House Republicans, Democrats Clash Over Prayer for Charlie Kirk After Utah Shooting

Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA and a prominent conservative activist, was tragically assassinated during an event at Utah Valley University, where he was shot in the neck and later died. In the House of Representatives, a request by Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert for a spoken prayer in Kirk's honor sparked heated opposition from Democrats, who refused and cited a lack of similar prayers for a school shooting in Colorado the same day, leading to a chaotic and contentious exchange on the House floor. Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, a former colleague of Kirk, vocally condemned Democrats for their refusal to pray and blamed their rhetoric for inciting violence, intensifying partisan tensions. Speaker Mike Johnson called for order amid the uproar and confirmed a moment of prayer would be held after the disruption. President Trump publicly mourned Kirk's death, describing him as "great, and even legendary," and extended sympathies to his family. The shooter remains unidentified, with one initially detained suspect later released, as investigations continue.