating cats and dogs in Ohio. Days later Trump repeated the claim — for which there was never any proof — during his televised presidential debate with Democrat Kamala Harris.In an interview with AFP last year, Kirk brushed aside questions about his veracity.”I say we spread the truth,” he said.