Charlie Kirk, the conservative firebrand who captured the minds of impressionable youth and old guard right-leaning politicians looking to latch on to his star power, was shot and killed in Utah this week. Framed as an American tragedy, complete with unproven claims that the Democratic Party was responsible, the Charlie Kirk whitewashing has begun, but X is seeing through the facade.
Charlie Kirk, co-founder of the conservative group Turning Point USA, visited Utah Valley University this past Wednesday (September 10) in Orem, Utah, as part of his American Comeback Tour. Kirk was struck by a bullet in the neck while seated and later died of his injuries. The shocking news sparked a flurry of commentary, prompting passionate responses from figures such as President Donald Trump and other conservatives, who praised Kirk as a national hero of sorts.
Charlie Kirk, in the eyes of many, was no hero. In the wake of his death, Kirk’s name began to trend, with his critics highlighting many of his public appearances and statements, including his signature “Prove Me Wrong” debate format, where his overtalking, coupled with aggression, often gave him the appearance of intellectual superiority.
Kirk’s assassination has once more renewed the gun control debate but also highlighted the racial tensions present in the country, no doubt inflamed by President Trump’s stances and policies as he surrounds himself with only those who promote his MAGA agenda. Trump enjoyed Kirk’s command of young conservative voters, but never once denounced the flurry of despicable things Kirk said about those he didn’t align with.
Among Kirk’s many stances that some found offensive, he once expressed distrust of Black airline pilots and went so far as to ponder their credentials. He also suggested in frank fashion that people in the LGBTQ community be stoned to death while quoting a verse from the Bible, later stating that members of said community are a “social contagion.”
Harkening back to the gun control debate, Kirk, a strong advocate for the Second Amendment, also said that gun deaths are “worth it” if it means that Americans can “protect their God-given rights.”
Kirk often framed a lot of his racist, bigoted, and flat-out divisive statements under the guise of being a Christian family man. He once said that empathy was not a real word, calling it a “new-age term” despite Jesus Christ being the living embodiment of empathy.
There were widespread discussions about Kirk’s passing across social media, with some chiming in to celebrate the loss, while others called out the reactions for being in poor taste. It goes without saying that the responses from Kirk’s critics should be understandable given his own unfliching way of communicating and how he often referenced his rights to free speech. It appears that Kirk and his legion of supporters believed that free speech only applies to their side and when they are discussing their political and spiritual opponents.
Charlie Kirk’s name continues to trend on X, and we’ve got reactions from those who are calling out the whitewashing attempt. We’ve got those reactions below.
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Photo: Getty
