Debate on Online Reactions to Kirk’s Assassination

On Tuesday, MSNBC’s Brandy Zadronzy commented that the online reaction to the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk wasn’t as celebratory as reported by some sources. Despite this, various social media platforms, including Bluesky, showcased celebrations following the incident. This led to notable figures like MSNBC analyst Matthew Dowd and Washington Post columnist Karen Attiah, whose career was affected by the event, weighing in on the situation. Zadronzy went as far as to describe these online celebrations as a concerning way to handle murder.

“If you observe the media landscape, there’s a distinct narrative surrounding Charlie Kirk, who is seen as a significant right-wing figure, essentially one of the most prominent GOP influencers aside from Donald Trump,” she noted. “The internet is not in favor of this; in fact, it’s the opposite of what’s going on.” It’s a complicated situation, and perspectives vary widely.

Historian Heather Cox Richardson voiced similar sentiments during a podcast last Friday. In contrast, Tom Elliot from Grabien News shared a compilation of leftist reactions celebrating Kirk’s assassination on X. This included clips and posts from various social media users.

According to a recent YouGov opinion survey, a quarter of highly liberal respondents indicated they might find satisfaction in the death of a public figure. Transgender attorney Sheryl Weichal, on the day of the assassination, shared an unsettling sentiment on Bluesky, expressing a wish for violence against Kirk, as highlighted by screenshots from various journalists.

Moreover, a Rutgers investigation revealed that 56% of those identifying as “Left of Center” believed that the assassination of Donald Trump, who survived two attempts on his life during the 2024 presidential campaign, might be justifiable in some cases. A similar percentage attributed the same justification to Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla.