US Vows To 'Disrupt, Destroy' Leftist Groups After Charlie Kirk's Death
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said Charlie Kirk's final message to him called for a coordinated effort against unnamed left-wing groups accused of promoting violence.
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Charlie Kirk was shot and killed at a university in the US on September 10.
Washington:
On Monday, Vice President JD Vance and a senior Trump administration official suggested that honoring Charlie Kirk's memory requires targeting left-leaning organizations they claim are working to undermine American unity.
While guest-hosting the late conservative activist's livestream show, Vance echoed growing right-wing demands for action against leftist groups following Kirk's assassination last week during his address to college students.
Stephen Miller, White House Deputy Chief of Staff and Vance's guest on the program, revealed that Kirk's final message to him called for coordinated action against unspecified left-wing groups allegedly promoting violence, vowing that the federal government would utilize "every available resource" to dismantle these organizations.
"With God as my witness, we are going to use every resource we have at the Department of Justice, Homeland Security and throughout this government to identify, disrupt, dismantle and destroy these networks and make America safe again for the American people," Miller stated. "It will happen, and we will do it in Charlie's name."
Miller later told White House reporters that the Trump administration is exploring criminal charges against a network of "nonprofit entities" that allegedly organize attacks on law enforcement, engage in doxxing, and provide materials used in riots, though he presented no evidence supporting these claims.
Monday's statements from high-ranking Trump administration officials provided the clearest indication yet of potential White House responses to Kirk's death. Critics have expressed concerns that Trump might use Kirk's assassination as justification to suppress political opponents.
Investigators have not yet determined why alleged gunman Tyler Robinson reportedly shot Kirk on Wednesday. Messages found engraved on four bullet casings included references to memes and video game jokes, though experts cautioned these messages offer no clear indication of political motivation.
Right-wing organizations have urged the administration to take broader action beyond prosecuting the shooter.
During his two-plus hours hosting "The Charlie Kirk Show" podcast, Vance went further than other officials by specifically naming two organizations: the Open Society Foundations, funded by billionaire Democratic donor George Soros, and the Ford Foundation, accusing these philanthropic organizations of funding an article in The Nation magazine that he criticized. Both organizations stated they do not currently fund The Nation.
DISAGREEMENT OVER KIRK'S LEGACY
"I read a story in The Nation magazine about my dear friend Charlie Kirk," Vance said during the podcast. "George Soros' Open Society Foundation funds this magazine, as does the Ford Foundation and many other wealthy titans of the American progressive movement."
Elizabeth Spiers, author of the article titled "Charlie Kirk's Legacy Deserves No Mourning," noted she "explicitly stated that no one should ever be killed for their views" in her piece and suggested Vance either misunderstood or deliberately misrepresented her words to create division and personally target her.
In her article, Spiers characterized Kirk as "an unrepentant racist, transphobe, homophobe, and misogynist who often wrapped his bigotry in Bible verses because there was no other way to pretend that it was morally correct."
Civil rights advocates have frequently criticized Kirk's comments regarding Black people, women, the LGBT community, Muslims and immigrants, describing his public statements as derogatory and racist. Kirk's supporters describe him as an influential, charismatic and devout Christian committed to civil debate on controversial issues, crediting him with mobilizing young voters for Trump.
An Open Society Foundations spokesperson called Vance's accusations "disgraceful" and maintained that the group's work is "entirely peaceful and lawful." A Ford Foundation spokesperson clarified that The Nation received only one grant in 2019 and currently receives no funding from them.
The Nation defended Spiers' critique of Kirk, stating: "In our 160 years of publication, we've long believed that dissent is the highest form of patriotism and we are proud of our journalistic legacy in pursuit of a more equal and just world."
Political violence has affected both Democrats and Republicans in the United States in recent years.
Trump, known for harsh rhetoric against political opponents, blamed the "radical left" almost immediately after Kirk's shooting, before any suspect was identified.
Police arrested 22-year-old Robinson, from Utah, on Friday and charged him with Kirk's murder. State records indicate Robinson was a registered voter with no political party affiliation.