Friday, December 12, 2025

WATCH: Trump Announces Posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom for Charlie Kirk.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump announced that Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated at a campus event in Utah on Wednesday, will be posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Charlie Kirk, Turning Point USA, and Kirk’s family.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Announced Thursday morning at the Pentagon during a 9/11 anniversary ceremony; Kirk was killed on Wednesday at Utah Valley University.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “Charlie was a giant of his generation, a champion of liberty, and an inspiration to millions and millions of people.” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: The announcement honors Kirk’s legacy and marks a significant moment of national mourning.

IN FULL

At a Pentagon ceremony on Thursday morning marking the anniversary of 9/11, President Donald J. Trump announced plans to posthumously award Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Kirk was assassinated on Wednesday during an American Comeback tour event on the Utah Valley University campus, where he had invited hundreds of students to debate him.

“Before we begin, let me express the horror and grief so many Americans at the heinous assassination of Charlie Kirk have felt. Charlie was a giant of his generation, a champion of liberty, and an inspiration to millions and millions of people. Our prayers are with his wonderful wife, Erika, and his beautiful children. Fantastic people they are. We miss him greatly, yet I have no doubt that Charlie’s voice and the courage he put into the hearts of countless people, especially young people, will live on,” said the America First leader.

“I am pleased to announce that I will soon be awarding Charlie Kirk, posthumously, the Presidential Medal of Freedom,” he added. “The date of the ceremony will be announced, and I can only guarantee you one thing: that we will have a very big crowd, very, very big.”

As of the time of publication, Kirk’s assassin remains at large. Police have confirmed they have found the rifle they believe was used in the attack, along with forensic evidence, including footwear impressions and a palm print. Law enforcement sources have indicated that the rifle was found along with ammunition engraved with antifa and transgender slogans.

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Ammo Linked to Charlie Kirk Assassination Engraved With Trans and Antifa Slogans: Report.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A rifle believed to have been used to assassinate Charlie Kirk was found with ammunition engraved with transgender and so-called anti-fascist slogans, according to law enforcement sources.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Charlie Kirk, an unidentified assassin, and law enforcement sources.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Kirk was assassinated on Wednesday at Utah Valley University.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “The older-model .30 caliber hunting rifle was discovered in the woods near the scene.” – Source familiar with the investigation

🎯IMPACT: If confirmed to be linked to gender ideology, Kirk’s slaying would be the second such high-profile attack in a matter of weeks, with Catholic schoolchildren having been targeted at the Annunciation Catholic Church in Minnesota by transgender gunman Robin Westman on August 26.

IN FULL

A rifle believed to be linked to Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk’s assassination was found with ammunition engraved with transgender and so-called anti-fascist slogans, according to sources. The Wall Street Journal, revealing the new details, cited an internal law enforcement bulletin and a person familiar with the investigation. Conservative personality Steven Crowder had previously published similar information, said to have been provided by a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) source.

The rifle, reportedly an older-model .30 caliber hunting rifle, was found in woodland near the Utah Valley University shooting scene. It is said to have been discovered wrapped in a towel, with a spent cartridge still in the chamber and three unspent rounds in the magazine, all marked with similar expressions.

Charlie Kirk, a 31-year-old father of two, was engaged in a discussion with a student about mass shootings involving transgenders when he was shot.

If Kirk’s slaying is confirmed to be linked to transgender ideology, it would be the second such high-profile attack in a matter of weeks. On August 26, Catholic schoolchildren were targeted at the Annunciation Catholic Church in Minnesota by transgender gunman Robin Westman, formerly Robert, killing two and wounding many more.

Image by Oriel Frankie Ashcroft.

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Police Confirm They Have Rifle, Prints, and ‘Good Video’ as Hunt for Charlie Kirk Assassin Continues.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: A rifle believed to have been used to assassinate Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk has been recovered as law enforcement continues the hunt for the killer. The authorities also have a palm print, forearm imprint, footprints, and “good video footage.”

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Charlie Kirk, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) special agent Robert Bohls, Utah Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason, and President Donald J. Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The assassination was carried out on Wednesday at Utah Valley University in Orem, with a press conference on the hunt for the killer being held on Thursday.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “We’re not sure how far he has gone yet.” – Robert Bohls

🎯IMPACT: The investigation into the assassination and the manhunt for the shooter continue.

IN FULL

Law enforcement officials have recovered a rifle believed to have been used in the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk on Wednesday. The FBI special agent Robert Bohls revealed at a press conference that the “high-powered, bolt-action rifle” was found in a wooded area where the gunman fled after the shooting at Utah Valley University in Orem.

Additional evidence, including a “footwear impression, a palm print, and forearm imprints,” has been collected for analysis. Officials have released few specific details about the suspect, but Utah Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason noted that the gunman “blended in well with the college” and appears to be of college age.

Kirk, a 31-year-old father of two, was assassinated on Wednesday, with the press conference revealing the discovery of a rifle and other evidence being held on Thursday morning. Two people previously detained on suspicion of being involved in the assassination are no longer suspects, according to the Utah Department of Public Safety.

Charlie Kirk was shot from a campus building approximately 200 yards away while he was debating students at an American Comeback Tour event, with the bullet striking him in the neck. President Donald J. Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and other senior conservatives have paid tribute to the organizer, with President Trump lauding him as a “truly Great American Patriot.”

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) special agent Robert Bohls said of the assassin, “We’re not sure how far he has gone yet,” indicating ongoing uncertainty about their current whereabouts.

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EU Parliament Blocks Minute of Silence Honoring Charlie Kirk.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: European Parliament President Roberta Metsola rejected a request for a minute of silence for slain conservative political organizer Charlie Kirk.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Charlie Kirk, Roberta Metsola, Sweden Democrats (SD) Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Charlie Weimers, Alternative for Germany (AfD) MEP René Aust, and other MEPs.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The proposal was made on Thursday, following Kirk’s assassination at Utah Valley University on Wednesday.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “We have discussed this, and you know the President said no to a minute of silence,” said Vice President of the European Parliament Katarina Barley, of Germany’s Social Democratic Party (SPD).

🎯IMPACT: The rejection sparked protests from conservative and populist MEPs.

IN FULL

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola has blocked a request for a minute of silence honoring Charlie Kirk, the U.S. political organizer and founder of Turning Point USA slain at Utah Valley University on Wednesday. Metsola gave the excuse that such tributes are typically announced at the opening of the European Parliament’s plenary sessions, but this had already occurred on Monday, days before Kirk’s assassination.

Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Charlie Weimers, of the populist Sweden Democrats (SD) party, had proposed the minute of silence for Kirk, aiming to underscore the importance of free speech. The proposal was supported by conservative and populist political blocs in the parliament, including the Europe of Sovereign Nations (ESN).

“His murder reminds us of the importance of safeguarding fundamental freedoms, even in democratic societies,” commented ESN chairwoman René Aust, of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

The left-liberal and establishment-right politicians in charge of the European Union’s mock legislature—which cannot actually put forward of repeal EU laws—remained obstinate, however, with Vice President of the European Parliament Katarina Barley, of Germany’s Social Democratic Party (SPD), telling MEPs who raised the issue: “We have discussed this, and you know the President said no to a minute of silence.”

Image: European Union 2017 – European Parliament.

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Judge Warns Routh That Marshals Will Take Him Out If He Makes ‘Any Sudden Movements’ in Court.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: Ukraine sympathizer Ryan Rotuh, accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald J. Trump in Florida last year, will represent himself in court—but the judge has warned him not to make “any sudden movements.”

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Ryan Routh, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, and court-appointed attorneys.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Jury selection begins Monday in Fort Pierce, Florida, with the trial scheduled to start September 11.

💬KEY QUOTE: “If you make any sudden movements, marshals will take decisive and quick action to respond.” – U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon

🎯IMPACT: The trial will address charges including attempted assassination, assaulting a federal officer, and firearm violations.

IN FULL

Ryan Routh, accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald J. Trump in Florida last year, will act as his own attorney at his trial. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon approved Routh’s request in July, with court-appointed lawyers remaining as standby counsel. During a hearing on Tuesday, the court provided Routh with instructions on courtroom conduct—with Judge Cannon warning him, “If you make any sudden movements, marshals will take decisive and quick action to respond.”

Jury selection is scheduled to begin on Monday in Fort Pierce, Florida. Opening statements are set for September 11, with prosecutors expected to present their case immediately after. The trial is projected to last four weeks, though attorneys believe it could be shorter.

Prosecutors allege that nearly a year ago, Routh, then 58, pointed a rifle at Trump through shrubbery at his West Palm Beach country club while he golfed. A U.S. Secret Service agent stopped the alleged assassination attempt. Now 59, Routh has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted assassination, assaulting a federal officer, and multiple firearm violations.

State authorities also accuse Routh of almost killing a six-year-old girl during his attempt to evade law enforcement, causing a multi-car crash that seriously injured her.

Based in Hawaii, Routh reportedly presented himself as a mercenary leader. Witnesses said he openly discussed violent plans and tried to recruit fighters for global conflicts, particularly Ukraine’s war with Russia. His prior criminal record includes weapons and stolen property offenses.

The trial will cover federal charges as well as state charges of attempted murder and terrorism.

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Hitwoman Who Disguised Herself in Islamic Veil Convicted.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: An American woman has been convicted of attempting to kill a man in Birmingham, England, while disguised in an Islamic veil. Her gun jammed during an initial murder attempt, and she later fired into a family home.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Hitwoman Aimee Betro, Mohammed Aslam and Mohammed Nabil Nazir, who ordered the hit, and their intended victim, Sikander Ali.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Murder attempt in September 2019 in Birmingham, England, conviction in August 2025.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “This prosecution is a culmination of years of hard work doggedly pursuing Aimee Betro across countries and borders while she remained relentless in her bid to escape justice,” said Prosecutor Hannah Sidaway.

🎯IMPACT: Betro was convicted on multiple charges, including conspiracy to murder, and awaits sentencing. Nazir and Aslam have already been imprisoned.

IN FULL

Aimee Betro, a 45-year-old woman from the United States, has been convicted in the United Kingdom for her involvement in a murder conspiracy linked to a family feud in Birmingham, which hosts a large Muslim population. She was flown into the country by Mohammed Aslam and his son, Mohammed Nabil Nazir, who orchestrated the plot to murder Sikander Ali in retaliation for an earlier clash.

The attempted hit took place in September 2019. Betro, wearing a niqab to conceal her identity, attempted to assassinate Ali outside his home. However, the firearm malfunctioned, and she was unable to carry out the killing. Later that same day, she returned and opened fire on his family home, shooting three times into the house, but it was empty at the time.

After the failed attack, Betro fled the country. Authorities later extradited her from Armenia to face charges in England. Prosecutor Hannah Sidaway said her trial was “a culmination of years of hard work doggedly pursuing Aimee Betro across countries and borders while she remained relentless in her bid to escape justice.”

During her trial, prosecutors presented damning evidence linking Betro to the shooting, but she denied all charges, claiming her trip to England was solely to attend a birthday party and that she met Nazir on a dating app.

The jury found Betro guilty of conspiracy to murder, possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, and illegal importation of ammunition. Nazir and Aslam had previously been convicted for their involvement, receiving sentences of 32 years and 10 years, respectively. Betro faces a potential life sentence.

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Pennsylvania Man Charged for Alleged Death Threats Against President Trump.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A Pennsylvania man was charged federally for allegedly threatening to kill then-President-elect Donald J. Trump before his inauguration.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Jacob Buckley, a 22-year-old from Port Matilda, Pennsylvania, and the U.S. Secret Service.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The threats were made on January 16, 2025, via TikTok, according to the Justice Department.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “I’m going to kill Trump,” Buckley allegedly wrote on TikTok.

🎯IMPACT: If convicted, Buckley faces up to five years in prison, supervised release, fines, and a special assessment.

IN FULL

Jacob Buckley, a 22-year-old Pennsylvania man, has been charged by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania for allegedly threatening to kill then-President-elect Donald J. Trump. The threats, made on TikTok under the username “Jacob_buckley,” included statements such as, “I’m going to kill Trump,” and, “Bro we going into a literal oligarchy in 4 days and im going to kill Trump,” according to prosecutors.

The U.S. Secret Service conducted the investigation, and Buckley has been “charged by criminal information for threatening Donald Trump as the President-elect,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The Department of Justice (DOJ) noted that the maximum penalty upon conviction includes up to five years in prison, supervised release, fines, and a special assessment.

This case follows a similar incident involving a Rhode Island man, Carl Montague, who was charged in July for allegedly threatening Trump and members of his administration on Truth Social. Montague’s threats, posted on June 27, 2025, included violent language directed at Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller. The FBI later determined that Montague did not have access to weapons or the means to carry out his threats.

During the 2024 presidential campaign, two would-be assassins made attempts on President Trump’s life. Ryan Wesley Routh, who was discovered by the Secret Service hiding with an SKS-style rifle amidst shrubbery on the edge of the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, is currently facing trial. A judge recently ruled that Routh will be allowed to represent himself in his defense.

Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok.

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Would-Be Trump Assassin Ryan Routh Fires Lawyer, Wants to Represent Himself.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Ryan Wesley Routh, who attempted to assassinate President Donald J. Trump late last year, informed a federal court that he has fired his attorney and is requesting to represent himself.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Ryan Routh, federal prosecutors, a U.S. federal court, and President Donald J. Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The court was informed of Routh’s decision on Thursday, July 10, 2025.

🎯IMPACT: It remains to be seen whether the court will deem Routh competent enough to represent himself. The 59-year-old faces serious consequences should he be found guilty, as attempting to assassinate a president can carry a sentence of life in prison or even the death penalty.

IN FULL

Would-be presidential assassin Ryan Wesley Routh announced in court on Thursday that he has fired his attorney and is requesting that he be allowed to represent himself. Routh is currently facing five federal charges, to which he has pleaded not guilty, stemming from a September 2024 attempt on President Donald J. Trump’s life. The federal trial is currently slated to begin on September 8, 2025, with Routh facing state charges as well.

Last year, Routh was discovered by the United States Secret Service (USSS) hiding with a SKS-style rifle amidst shrubbery on the edge of the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. At the time, Trump was just several hundred yards away playing a round of golf. After spotting Routh positioned in cover with a rifle, a Secret Service agent performing an advance sweep, several holes ahead of Trump, fired four shots at the would-be assassin, causing him to flee the scene. Subsequently, Routh was pursued by law enforcement in a high-speed chase in which a six-year-old girl was nearly killed. He was apprehended some time later in Marin County, Florida, after causing a multi-car crash on a highway, which nearly resulted in the death of the young girl.

The 59-year-old Routh’s attempt to assassinate Trump appears to have been inspired by the former’s obsession with supporting Ukraine. The would-be assassin appears to have been deeply involved with efforts to send Afghanistan military veterans to Ukraine to assist in the country’s defense against Russia Additionally, federal prosecutors have produced a letter authored by Routh in which he pledges a six-figure cash bounty on President Trump, with the text also suggesting that he was likely inspired by the anti-Trump rhetoric pushed by the Democratic Party.

A separate November 2024 letter authored by Routh and sent to the media indicates that President Trump’s firm stance against Iran’s nuclear weapons program and sponsorship of terrorism was a secondary motivation for the assassination attempt. Notably, Iran has repeatedly threatened the life of Trump and other government officials in retaliation for a January 3, 2020, drone strike, which killed Iranian Quds Forces commander Qasem Soleimani.

It remains to be seen whether the court will deem Routh competent enough to represent himself. The 59-year-old faces serious consequences should he be found guilty of the federal charges. Attempting to assassinate a president can carry a sentence of life in prison or even the death penalty.

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Secret Service Suspends Six Agents Over Trump Shooting.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Six Secret Service agents were suspended without pay following critical security failures during an assassination attempt on President Donald J. Trump.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, six Secret Service agents, shooter Thomas Crooks, and Deputy Director Matt Quinn.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The assassination attempt occurred at a 2024 campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “Secret Service is totally accountable for Butler,” said Deputy Director Matt Quinn, adding: “Butler was an operational failure and we are focused today on ensuring that it never happens again.”

🎯IMPACT: The suspensions are part of broader reforms, including deploying military-grade drones and new mobile command units, to prevent similar incidents.

IN FULL

The Secret Service suspended six agents without pay on Wednesday in response to critical security failures during last year’s assassination attempt on President Donald Trump at a 2024 campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

The decision, confirmed by Deputy Director Matt Quinn in an interview with CBS News, comes nearly a year after a gunman, 20-year-old Thomas Crooks, opened fire as Trump spoke, striking the America First leader’s ear and seriously wounding two attendees, one of whom died.

Quinn described the suspensions, which range from 10 to 42 days, as part of a broader effort to address systemic issues. However, he defended the decision not to punish anybody in the immediate aftermath of the assassination attempt, insisting, “We aren’t going to fire our way out of this.”

“We’re going to focus on the root cause and fix the deficiencies that put us in that situation,” he added.

Following their suspensions, each of the six agents will be reassigned to less critical roles. Quinn also noted that the agency has implemented significant reforms, including the deployment of military-grade drones and new mobile command units to ensure better coordination with local law enforcement.

The Butler incident, along with another foiled attempt weeks later in Florida, led to the resignation of then-Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, despite the fact she initially insisted she would stay in post. A December congressional report labeled the attack “tragic and preventable,” citing a catalogue of errors, including leadership and training deficiencies, as key factors.

“Secret Service is totally accountable for Butler,” Quinn admitted. “Butler was an operational failure.”

Image by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images.

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Ukrainian Security Thwarts Alleged Zelensky Assassination Plot.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was the target of an assassination plot allegedly orchestrated by a Polish military pensioner recruited by the Soviet Union decades ago, according to Ukraine’s internal security agency.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The plot involved a Polish military pensioner, Russia’s influence, and Ukraine’s SBU security service, with assistance from Poland’s ABW security service.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The plan targeted Zelensky at Poland’s RzeszĂłw–Jasionka Airport, with the plot exposed by Ukrainian authorities.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “A military pensioner, a Pole, who was recruited decades ago, firmly believed in the Soviet idea and harbored his intention through the years.” — Lieutenant General Vasyl Malyuk, head of Ukraine’s SBU.

🎯IMPACT: The plot was foiled through a coordinated effort by Ukrainian and Polish security services, preventing Zelensky’s assassination.

IN FULL

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was allegedly the target of an assassination plot, as revealed by Lieutenant General Vasyl Malyuk, the head of Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU). The alleged plan involved a Polish military pensioner who had been recruited by the Soviet Union decades ago.

During a closed briefing with Ukrainian media, Malyuk stated that Russia had activated the Polish man to execute the assassination at Poland‘s RzeszĂłw–Jasionka Airport. The plan reportedly involved the use of either a first-person-view drone or a sniper rifle, according to TSN.

“A military pensioner, a Pole, who was recruited decades ago, firmly believed in the Soviet idea and harbored his intention through the years. So, he—this ‘sleeper agent’—was activated,” Malyuk said. However, the plot was thwarted through a joint operation between Ukraine’s SBU and Poland’s internal security agency, the ABW. The Russian government and Poland’s ABW have yet to comment on the matter.

The alleged plot comes as Russia continues to slowly advance in Ukraine, recently launching several major missile strikes on the country’s capital, Kiev.

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