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Nikki Haley dubs Kirk killing "national nightmare," calls for American unity
Charlie Kirk’s fatal shooting at Utah Valley University, has intensified concerns over political violence in the United States.
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Malvika Choudhary - Mon, 15, Sep 2025
- 15:50 EDT
- 14
Nikki Haley/ A memorial is held for Charlie Kirk / Reuters/Ann Wang/ REUTERS/Caitlin O'Hara
Former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley condemned the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, describing it as a “national nightmare” and urging Americans to reject division and violence while upholding freedom of speech.
“The week of September 11th is always a heavy week for Americans. This year it was even more painful. We watched as a young man shared his thoughts about the opportunities and challenges we face as a country in a public square on a university campus. What should have been a beautiful example of what makes America the greatest country in the world turned into a national nightmare,” Haley wrote in a statement shared on Sept. 15.
Also Read: Charlie Kirk shooting suspect not cooperating with authorities, Utah governor says
The conservative praised Kirk for fostering dialogue, even on contentious issues, calling his willingness to debate “something I’ve always admired.” She stressed that he was not inciting violence or spreading hate, but “getting young Americans to think” and leading a movement on issues central to the nation’s future.
As we begin a new week, here are my reflections on last week’s tragedy and my message to my fellow Americans as we move forward. pic.twitter.com/tLeQ7VEcpJ
— Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) September 15, 2025
“But, in one split second, an individual took away his Constitutional right – his right to freedom of speech. He did so because he did not like what Charlie had to say. Rather than debating him, he chose to physically silence him. That should shake every American to their core,” she said.
The former South Carolina governor argued that the attack underscored the dangers of growing intolerance toward opposing views. Drawing on her experience as UN ambassador, she warned that societies that lose respect for life and liberty often fall into turmoil. “I never thought we would experience it in America. This country should be a pillar of freedom and democracy,” she said.
Haley urged Americans to respond not with more division, but with faith and unity. “Division is not making us a stronger country, it’s destroying us. Our enemies love when we are divided, and they love to exploit it,” she said. “We should never turn to violence, and there should be clear repercussions for anyone celebrating murder.”
Expressing condolences to Kirk’s family, Haley asked Americans to pray for Erika Kirk and their children, calling for “prayers for strength and prayers for peace in the days ahead.”
Kirk, the 31-year-old co-founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot on September 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, during the first stop of his “American Comeback Tour.” He was addressing a large campus audience when he was struck in the neck by gunfire from a rooftop more than 100 yards away.
Around 3,000 people were present at the time. He was rushed to the hospital but later pronounced dead. Authorities arrested 22-year-old Tyler James Robinson two days later, saying DNA evidence tied him to items found at the scene, including a rifle, and that he had expressed intent to kill Kirk.
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