Political Analyst Links Charlie Kirk Shooting to ‘Hate Speech’
In the wake of a shooting that took the life of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, MSNBC political analyst Matthew Dowd suggested on Wednesday that Kirk’s rhetoric made him a target for violence. The shooting occurred during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.
Video footage from the campus courtyard shows Kirk clutching his neck after a shot was fired, as the audience disperses and security rushes him from the scene.
An eyewitness described hearing “just one shot, bang,” and seeing “red gushing blood” from Kirk’s neck.
READ: “The Great, And Even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, Is Dead,” Trump Says On Truth Social
On MSNBC’s “Katy Tur Reports,” Dowd was asked by host Katy Tur to discuss the environment surrounding the shooting.
Dowd began by cautioning that the full details of the incident were not yet known, stating, “We don’t know if this was a supporter shooting their gun off in celebration or, so we have no idea about this.”
He then continued, “But following up with what was just said, he’s been one of the most divisive, especially divisive younger figures in this, who is constantly sort of pushing this sort of hate speech or sort of aimed at certain groups. And I always go back to hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions.”
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Following Dowd’s comments, Tur went on to connect the incident to past political responses.
She referenced a previous alleged attack on an employee of the Department of General Services (DOGE) in Washington, D.C., which she claimed President Donald Trump used as justification to send federal troops into the city.
Tur then speculated that the current administration might use the shooting as a similar justification, stating, “You can imagine the administration using this as a justification for something.”
President Donald J. Trump confirmed the news of Kirk’s death in a post on Truth Social.
READ: Former VP Kamala Harris Rips Biden’s “Reckless” 2024 Bid In New Memoir
“The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead,” Trump wrote. “No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!”
Following the news of Kirk’s death, X users unloaded on mainstream media.
“The executives at MSNBC, CNN, CBS, ABC, PBS, etc. etc. etc. all have blood on their hands and are responsible in part for Charlie Kirk’s death. They have incited riots in the brains of college kids whereas they have taken shot many many people. You will be brought to justice,” said Joe Tumbar.
Another user, mittenman77, wrote, “It’s time to have @POTUS find a way to take @MSNBC off the air. If you support evil, you are just as evil.”
The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, and authorities have said that the shooter is not in custody.
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