The Christian Post's top 10 news stories of 2025 (part 2)
1. Conservative activist Charlie Kirk is assassinated
Charlie Kirk, the prominent conservative Christian activist and co-founder of the young conservative group Turning Point USA, was assassinated on Sept. 10 in Orem, Utah.
During Turning Point USA's "America Comeback Tour" stop at Utah Valley University, the 31-year-old Kirk was shot in the neck and was pronounced dead at a local hospital, leaving behind his wife, Erika Kirk and two young children, ages 3 and 1.
Soon after the murder, authorities arrested 22-year-old Tyler James Robinson, who is suspected of killing Kirk over his conservative Christian views on various issues, especially transgenderism.
Robinson was charged in the Fourth Judicial District Court of Utah County, Utah, and faces the counts of aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, obstruction of justice, tampering with a witness, and violent offense committed in the presence of a minor.
The murder of Kirk was denounced by people across the political spectrum, with former President Barack Obama stating shortly after the tragedy that “this kind of despicable violence has no place in our democracy.”
“Michelle and I will be praying for Charlie’s family tonight, especially his wife Erika and their two young children,” the former president added.
Republican Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said at a press conference that he believed this was a "watershed" moment, imploring people of all political persuasions to disagree better.
"This is our moment. Do we escalate or do we find an off-ramp?" Cox declared. "Again, it's a choice, it's a choice, and every one of us gets to make that choice."
"It is also much bigger than an attack on an individual. It is an attack on all of us, it is an attack on the American experiment, it is an attack on ideals. This cuts to the very foundation of who we are, of who we have been, and who we could be in better times."
Eleven days after Kirk was killed, a memorial service was held at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, that was attended by 90,000 to 100,000 people, including President Donald Trump.
Kirk’s widow spoke during the service, stating that she forgave her husband’s murderer, drawing a comparison to Jesus’ forgiving of those who crucified Him.
"I forgive him because it was what Christ did, and is what Charlie would do," she said. "The answer to hate is not hate. The answer we know from the Gospel is love, is always love. Love for our enemies and love for those who persecute us."
Michael Gryboski contributed to this report.
