California Gov. Gavin Newsom has condemned the shooting of conservative influencer and activist Charlie Kirk, calling the attack “disgusting, vile and reprehensible.”
Newsom, one of the nation’s most prominent voices in the Democrat party, denounced any and all acts of political violence as un-American.
Kirk was shot in the neck while speaking at a Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. The violent attack was captured on video as a crowd fled from gunfire. Local authorities confirmed that a person of interest was taken into custody.
Kirk was transported to a local hospital for treatment and is currently listed in critical condition.
On opposite ends of the ideological spectrum, Newsom made national headlines earlier this year after he hosted the conservative firebrand on his podcast, “This is Gavin Newsom.“
The political podcast is meant to bridge the gap between opposing political opinions and “have honest discussions with people that agree AND disagree with us.”
At the time of Kirk’s appearance, Newsom complimented the founder of Turning Point USA as a political powerhouse and a master of grassroots organizing. Gov. Newsom even acknowledged his own son is a fan of Kirk’s.
Kirk co-founded the nonprofit Turning Point USA in 2012 to advocate for and communicate conservative ideology to high school and college students.
In the years’ since, he’s become one of the top names in Republican and conservative circles, and is one of the most ardent supporters of President Donald Trump and the MAGA movement.