The killing of the rightwing activist and podcaster has left the US reeling. Yet President Trump and his supporters are a long way from calling for calm. Ed Pilkington reports
Charlie Kirk inspired a generation of conservative youth. He toured campuses whipping up culture wars, actively courting controversy. But his horrific killing last week, in broad daylight, as he addressed a crowd of students left the US reeling. While the US is no stranger to political violence, a new mood has taken hold.
Rightwing politicians – and the president himself, have laid the blame squarely at “leftwing” violence. And insisted he would take action. While Kirk’s widow gave an extraordinary speech saying her grief would act as a “battle cry” around the world. The calls for calm and unity that more often follow such political violence are being drowned out.
