The alleged Charlie Kirk assassin justified his actions by claiming “some hatred cannot be negotiated with”, the FBI has revealed.
Tyler Robinson, 22, reportedly vowed to kill the conservative activist, 31, because he “hated” his political views.
The Utah native also allegedly boasted that he had the perfect plan to kill Kirk, the co-founder of the Turning Point youth organisation and a staunch ally of Donald Trump.
Robinson, who was arrested last Thursday after surrendering to police, will appear in court on Tuesday, where he is due to be formally charged with aggravated murder, which carries the possibility of the death penalty.
He is suspected of scaling a rooftop at Utah Valley University last Wednesday and shooting Kirk in the neck as he was debating college students.
NEW: FBI Director Kash Patel lays out the timeline of events that led to the capture of Charlie Kirk’s suspected killer:
— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 15, 2025
"For a comparative sake, the Boston bombing, the FBI didn't release images for three days. We know we didn't have three days..."
"I made an executive… pic.twitter.com/HvOsQ9hU3n
Speaking to Fox News on Tuesday, FBI director Kash Patel said Robinson messaged someone about his heinous plot.
“He had a text message exchange with another individual in which he claimed that he had an opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk — and he was going to do it because of his hatred for what Charlie stood for,” Mr Patel said.
Agents later discovered a handwritten note in Robinson’s bedroom, which read: “I have the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I’m going to take it,”
“The written note, we believe, did exist, and we have evidence to show what was in that note,” Mr Patel added.
According to Mr Patel, Robinson was asked by authorities why he assassinated Kirk, to which he replied: “Some hatred cannot be negotiated with.”
Meanwhile, DNA samples from the towel that was wrapped around the gun that was used to kill Kirk was a match for Robinson, Mr Patel said.
Mr Patel’s deputy Dan Bongino later told Fox: “I think it’s pretty clear based on the statements of family members, friends and some of the messaging we have on these digital footprints left behind that (Robinson) clearly had some obsession with Charlie Kirk.”
He added: “There appear to have been multiple warning signs… There were people in his network, friends and family who had stated that he had become more political, that he had become at some parts, as I believe some of his co-workers had stated, that he had kind of detached himself when the topic of politics came up and walked away from them.”
The investigation into Robinson’s background and motives continues.
