The strongest reactions came from Central Europe, which is one of Europe’s most conservative regions.
Leader of the Spanish VOX party, Santiago Abascal, is seen on screens flanking an image of Charlie Kirk, at the start of a Patriots for Europe rally at Palacio de Vistalegre in Madrid, Spain, on Sept. 14, 2025. Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images
The assassination of Charlie Kirk, a 31-year-old prominent figure in American conservatism, sent shockwaves far beyond the United States. While American reactions were predictably divided—tributes from the right and muted responses from the left—Europe’s response showed regional differences.
Anders W. Edwardsson
Author
Anders W. Edwardsson, PhD, is an author, political analyst, and public speaker with more than three decades of experience in journalism, research, and media commentary across Europe and the United States. He is the author of several books on political history and American exceptionalism and currently teaches political science while contributing to think tanks and international publications.
