Republicans Warn Against Mockery After Charlie Kirk’s Killing

Following the fatal shooting of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, Republican leaders have issued a stern warning: mourn his death respectfully or face consequences.

The 31-year-old conservative commentator, a prominent figure in Trump’s political orbit, was killed earlier this month. Leaders from both parties have condemned the murder, but controversy has erupted after some individuals online mocked or celebrated his death, citing Kirk’s history of inflammatory rhetoric.

At least 15 people—including journalists, educators, and corporate employees—have been fired or suspended over social media comments, according to a Reuters tally. A junior Nasdaq employee was among those dismissed on Friday. Others have been subjected to harassment campaigns, with calls, emails, and online abuse demanding their removal from jobs.

Far-right activists and lawmakers have vowed to intensify the pressure. Conspiracy theorist and Trump ally Laura Loomer warned that those mocking Kirk’s death could see their “entire professional future ruined.” Representative Clay Higgins posted on X that such individuals should be “banned from all platforms forever.” U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau also expressed disgust at social media posts trivializing the murder, directing officials to “undertake appropriate action.”

The outrage stands in stark contrast to past moments when some Republicans, including Kirk himself, mocked victims of political violence. After the 2022 hammer attack on Paul Pelosi, husband of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Higgins shared a post ridiculing the assault before deleting it. Loomer suggested, without evidence, that the incident was a “booty call gone wrong,” while Kirk publicly called for the attacker to be released on bail.

Despite this history, campaigns against Kirk’s critics have expanded. A website titled Expose Charlie’s Murderers has surfaced, publishing names of individuals it accuses of “supporting political violence online.” The site claims to have received more than 20,000 submissions. A Reuters review found that while some posts did celebrate Kirk’s killing, others simply criticized his views, highlighted his record of dismissing gun violence, or accurately quoted his past remarks, such as his claim that some gun deaths were “worth it” in defense of the Second Amendment.

One individual featured on the site told Reuters their employer had been inundated with threatening calls. “I don’t condone the murder of Charlie Kirk,” they said, requesting anonymity. “But there is a certain irony here, given his long opposition to gun control.”

The operators of the website have not identified themselves and did not respond to inquiries. Squarespace, the site’s host, also declined to comment.

Jay Childers, an associate professor of communications at the University of Kansas, said the dynamic reflects a broader history of attempts by political elites to suppress dissent. “This is not entirely new,” he noted. “What is new is that the internet allows far more people to become targets of these efforts to police political speech.”