Obama Says US At 'Inflection Point' After Charlie Kirk Killing, Trump Divided Nation
Former President Barack Obama says that the United States is at "an inflection point" following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and that Trump has further divided the country rather than work to bring people together
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Former President Barack Obama expressed that while he disagreed with many of Charlie Kirk's positions, this does not diminish the tragedy. (File Photo)
Former President Barack Obama has stated that the United States finds itself at "an inflection point" following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, adding that President Donald Trump has exacerbated national divisions rather than fostering unity.
"The fundamental principle of our democratic system is that we must be able to disagree and engage in sometimes intense debates without resorting to violence," Mr. Obama remarked on Tuesday evening at an event hosted by the Jefferson Education Society in Erie, Pennsylvania, according to a transcript obtained by The Associated Press.
"When violence targets anyone, even those you might consider on the opposite side of political debates, it threatens our entire society," he continued. "We must be unequivocal in our condemnation of such acts."
Since leaving office, Mr. Obama has maintained a relatively subdued public presence. Responding to questions from a moderator on Tuesday, he addressed Trump's rhetoric following Kirk's assassination, along with other administrative decisions.
The Democratic former president discussed his own leadership after the 2015 killing of nine Black worshippers at a Charleston, South Carolina, church, as well as Republican President George W. Bush's response following the September 11 terrorist attacks. He emphasized that a president's role during crisis is "to constantly remind us of the ties that bind us together."
Mr. Obama criticized the rhetoric from Trump and his staff following Kirk's murder, noting that referring to political opponents as "vermin, enemies... speaks to a broader problem."
Kirk, a prominent conservative political figure, became a close associate of Trump after establishing Turning Point USA in Arizona, one of the country's largest political organizations. Following Kirk's assassination, Trump has intensified threats against what he describes as the "radical left," raising concerns that his Republican administration is attempting to use outrage over the killing to suppress political opposition.
Trump's White House responded to Mr. Obama's comments on Wednesday by attributing national discord to the former president, calling him "the architect of modern political division in America."
"Obama consistently created division and set Americans against each other, and after his presidency concluded, more Americans believed Obama had divided rather than united the country," White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson stated.
During Tuesday's event, Mr. Obama also mentioned Trump's recent deployment of National Guard troops in Washington and federal agents conducting ID checks in Los Angeles. He urged citizens and elected officials to vigilantly monitor these norm-breaking decisions.
"What we're witnessing, I believe, is the notion that through executive authority, many of the guardrails and norms I felt obligated to respect as president, that George Bush felt obligated to respect as president, suddenly no longer apply," Mr. Obama stated. "This creates a dangerous situation."
Shortly after Kirk's death, Mr. Obama wrote on X that he and his wife, Michelle, were praying for Kirk's family, adding: "This kind of despicable violence has no place in our democracy."
Mr. Obama acknowledged disagreeing with many of Kirk's positions while emphasizing that this "doesn't negate the fact that what happened was a tragedy and that I mourn for him and his family."
Describing political violence as "anathema to what it means to be a democratic country," Mr. Obama also referenced the June shooting deaths of Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband in their home.
Mr. Obama praised Utah Governor Spencer Cox's calls for civility in leading the public response to Kirk's killing. He noted that while he and the Republican governor "disagree on a whole bunch of stuff," Cox's messaging regarding the response to Kirk's death demonstrates "that it is possible for us to disagree while abiding by a basic code of how we should engage in public debate."
Shortly before Mr. Obama's remarks, the 22-year-old suspect in Kirk's killing made his first court appearance facing charges including capital murder. According to court documents released Tuesday, as authorities searched for the person who shot and killed Kirk at Utah Valley University last week, Tyler Robinson texted his partner, acknowledging he was the shooter. A judge stated he would appoint an attorney to represent Robinson, whose family has declined to comment to The Associated Press.