Trump says Charlie Kirk suspect Tyler Robinson was ‘radicalized on the Internet’ and 'didn’t work alone'

WASHINGTON, DC: The assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk continues to raise questions as investigators dig deeper into the suspect’s background.

According to reports, the FBI is examining potential connections between left-wing groups in Utah and the murder. Kirk, 31, was fatally shot while addressing students at Utah Valley University on Wednesday, September 10.

Two days after the incident, authorities arrested 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, who allegedly admitted to the crime in an online chat before surrendering. Screenshots reviewed by The Washington Post show Robinson posting on Discord: “Hey guys, I have bad news for you all. It was me at UVU yesterday. (I’m) sorry for all of this.”

Trump suggests Charlie Kirk’s alleged assassin was ‘radicalized’ online

Speaking to the Daily Caller on Monday, President Donald Trump said he believes the shooter was “radicalized on the Internet” and described him as left-leaning.

Daily Caller correspondent Reagan Reese pressed the president, asking, “Your FBI is investigating the potential role of left wing organizations in the assassination. I’m wondering if you think if Charlie Kirk’s assassin worked alone.”

“I don’t know. I mean, I can tell you he didn’t work alone on the internet, because it seems that he became radicalized on the internet,” Trump told, clarifying that his view was based on media reports.

“It looks like he became radicalized over the internet, and it seems like his wonderful parents brought, wonderful neighbors, smart guy, great boards, great marks, great student, and then he, something happened to him over a fairly short period of time,” Trump said, while noting that the suspect had been regarded as a good student and well-liked in his community prior to the incident.

“Looks like he was radicalized over the internet, and it’s radicalized on the left. He’s a left. A lot of problems with the left, and they get protected, and they shouldn’t be protected,” he added.

Utah Governor Spencer Cox highlighted Trump’s concerns, telling the Wall Street Journal that Robinson was “deeply indoctrinated with leftist ideology.”

Confusion over Charlie Kirk's alleged shooter's ideology

The confusion over suspect Tyler Robinson's ideology fueled online speculation after Charlie Kirk’s killing. In the aftermath of the shocking shooting, speculation over the suspect’s political leanings has ignited a storm of debate online.

Some argue that Robinson, 22, leaned toward the far-left, while others insist his views were rooted in the extreme right.

Utah Governor Spencer Cox has suggested that Robinson was heavily influenced by left-leaning political ideas.

A phrase reportedly scrawled on the casing of the bullet that killed Kirk, “catch fascist,” has led some observers to conclude the suspect was influenced by left-wing, anti-fascist rhetoric. Yet others point to Robinson’s alleged ties with the extreme-right “Groyper” movement.