After Charlie Kirk's Killing, Growing Chorus Of Conservatives Wants His Critics Ostracised
After years of complaints from the right about "cancel culture" from the left, some conservatives are seeking to upend the lives and careers of those who disparaged Charlie Kirk after his death.
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Following years of conservative complaints about "cancel culture" from the left, many right-wing figures are now seeking to disrupt the lives and professions of those who criticized Charlie Kirk after his assassination. They're targeting businesses, educators, media organizations, political opponents, and others they believe promoted hateful rhetoric.
A right-wing campaign led by public officials has resulted in swift consequences just days after the conservative activist's death, with teachers, an Office Depot employee, government workers, and a television commentator facing termination or disciplinary action, with more dismissals anticipated.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy recently posted on X that American Airlines had grounded pilots allegedly celebrating Kirk's assassination.
"This behavior is disgusting and they should be fired," stated Duffy on the social media platform.
While elected officials and conservative influencers praise Kirk as a champion of free speech who embraced controversial opinions, they're simultaneously employing tactics they once criticized when used against their movement - calls for termination, social exclusion, and pressure for self-censorship.
These approaches present a fundamental challenge for a nation increasingly divided by politics and moral outrage amplified by social media platforms.
The aftermath of Kirk's death has become a test of public tolerance for political differences. Republicans are pushing to punish not only the alleged assassin but also those whose words they believe either contributed to Kirk's death or dishonored him. Simultaneously, some liberals on social media have criticized figures like actress Kristin Chenoweth for expressing sympathy over Kirk's passing.
"This pattern that we've seen for decades seems to be happening much more now and at this moment than it ever has before," said Adam Goldstein of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. He traces the impulse to persecute people for their private views on tragedies back to at least the September 11, 2001 attacks. "If there was ever time to support the better angels of our nature, it's now."
Goldstein noted that unpopular speech, such as praising an assassination, represents the greatest test of First Amendment acceptance - particularly when government officials become involved. "The only time you're really supporting free speech is when it's unpopular," Goldstein said. "There's no one out there trying to stop people from loving puppies and bunnies."
Utah Governor Spencer Cox, a Republican, has cautioned that the motive for the assassination remains unconfirmed. He acknowledged the suspect in custody clearly identifies with the political left and had expressed antipathy toward Kirk before the shooting. However, he and other authorities also indicate the suspect was not known to be politically active.
Kirk was viewed as an architect of President Donald Trump's 2024 election victory, helping expand Republican outreach to younger voters. Consequently, many conservatives interpret remarks by liberals as incitement to violence rather than political expression.
"I think President Trump sees this as an attack on his political movement," said Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) on NBC, noting the two assassination attempts against Trump as well as Kirk's killing. "This is unique and different. This is an attack on a movement by using violence. And that's the way most Republicans see this."
Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), currently running for governor, called on social media for the termination of an assistant dean at Middle Tennessee State University and professors at Austin Peay State University and Cumberland University.
All three lost their positions for comments deemed inappropriate, expressing either a lack of sympathy or pleasure regarding Kirk's shooting. One stated Kirk "spoke his fate into existence."
Because conservatives previously felt canceled by liberals for their views, Trump on his first day back in office signed an executive order prohibiting everyone in federal government from engaging in conduct that would "unconstitutionally abridge the free speech of any American citizen."
In February at the Munich Security Conference, Vice President JD Vance criticized the preceding Biden administration for encouraging "private companies to silence people who dared to utter what turned out to be an obvious truth" regarding the pandemic. He condemned European countries for censoring political speech.
"Under Donald Trump's leadership, we may disagree with your views, but we will fight to defend your right to offer it in the public square, agree or disagree," Vance said at the time.
Nevertheless, the Trump administration has also taken action against immigrants and academics for their speech.
Goldstein noted that Trump's State Department warned immediately after Kirk's death it would revoke visas of any foreigners celebrating Kirk's assassination. "I can't think of another moment where the United States has come out to warn people of their impending cancellation," Goldstein said.
The glimmer of bipartisan agreement following the assassination centered on the belief that social media was dangerously fueling violence and misinformation.
"I can't emphasize enough the damage that social media and the internet is doing to all of us," Cox said on NBC's "Meet the Press." He stated "the most powerful companies in the history of the world have figured out how to hack our brains get us addicted to outrage."
However, many Republican lawmakers have also criticized traditional news media that condemned Trump for contributing to a toxic political climate with his consistent rhetoric portraying opponents as enemies.
On Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures," Senator Katie Britt (R-AL) blamed news outlets for hosting guests who called Trump a "fascist" or compared him to Adolf Hitler.
Such statements emerged from Trump's attempt to overturn his 2020 election defeat, his pardoning of January 6 rioters, and various policy differences. These include his deportation policies, National Guard deployment, mass dismissals of federal employees, and his disregard for traditional presidential power limitations.
But for Britt, these expressions were unjust, inaccurate, and triggered violence.
"There must be consequences with regards to people spewing that type of hate and celebration in the face of this," Britt said. "And I believe that there will be."