The death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, 31, has left Washington reeling, and even a moment of silence in his honor on the House floor descended into shouting and partisan fury.

A Moment Turns Ugly

Speaker Mike Johnson attempted to lead lawmakers in honoring Kirk on Wednesday, hours after the Turning Point USA founder was shot in the neck and killed during an event at Utah Valley University.

Johnson told reporters before the moment of silence that Kirk was “a close friend of mine and a confidant.” But when Rep. Lauren Boebert called for a prayer, about a dozen Democrats shouted “No!” in protest.

One Democrat demanded to know why no prayers were offered for victims of the Evergreen High School shooting in Colorado earlier that day. Another yelled: “Pass some gun laws!”

Tensions Boil Over

The response enraged Republicans. Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna shouted across the aisle: “You f**ing own this!”* She later wrote on X: “I am done with the rhetoric this rotten House and corrupt media has caused. Every damn one of you who called us fascists did this.”

Johnson slammed his gavel to restore order. Earlier, before entering the chamber, he told reporters: “The problem is in the human heart, and it’s gotten out of hand. We need every political leader to decry the violence and to do it loudly.”

Grief Across the Aisle

Despite the heated moment, many lawmakers, on both sides, expressed devastation.

• Brian Mast, R-Fla., told the Daily Mail: “I lost a friend today.”
• Cory Mills, R-Fla., said: “It’s such a horrendous and horrific incident to watch. My thoughts and prayers are obviously with him and his family.”
• Ro Khanna, D-Calif., added: “Political violence has no place in America. I’m saddened, and we need to do better as citizens of this country.”

A Divided Tribute

For Republicans, Kirk’s assassination felt like the silencing of one of their strongest young voices. For Democrats, the calls for prayer reignited bitter divisions over guns, faith, and political violence.

What should have been a solemn moment of unity instead became a symbol of America’s fracture, another battle sparked in the wake of a tragedy that left a young wife and two children without a husband and father.