Sept. 10 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump on Wednesday night blamed the rhetoric of "the radical left" for the assassination of ally Charlie Kirk, vowing to punish those involved in the killing and to crack down on political violence.
"It's long past time for all Americans and the media to confront the fact that violence and murder are the tragic consequences of demonizing those with whom you disagree, day after day, year after year, in the most hateful and despicable way possible," Trump said, speaking directly to the American people in a 4-minute recorded statement shot in the Oval Office.
"For years, those on the radical left have compared wonderful Americans like Charlie to Nazis and the world's worst mass murderers and criminals. This kind of rhetoric is directly responsible for the terrorism that we're seeing in our country today, and it must stop now."
Kirk was shot at about 12:20 p.m. MST while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University. He was later pronounced dead. Authorities are hunting for the gunman, who shot the conservative political activist from the rooftop of a nearby building.
Trump described Wednesday as a "dark day for America," stating that his administration "will find each and every one of those who contributed to this atrocity and to other political violence, including organizations that fund it and support it, as well as those who go after our judges, law enforcement officials and everyone else who brings order to our country."
