Cubs fly flag at half-staff at Wrigley Field to honor Charlie Kirk
MLB asked clubs to follow a presidential proclamation after the Turning Point USA founder was fatally shot; a suspect has been arrested
The Chicago Cubs flew the American flag at half-staff at Wrigley Field Friday during their home game against the Tampa Bay Rays in honor of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was fatally shot at a campus event on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025.
Major League Baseball confirmed to Fox News Digital that it had asked all clubs to follow the White House presidential proclamation ordering flags lowered. The proclamation, issued hours after the shooting, directed that flags be flown at half-staff until sunset on Sunday.
The league's guidance followed a presidential order from President Donald Trump and was observed at ballparks across MLB, the league said. The Cubs did not hold a moment of silence during Friday’s game, a step the New York Yankees took Wednesday night, but Turning Point USA officials said the team would offer some form of recognition.
Tyler Bowyer, chief operating officer of Turning Point USA, told "The Charlie Kirk Show" that the Cubs would be "recognizing" Kirk during the game. Andrew Kolvet, a Turning Point USA spokesman, said Kirk was a longtime Cubs fan and that his grandmother, who lived to see the Cubs win the 2016 World Series after a 108-year drought, had been an important influence on his fandom.
President Trump ordered flags lowered after the shooting, and MLB's request to clubs echoed that directive. The guidance applied to ballparks while local officials and teams determined any additional on-field or in-venue observances.
Police confirmed Friday that a suspect in Kirk's killing had been arrested. Authorities identified the suspect as Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old Utah resident. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said a family member of Robinson contacted a family friend who then alerted the Washington County Sheriff's Office, reporting that Robinson had confessed to or implied involvement in the incident.
Investigators have continued to gather evidence and pursue leads related to the shooting. Local law enforcement provided limited public details as the case remained under active investigation.
Kirk founded the conservative group Turning Point USA and was a prominent activist and media figure. He had posted publicly about his affinity for the Cubs, sharing photographs of himself and family members celebrating the team's 2016 World Series win and attending games in subsequent seasons.
The Cubs' observance at Wrigley Field was part of a broader set of responses across civic and private institutions following the killing. Some professional teams and sports organizations took part in the flag-lowering guidance, while others conducted moments of silence or additional tributes.
Authorities said they would release further information as it became available and that the investigation into the events in Utah would proceed through the state and federal processes as necessary.