Strasbourg, September 13, 2025 — European Parliament President Roberta Metsola on Thursday turned down a request from right-wing factions to hold a minute of silence for Charlie Kirk, a U.S. conservative influencer fatally shot at Utah Valley University on Wednesday.
The proposal, initiated by Charlie Weimers of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), aimed to honor Kirk and symbolize the defense of free speech, according to an email obtained by POLITICO. Kirk, 31, a key figure in conservative politics and a Trump ally, was mourned widely, with U.S. President Donald Trump condemning the attack as an assault on the nation.
Right-wing and far-right groups, including the Europe of Sovereign Nations (ESN) led by Germany’s René Aust, supported the gesture. Aust told POLITICO the killing highlighted the need to safeguard democratic freedoms.
Metsola’s office stated that minutes of silence are reserved for the plenary’s opening, which occurred Monday, adding that requests must come from political groups for consideration at the next session in October. Instead, Weimers was allowed to make a statement before Thursday’s voting session. His attempt to include a silent tribute was halted by Vice President Katarina Barley (S&D), sparking protests from right-wing MEPs, who banged desks in dissent. Barley reiterated Metsola’s ruling, drawing applause from centrist and left-wing lawmakers.
Centrist and liberal groups declined to comment, deferring to Metsola’s authority. Kirk was celebrated in MAGA circles for mobilizing young voters through campus debates. Trump called him “the best of America,” while Metsola expressed condolences online, noting Kirk’s family as the “bedrock of his life.”
This is a developing story.
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