DNC Chairman Condemns Assassination of Charlie Kirk

On Wednesday, Ken Martin, the Chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), spoke out against the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA. This came shortly after the Trump administration described him in late August as being “clad in a red tie.”

In his written statement, Martin said:

Today marks another tragic instance of political violence, as Charlie Kirk was murdered on a school campus. We’re still awaiting further information, but it’s clear that he was killed for his beliefs. My thoughts are with his family, friends, and loved ones.
It’s important to emphasize that, regardless of differing viewpoints, resorting to violence is never justified. What happened today at Utah Valley University must not happen again.

All forms of political violence are deeply concerning in America. As I noted following the tragic deaths of my friends Melissa and Mark Hortman earlier this summer, such violence has become alarmingly common. Leaders on both sides of the aisle — Democrats and Republicans alike — must vocally denounce this situation. We need to focus on uniting the country, not tearing it apart.

Martin continued, “We’ve witnessed too much violence over the past year. We’ve seen lawmakers and their families attacked in their homes, children shot in places of worship, and now, a public execution at a college campus. This is unacceptable.”

His statements regarding Kirk’s assassination follow a speech he gave at a DNC summer meeting in August, where he also characterized the current president as a dictator.

Martin dubbed Trump’s potential second term as “fascism in a red tie,” posing the question to the audience, “Are you ready to reclaim our country from the aspiring king of the White House?”

In his remarks, Martin acknowledged the Democratic

response to Trump and Republicans aiming to regain a House seat ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

He expressed frustration, stating, “I’m tired of this Democrat bringing pencils to the knife fight.”

Furthermore, Martin indicated that “we’re no longer the only party that plays by the rules.”