President Donald Trump's chief of staff Susie Wiles said Thursday there's a "sadness" at the White House over the death of conservative stalwart Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old co-founder of Turning Point USA, adding that his assassination "shook everybody to their core."
Wiles made the comments in an interview on "The Scott Jennings Radio Show" on Thursday, one day after Kirk was fatally shot at an event in Orem, Utah.
Wiles called it a "very tough day."
"He was very close to many of us, and even those that were not his good friends, we know him. He was so much help in the campaign. So, you know, there's no question there's a sadness here," Wiles told Jennings.
Kirk was shot during a speaking event at Utah Valley University. The incident is being investigated as a politically motivated assassination. He was credited with helping drive get-out-the-vote efforts for Trump during the 2024 election.
"Charlie was very much a part of this family and maybe the highest-profile MAGA person outside of those working here. I think it shook everybody to their core," Wiles said.
Jennings then asked Wiles if America is safe for outspoken conservative voices anymore.
"I think we have to recognize that America has become a violent place. ... [Secretary of State] Marco Rubio yesterday said, 'What I think is going on is there are embers out there, and they're starting to burn.' And I thought that was a very good way of looking at the atmosphere. We have a lot of high-profile people here that engage publicly and in the media, and they say things that others might not like," Wiles said.
"So I called everybody in before they went home last night and said, 'Go home, hug your children, hug your spouse, be careful, take precautions, and don't let your voice get softer. Charlie would want everybody to speak as they had been and more.'"
Mark Swanson ✉
Mark Swanson, a Newsmax writer and editor, has nearly three decades of experience covering news, culture and politics.
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