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The Chicago Cubs flew the American flag at half-staff for Friday’s home game against the Tampa Bay Rays in honor of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated during a campus event in Utah on Wednesday.
The team also held a « moment of reflection » for Kirk, calling for an end to « all political violence. »
Charile Kirk and his wife, Erika Lane Frantzve and their two children, prior to his assassination on Sept. 10, 2025. (Erika Kirk via Instagram)
« May all of us as Americans come together in solidarity to strengthen our nation, end these senseless acts and turn to civil discourse to discuss our differences, » a message said before the game was said throughout the ballpark.
The Cubs recognized Kirk as a « lifelong » fan before holding the moment of silence.
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The flag at Wrigley Field was flown at half-staff in accordance with MLB’s request that teams follow President Donald Trump’s presidential proclamation.
In a statement to Fox News Digital on Thursday, the league confirmed that it « asked all of the Clubs to follow the direction of the White House Presidential Proclamation and fly flags at half-staff in their ballparks. »
Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk is seen onstage at the Fiserv Forum during preparations for the Republican National Convention on July 14, 2024, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
The proclamation from the White House ordered that flags be flown at half-staff until sunset on Sunday.
Tyler Bowyer, the Chief Operating Officer of Turning Point USA, first reported on « The Charlie Kirk Show » that the Cubs would be « recognizing » Kirk in some way during the game.
« He loved the Cubs, » Andrew Kolvet, Turning Point USA spokesman, added. « His grandma was a lifelong Cubs fan and she got to see the Cubs win the World Series and then passed away. »
« She lived to see the greatest thing as a sports fan for her and that meant a lot to him. »
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The Cubs broke a 108-year drought when they defeated Cleveland in seven games to win the 2016 World Series. Kirk shared a photo on X of him and his grandmother celebrating the team’s victory at the time.
Fans look on during a moment of reflection related to political gun violence before the game between the Chicago Cubs and the Tampa Bay Rays at Wrigley Field on Sept. 12, 2025. (Matt Marton/Imagn Images)
« We are thankful that after 108 years the CUBS ARE WORLD CHAMPS, » he wrote in a post on Thanksgiving Day.
In March, Kirk shared another photo of his family at a Cubs game.
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Police confirmed Friday that a suspect in Kirk’s killing was arrested. He was identified as Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old Utah resident. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox stated that a family member of Robinson’s contacted a family friend who then reached out to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office « with information that Robinson had confessed to them or implied that he had committed the incident. »
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