Political strategist Matthew Dowd faced a grilling on social media after he speculated on MSNBC about the shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk during an event at an Utah college on Wednesday.
Turning Point USA, a conservative youth organization, confirmed to the Associated Press that Kirk, its co-founder, was shot while speaking on the campus of Utah Valley University. He appeared to be shot near his neck.
President Donald Trump has since announced that Kirk, 31, has died in a post on his Truth Social platform.
“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!”
Video footage shared on social media showed attendees running from the shooting. The university has said there is no suspect in custody as of Wednesday afternoon.
Host Katy Tur asked Dowd to “talk about the environment in which a shooting like this happens,” while she acknowledged that reports have yet to be confirmed.
Dowd said he wanted to emphasize that “we don’t know any full details of this,” but began to question the perpetrator’s motives, saying “We don’t know if this was a supporter shooting their gun off in celebration.”
“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,” Dowd said.
“And I always go back to hateful thoughts, lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions, and I think that’s the environment that we’re in,” he added.
Dowd continued: “People just… you can’t stop with these sort of awful thoughts you have, and then saying these awful words, and then not expect awful actions to take place. And that’s the unfortunate environment we are in.”
A number of social media users — and particularly conservative voices — immediately criticized Dowd’s reaction.
“MSNBC is now blaming Charlie Kirk for being shot,” the account for Townhall.com posted on X, adding, “What a disgusting thing to say.”
A popular conservative account wrote that “MSNBC just speculated the Charlie Kirk shooting could have ‘been a supporter shooting their gun off in celebration.’ I have no words for how awful these people are.”
“Hey @MSNBC I’m gonna go ahead and rule out that it was one of Charlie Kirk’s supporters that accidentally shot him with a celebratory gun shot,” Barstool’s Dave Portnoy added.
Writer Rich Lowry also weighed in on the comments: “Charlie Kirk was a fierce advocate, out in the pubic square doing it how it’s supposed to be done in our glorious free Republic. Blaming him for an infernal act of violence committed against him while he was engaged in a full and open debate is shameful and disgusting.”
Sen. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) said that “Everyone @MSNBC needs to be fired!”
Lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle have condemned the shooting and sent their prayers to Kirk, who is a prominent voice of the MAGA movement, before his death.
“We must all pray for Charlie Kirk, who has been shot. A great guy from top to bottom. GOD BLESS HIM!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Vice President JD Vance also offered his support for Kirk, posting a photo of himself with the conservative influencer.
“Say a prayer for Charlie Kirk, a genuinely good guy and a young father,” Vance wrote on X.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris said she is “deeply disturbed” by the shooting.
“Let me be clear: Political violence has no place in America. I condemn this act, and we all must work together to ensure this does not lead to more violence,” she added.
Rebecca Kutler, the president of MSNBC, later issued a statement apologizing for the remarks.
“During our breaking news coverage of the shooting of Charlie Kirk, Matthew Dowd made comments that were inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable. “We apologize for his statements, as has he. There is no place for violence in America, political or otherwise,” the statement posted on X reads.
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