US President Donald Trump is facing criticism after his response to a question about the death of his ally and right-wing activist Charlie Kirk veered abruptly into a boast about White House renovations. Kirk, a 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA, was assassinated during a speech at Utah Valley University on Wednesday. He was a close supporter of Trump’s political career and played a visible role in his re-election campaign.

‘I think very good’

On Friday, a reporter asked Trump: “Condolences on loss of your friend Charlie. How are you holding up?”Trump responded: “I think very good. And by the way, right there you see all the trucks. They just started construction of the new ballroom for the White House, which is something they’ve been trying to get for about 150 years. And it’s gonna be a beauty. It’ll be an absolutely magnificent structure.”The clip went viral within hours, sparking a wave of criticism online.

Online outrage

“What an utterly narcissistic man!” one user posted. “Even when asked about a close ally’s death, he couldn’t resist turning the spotlight back on himself and his imagined legacy.”Others were even more scathing. “Charlie who? Look… trucks!” one wrote. Another added: “Literally doesn’t care about him except how he can be exploited for his own gain.”A third user commented: “And just like that, Charlie Kirk’s murder is no longer useful to him — time to change the subject. What a heartless goon.”Social media users also pointed to Trump’s public appearance just hours after the assassination. “He was dancing to the YMCA at a baseball game like 6 hours after the murder of a man who was supposedly ‘like a son’ to him,” one person remarked.Comments like “Total sociopath,” “Typical narcissist,” and “What a bizarre way to respond” were among the most common reactions across platforms.