The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley has canceled an event with conservative political commentator and activist Ben Shapiro — which was scheduled for the evening of Wednesday, Sept. 10 — after learning that fellow conservative activist Charlie Kirk had been fatally shot earlier in the day.
Shapiro was set to appear at the library to discuss his new book, “Lions and Scavengers: The True Story of America (and Her Critics),” on Wednesday night.
The Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, however, announced the event’s cancelation after Kirk, 31, was shot and killed during a speaking engagement in Utah.
“The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute is saddened to hear of events that took place today at Utah Valley University. Our prayers are with Charlie Kirk and his family,” the foundation wrote on social media. “As a mark of respect, we are cancelling our program and book signing with Ben Shapiro this evening.”
Kirk, the co-founder and CEO of the youth organization Turning Point USA, rose to prominence for confronting liberals in academia, eventually winning over an influential set of conservative financiers. He was an early backer of President Donald Trump, going on to serve as a personal aide to Donald Trump Jr. during the elder Trump’s 2016 campaign.
Soon, Kirk was a regular presence on cable TV, where he leaned into the culture wars and heaped praise on the then-president. He often espoused far-right political talking points, including racist, homophobic, and transphobic beliefs.
He was also a staunch defender of the Second Amendment, notably saying during a 2023 TPUSA faith event: “I think it’s worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights.”
Shapiro and Kirk, meanwhile, operated within the same political sphere. Shapiro said on social media Wednesday that he was “utterly stunned and heartbroken” about Kirk’s death.
“Charlie was a good man who believed in right and wrong, who stood by his Biblical values,” Shapiro said. “All of us will miss him, and I can’t imagine the pain of his beautiful young family, and we all must pray for them. And we must pick up the baton where Charlie left it, fighting for the things he believed in so passionately.”
The Reagan Foundation said a new date for Shapiro’s library event would be announced in the future.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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