Accused of having murdered influencer Charlie Kirk, Tyler Robinson will be tried in June 2028

The suspect in the assassination of Charlie Kirk, a figure of the American right, now knows the date of his trial. Tyler Robinson, 23, faces the death penalty for this murder committed in September 2025 in Utah.

The American accused of having assassinated Trumpist influencer Charlie Kirk now knows the date of his future trial: a magistrate decided Monday that he will be tried from June 21, 2028.

“Jury selection will begin” on this date explained the judge, Tony Graf, specifying that the court “reserves 105 hearing days for the trial”.

Tyler Robinson, 23, faces the death penalty for killing Mr. Kirk with a bullet to the neck during a rally on a university campus in Utah (west) in September 2025.

Robinson faces the death penalty

This murder caused a political earthquake, because the 31-year-old influencer was the head of the largest youth organization of the American right, Turning Point.

He played a key role in Donald Trump’s re-election, recruiting thousands of volunteers to go door-to-door and touring the country to convince young Americans to vote for the Republican billionaire.

By setting the trial for June 2028, Judge Graf made a balanced decision on Monday in the face of disagreements between the parties. The prosecution requested a trial as early as January 2028, while Tyler Robinson’s lawyers requested a long delay until the end of 2029 to prepare their defense. This provoked indignation from Donald Trump at the end of October.

“This case should be judged within a month”

“This case should be judged in a month,” the American president then said on his Truth Social network, criticizing the judge, who according to him takes “an eternity to ask questions to which everyone already knows the answer.”

A controversial figure in the United States, Charlie Kirk was a Christian nationalist, who posed as a fierce defender of the traditional family and was very critical of the LGBT + community and transgender people.

His murder sparked a 33-hour manhunt, after which Tyler Robinson turned himself in to authorities. The young man’s defense pleads not guilty at this stage, despite overwhelming evidence against him.

Traces of DNA found on rifle trigger

The prosecution has text messages in which he confesses the preparation of the murder to his roommate, a transgender person with whom he had a romantic relationship. He explained that he was “enough” of the “hate” conveyed by Charlie Kirk.

Investigators also recovered messages in which the suspect confessed to the murder to friends, with whom he used to play video games on a Discord forum.

Raised in a Republican and Mormon family, Tyler Robinson had begun expressing left-wing and “pro-gay” views before the assassination, according to his parents’ account. Traces of DNA compatible with his were found on the trigger of the rifle, as well as on a cartridge case and two unfired cartridges discovered by investigators.

The influencer who became a “martyr” for freedom of expression among Republicans

His lawyers have until now mainly focused on pointing out the weaknesses of the DNA and ballistics expertise. They never explained who else could have killed Charlie Kirk.

Since his death, the influencer has been brandished by Republicans as a “martyr” for freedom of expression. Dozens of Americans lost their jobs for criticizing Mr. Kirk after his death. Comedian Jimmy Kimmel was also briefly suspended in September 2025, after accusing the American right of politically exploiting his death.

Controversies surrounding respect for his memory swelled again this weekend, after comedian Dave Chappelle made fun of his murder during a show in New York. “Since this guy, Charlie Kirk, was murdered – and I shouldn’t say this publicly – I feel better,” he said on stage, according to a video published on X.

“A culture that laughs at assassination is a culture in profound moral decline,” responded Erika Kirk, the influencer’s widow, on Sunday. “You don’t have to agree with someone’s political views to recognize the value of their life. It shouldn’t be that difficult,” she added. “Political violence must never be something this country tolerates, condones or celebrates. »