Steve Cody, a councillor from Palmetto Bay, Florida, is facing pressure to resign after a Facebook post appeared to mock the Christian faith of Charlie Kirk, a conservative commentator who was murdered.
Cody shared a quote from Kirk, who was a staunch advocate for Second Amendment rights, branding political activists and media personalities as “appropriate sacrifices” in the context of gun rights.
In the post, he referred to Kirk as a “worthy sacrifice for our lord: Smith and Wesson,” which many interpreted as a reference to the Lord’s Prayer. This post, which included AI-generated images of President Trump, sparked significant backlash.
Watch – Charlie Kirk discusses his faith after an assassination attempt on Trump:
Charlie Kirk founded Turning Point USA, an organization promoting conservative values on college campuses. On the day of his death, he was leading an event at Utah Valley University to inspire students to question their beliefs and participate in civic discussions.
During this event, an unknown assailant shot and killed Kirk. The FBI subsequently announced a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to the shooter’s capture.
Following the outrage over his post, Cody deleted it and issued a letter expressing remorse for his words. He acknowledged that his judgment was poor for sharing the quote about Kirk and emphasized that his post did not reflect his beliefs or responsibilities as an elected official.
“I made a significant mistake. My anger and frustration about ongoing gun violence led me to this misplaced post,” Cody stated, offering his condolences to Kirk’s family.
Cody’s apology included the caption, “I’m ruined,” indicating the seriousness of the backlash he faced.
Republicans in Florida have criticized Cody’s comments, with Rep. Carlos Guimenez expressing disgust at the councilman’s remarks and calling for his resignation.
Similarly, Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar also demanded Cody’s immediate resignation, condemning his apparent celebration of Kirk’s death and asserting that he betrayed the trust of the community.
Senator Ileana Garcia joined the condemnation, calling Cody’s remarks “abominable” and reiterating the need for him to step down.
Cody, who has been a vocal critic of President Trump since 2020, has faced other controversies during his time on the council. A recent dispute over council legitimacy led to a costly lawsuit that drew negative attention from local media.
Calls for Cody’s resignation have continued to grow, fueled by reactions from various public figures, including educators. Governor Ron DeSantis’ administration has announced it will investigate any educators celebrating Kirk’s assassination.
A Miami educator has reportedly lost his job over a statement that labeled the assassination as “karma,” illustrating the broader fallout from this incident.
