U.S. President Donald Trump paid tribute to his slain ally Charlie Kirk, describing him as a “martyr of truth,” and accused the “radical left” of contributing to the death of the conservative activist with its rhetoric, AFP reported.

“For years, the radical left compared wonderful Americans like Charlie to Nazis and to the most horrific mass murderers and criminals in the world,” Trump said in a video posted on his Truth Social platform.

“This kind of rhetoric is directly responsible for the terrorism we see in our country today, and it must stop immediately,” he added.

The president promised tough action against those responsible: “This is a dark moment for America. My administration will track down every single one of those who contributed to this atrocity and to other acts of political violence, including the organizations that finance and support it.”

Charlie Kirk, who played a key role in mobilizing young voters in support of Trump, was fatally shot while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University.

The perpetrator remains at large.

Video footage from the scene shows Kirk addressing a large audience when a gunshot is heard. He appears to slump in his chair before the camera quickly shifts and panic erupts in the hall.

According to investigators, the shot was fired from the roof of a campus building by a person dressed in black, with all evidence pointing to a targeted assassination. | BGNES