Kimmel Critiques Right-Wing Reaction to Violence
On “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” host Jimmy Kimmel took aim at the right-wing response to the recent developments surrounding 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, who is linked to an assassination attempt on Charlie Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA. Kimmel noted that critics of the left were trying to distance Robinson from their ideology, suggesting it represented a troubling new low.
During his monologue, Kimmel explained, “We hit some new lows over the weekend, and the Maga gangs are desperately trying to spin this incident, framing this kid as anything but one of them to score political points.” He then laughed while discussing how Trump reacted to news of the incident days later.
Kimmel expressed frustration over Trump’s response, which included flying flags at half-staff while discussing the ballroom’s construction. “This isn’t how adults should mourn the loss of someone he considered a friend. It feels more like how a child might grieve over a dead goldfish,” he remarked.
His comments followed statements from both the FBI and the governor of Utah, indicating that Robinson displayed a left-leaning ideology that had grown more radical over time. FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino stated, “It’s pretty clear that this is an ideologically motivated attack.” In light of this, the FBI is now investigating whether any local left-wing groups were tied to Robinson.
At a press conference on Tuesday, authorities shared new insights into Robinson’s communications, revealing text messages he sent to his roommate and his transgender partner. In a particularly chilling message, Robinson expressed, “I had enough of him [Kirk] hatred. Some hatred cannot be negotiated.” He added that if he could make his rifle invisible, he would leave no evidence behind.
Kimmel later issued a statement expressing sorrow for the victims of gun violence, specifically mentioning Kirk, who was fatally shot during an event at Utah Valley University. He addressed the tragedy on Instagram, stating, “Can I agree that targeting another person over anger is just monstrous?” He extended his condolences to Kirk’s family and all those affected by senseless violence.
Kimmel has also criticized Trump’s responses following Kirk’s death, which seemed to dismiss the seriousness of the situation. He pointed out, “With all these terrible events happening, you’d think the president would at least attempt to unite us, but that hasn’t happened.” He reminded viewers of Trump’s controversial remarks regarding the Second Amendment and his past rhetoric that incited violence.
