Donald Trump says Charlie Kirk 'could have been President' after MAGA ally shot

Donald Trump has said that Charlie Kirkcould have been a future president of the USA, as he paid tribute to the right-wing college organiser who died after being shot in the neck.

Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old conservative activist and co-founder of Turning Point USA was a close ally of Trump’s as well as a personal friend, according to multiple reports. Kirk was hit in the neck by a bullet while he was talking at Utah Valley University.

At a ceremony on Thursday at the Pentagon to honor the victims of 9/11 Trumprevealed his plans to honor Kirk by posthumously awarding him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. CNBC anchor Joe Kernen said the president reached out to him over a separate issue when he shared his opinion that Kirk could have been president one day.

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Kernan said: "He’s devastated about Charlie Kirk and said that what a guy, what a great individual and he said he helped him greatly in the last election and thinks that Charlie Kirk could have been president some day. He was such a talented guy. Then he went on to say the country will heal, he’s focused on what he has been focused on."

Speaking at the Pentagon event Trump said: “Before we begin, let me express the horror and grief so many Americans at the heinous assassination of Charlie Kirk have felt. Charlie was a giant of his generation, a champion of liberty and an inspiration to millions and millions of people. Our prayers are with his wonderful wife, Erika, and his beautiful children."

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian award in the US and is awarded by the President. Turning Point USA has issued a statement about its founder Charlie Kirk following his assassination.

The organisation said Kirk had "an overwhelming passion for life" and a "deep belief in his power as an individual to make a difference." It continued: "Charlie refused to squander a single day of his life. He was a natural builder and problem solver, who loved a challenge and saw every setback as a chance to learn, grow, pray and try again."

Meanwhile in the wake of the shooting classes have been cancelled at at least three historically black universities after receiving threats. Alabama State University, Hampton University and Virginia Sate University received campus threats. Classes have been cancelled at Hampton and Alabama and Virginia state universities have gone into lockdown.

Senators in Washington DC received an alert that police are responding to an incident at the Democratic National Committee. However this threat was later deemed to "not be credible" by Capitol Police.

Vice President JD Vance, another close friend of Kirk’s raveled to Utah a day after the assassination to pay tribute to Kirk, he also reportedly plans to escort Kirk’s casket and his wife Erika aboard Air Force Two to Arizona on Thursday.