Kirk Assassination Aftermath: The Good. the Bad and the Ugly

The response to Charlie Kirk’s assassination has been diverse and divisive, to say the least – reflecting the divisions among the people.

The Good

In examining the positive outcomes of the tragedy, we discover a huge outpouring of support for Kirk’s mission.  His assassination has brought him and his mission to the attention of a much larger audience.  I have friends who had never heard of Kirk or Turning Point – one such young man is now joining Turning Point USA (TPUSA). 

There has been a more tangible positive outcome.  In the days following his untimely death, TPUSA experienced what many are calling a “movement moment”.  According to TPUSA spokesman Andrew Kolvet, the organization received more than 37,000 new chapter inquiries within 48 hours of Kirk’s assassination. This surge dwarfs any previous expansion effort in TPUSA’s history.

The group, which already operated 900 college chapters and 1,200 high school chapters, is now preparing to scale rapidly to meet demand. Kolvet noted that Kirk’s dream of establishing a “Club America” chapter in every U.S. high school—roughly 23,000 schools—may now be realized far sooner than expected.

The organization also saw a spike in job applications and volunteer offers. “I have personally received hundreds of offers to work for us, or to work for free, or to just help however,” Kolvet said. The sentiment among supporters is clear. Kirk’s death galvanized a generation of young conservatives who now feel a renewed urgency to carry forward his mission.

At Arizona State University, students held a candlelight vigil where sophomore Emily Reyes said, “Charlie showed us that being conservative on campus doesn’t mean being silent. We’re going to be louder now, not quieter.”  At the University of Florida, Malik Thompson posted on social media: “I never thought I’d join a political group, but what happened to Charlie Kirk woke me up. I just signed up to start a TPUSA chapter here.”

“Charlie Kirk was the first person who made me feel like I wasn’t crazy for being conservative in college,” wrote a student from NYU. “Now I’m starting a chapter in his name.”

TPUSA leaders have described the response as a “sleeping giant awakened.” The organization is now planning a national tour to honor Kirk’s legacy, with events focused on civic engagement, free speech, and political tolerance. Erika Kirk, Charlie’s widow, has vowed to continue his work and has taken on a more public role in rallying supporters.

President Donald Trump announced that Kirk will be posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.  These gestures have further cemented Kirk’s legacy as a martyr for conservatism – especially among America’s youth.

The Bad

The assassination of Charlie Kirk marked the loss of not just a political figure, but a generational leader whose influence reshaped youth engagement in American conservatism. Kirk possessed a rare charismatic ability to connect with young people across ideological divides. He wasn’t just a speaker—he was a persuader. His words didn’t just inform; they inspired action, reflection, and commitment.

Charlie Kirk’s death leaves a void that cannot be easily filled. But the values he championed—free speech, civic courage, and intellectual independence—continue to resonate. His legacy lives on in the students he inspired, the chapters he built, and the movement he led with passion and grace. In a polarized age, Kirk reminded America that persuasion is more powerful than provocation, and that leadership begins with listening.

The Ugly

The death of Kirk brought out the worst of the radical left’s characteristics. Ignoring tradition of never speaking ill of the dead – especially during a time of mourning – the left-wing establishment has unleashed an unprecedented campaign of lies, vile statements and violent actions.  They are following up on Kirk’s assassination with character assassination.  This has not come merely from basement-bound nutcases and extremists but from prominent leaders in the left-wing establishment and Democratic Party.  The disgusting responses came in the form of words and deeds.

Public Officials

Democrat leaders could not refrain from demonizing Kirk even before his body was laid to rest. Here are a few examples from members of Congress.

• Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar called Kirk a “stochastic terrorist” and “adamant transphobe”. (Love that word, “stochastic” – meant to impress rather than inform.  I do not see it as a proper use of the word.  Look it up and see what you think.)
• Texas Representative Greg Casar said, “We can’t pretend that Kirk didn’t spend years radicalizing young people. That legacy matters.” (He said that during a press briefing defending Omar against censure.)
• Former Congressman Jamaal Bowman posted on X following the shooting that“Charlie Kirk built a movement on hate. That movement is dangerous, and we need to say that even now.”
• Florida Representative Maxwell Frost (D-FL) said thatKirk’s death doesn’t erase the harm he caused.”
• Massachusetts Representative Ayanna Pressley said “we don’t sanitize legacies. Kirk’s platform was built on cruelty.”
• Rep. Summer Lee, of Pennsylvania, said, “let’s not pretend Kirk was a victim of anything but the culture he helped create.”
• Washington State Representative Pramila Jayapal complained that “Charlie Kirk spent years demonizing people like me. I won’t pretend he was a hero now.”
• Missouri Congresswoman Cori Bush condemned “the violence Kirk promoted with his words.” Posted on X, later deleted.
• Michigan Representative Rashida Tlaib said that Kirk’s death was tragic, but it doesn’t mean we forget the damage he did to marginalized communities.”
• California Congressman Ro Khanna said “We should be honest. Kirk’s rhetoric was dangerous. That’s not erased by his death.”

News Media

MSNBC analyst Matthew Dowd led off the barrage of attacks with his assessment that Kirk provoked his own assassination.  He said Kirk has been “… one of the most divisive—especially divisive younger figures—who is constantly sort of pushing this sort of hate speech aimed at certain groups. And I always go back to hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions”.   (To MSNBC’s credit, they immediately fired Dowd.)

Also from MSNBC (of course) … Chris Hayes eulogized Kirk with, “Charlie Kirk was a master of turning outrage into influence. That doesn’t mean we ignore the consequences of that influence” … Nicole Wallace said, “Kirk’s brand of politics was corrosive, and it’s fair to say that some of the toxicity we see today was seeded by his success. … Lawrence O’Donnell warned against “turning a provocateur into a martyr without reckoning with the damage he did.”

New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd, appearing on MSNBC (of course) said, “Americans have always been susceptible to con men, and Kirk was one of the most effective at packaging grievance as gospel.”

The ever-ugly Keith Olbermann, in a post on X, said Kirk’s assassination was a matter of“karma” and called him “a fascist frat boy”.

CNN’s occasionally media analyst Brian Stelter saw Kirk as “a dangerous influencer” and criticized TPUSA’s ties to MAGA politics

New York Magazine writer Jonathan Chait wrote that “some conservatives are inventing liberal support for Kirk’s murder” but acknowledged “a few scattered celebratory posts” (More than a few, Jonathan.  I have found more than could be itemized in ten commentaries.)

Social Media, etc.

Millions of social media aficionados posted the most vile and hateful comments about Kirk – mostly suggesting – and outright stating – that the conservative activist provoked his own assassination.

In one of the more bizarre responses, ABCs late night (so-called) comedian, Jimmy Kimmel, proffered the argument that the assassin was a MAGA right-winger – and he was not joking.  ABC suspended his show indefinitely – which I suspect means definitely.

According to reports, an unnamed college professor posted, “Kirk wasn’t a martyr, just a provocateur who finally provoked the wrong person.”

Organic Vandalism

In addition to those who used their First Amendment right to demonize Kirk and mischaracterize his opinions, lots of folks lurking in the grassroots took to criminal violence. More than 40 memorials across the U.S. have been vandalized, burned or removed under pressure, according to Turning Point USA’s internal tracking.

By way of examples:

• Phoenix, Arizona: A 19-year-old man, Ryder Corral, was arrested for trampling a memorial outside Turning Point USA headquarters. He kicked over flowers, flags, and candles while shouting obscenities.
• Loveland, Colorado: A lawn display reading “RIP Charlie Kirk” was set on fire. A rock was also thrown through a nearby vehicle’s window. Police confirmed the act was politically motivated.
• Benton County, Arkansas: A memorial at the courthouse was vandalized within 24 hours of being set up. Two individuals were seen kicking over candles and tearing up notes left by mourners.
• Loganville, Georgia: A 19-year-old woman spray-painted “RACIST SYBAU” over a sign reading “In loving memory of Charlie Kirk” at a local business. She was arrested shortly after.
• Berkeley, California: Candles were doused with water, posters ripped down by counter-protesters. No arrests (of course).
• Madison, Wisconsin:  Sidewalk chalk messages were scrubbed off by activists who filmed and posted the act online.  No charges filed.
• Portland, Oregon: Cardboard tribute in a public park was torn apart and thrown in trash.
• Seattle, Washington: A university banner reading “Justice for Charlie Kirk” was spray-painted with “Zionist Pig” and destroyed. Investigated as a hate incident.
• Chicago, Illinois: A street sign was defaced with red paint and a sign reading “Good riddance.” No arrests.
• New York, New York: Union Square tribute was kicked over by masked individuals during pro-Palestinian rally. Video circulated online.
• Boston, Massachusetts:  A Harvard Yard memorial removed and replaced with signs reading “No tears for fascists.”   Campus group took credit.  No consequences.
• Berlin, Germany (even overseas):  Candles from a vigil outside the U.S. Embassy   were doused and anti-American slogans shouted by protesters. Anti-Kirk criminal protest was broken up by police …no arrests.

These incidents are not isolated. They reflect a much larger number of acts of vandalism against Kirk memorials.  These actions go beyond protest and veer into contemptuous criminal vandalism, revealing a troubling intolerance toward mourning and remembrance – a propensity for law-breaking violent vandalism. 

Accountability is not dead

Encouraging or celebrating violence is not covered by the First Amendment.  Consequently, employers have reacted to outrageous and intolerable comments by employees.  In addition to CNN’s Matthew Dowd and ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel being taken off the air, less celebrated folks have faced accountability for their hateful actions.

• Marine Corps recruiter was dismissed after posting “Another racist man popped” alongside an image of Kirk.
• FEMA data analyst was placed on administrative leave for calling Kirk a “racist homophobe misogynist”.
• Teachers and professors across Tennessee, Florida, Iowa, and Oregon were suspended or fired for posts like “You reap what you sow” and “America became greater today”.
• Even a Secret Service agent lost his security clearance after writing that Kirk “spewed hate and racism”.
• Nasdaq, Office Depot, and American Airlines terminated employees for social media posts deemed malicious.
• Delta and United Airlines grounded pilots who mocked Kirk’s death, citing “zero tolerance” for politically motivated speech.

Summary

If we are to preserve civil society, we must reject political violence in all forms. At the same time, we must also defend the right to mourn, to speak, and to disagree. The left cannot claim to champion tolerance while engaging in its own acts of intolerance.  They cannot oppose violence while engaging in and promoting violence.  Let this moment be a wake-up call for anyone who believes that democracy depends on civil dialogue and peaceful protests—not slander and violence.

So, there ‘tis.