US President Donald Trump gave an unexpected response Friday morning when asked about the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk .
Kirk, 31, co-founder of Turning Point USA , was shot while speaking to students at Utah Valley University on Thursday. He was rushed to a hospital and later died. The FBI and state officials said the attack was targeted, heightening concerns about political violence .
During an interview, a reporter asked Trump how he was holding up following the incident.
“How are you holding up over the last three and a half days?” asked the reporter.
Trump replied, “I think very good,” before quickly changing the topic to the White House ballroom . “And by the way, right there you see all the trucks; they just started construction of the new ballroom for the White House. Which is something they’ve been trying to get as you know for about 150 years, and it’s gonna be a beauty, it’ll be an absolutely magnificent structure.
“And I just see all the trucks, they just started, so it’ll get done uh very nicely and it’ll be one of the best anywhere in the world, actually,” he added.
Many observers noted that Trump focused on the ballroom rather than Kirk’s death.
One person commented, “They are scrambling to change the subject now that the shooter was revealed to be a clean cut white kid from a conservative Mormon military and cop family.”
Democratic influencer Joanne Carducci added, “I vehemently disagreed with every single thing Charlie Kirk ever said, and I was able to express more empathy than this.”
Trump first announced plans for the new 90,000-square-foot ballroom, which can seat 650 people, in July. The project is part of his broader plan to transform the White House with a style he has compared to his Mar-a-Lago resort.
Kirk, 31, co-founder of Turning Point USA , was shot while speaking to students at Utah Valley University on Thursday. He was rushed to a hospital and later died. The FBI and state officials said the attack was targeted, heightening concerns about political violence .
During an interview, a reporter asked Trump how he was holding up following the incident.
“How are you holding up over the last three and a half days?” asked the reporter.
Q: My condolences on the loss of your friend Charlie Kirk. How are you holding up?
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 12, 2025
TRUMP: I think very good. And by the way, right there you see all the trucks. They just started construction of the new ballroom for the White House, which is something they've been trying to get… pic.twitter.com/Jrw4j2fnVZ
Trump replied, “I think very good,” before quickly changing the topic to the White House ballroom . “And by the way, right there you see all the trucks; they just started construction of the new ballroom for the White House. Which is something they’ve been trying to get as you know for about 150 years, and it’s gonna be a beauty, it’ll be an absolutely magnificent structure.
“And I just see all the trucks, they just started, so it’ll get done uh very nicely and it’ll be one of the best anywhere in the world, actually,” he added.
Many observers noted that Trump focused on the ballroom rather than Kirk’s death.
One person commented, “They are scrambling to change the subject now that the shooter was revealed to be a clean cut white kid from a conservative Mormon military and cop family.”
Democratic influencer Joanne Carducci added, “I vehemently disagreed with every single thing Charlie Kirk ever said, and I was able to express more empathy than this.”
Trump first announced plans for the new 90,000-square-foot ballroom, which can seat 650 people, in July. The project is part of his broader plan to transform the White House with a style he has compared to his Mar-a-Lago resort.
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