Rep. Clay Higgins Proposes Lifetime Ban on Celebratory Posts Regarding Charlie Kirk’s Assassination

On Thursday, Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.) announced his intention to implement a lifetime ban on any users who celebrated the assassination of Charlie Kirk across social media platforms.

Higgins stated, “I plan to utilize Congressional authority and influence over major tech companies to ensure an immediate ban on all posts or comments that disrespect Charlie Kirk’s assassination,” in a post on platform X.

He added, “If they open their mouths with Smartla, they are just celebrating the hatred that stemmed from the heinous murder of a young man who dedicated his life within a liberal college environment, armed only with his Bible, a microphone, and the Constitution… Those profiles need to be removed.”

In his remarks, he emphasized the need for zero tolerance toward political hatred, stating he would push Big Tech to adopt this standard.

While most social media companies have reduced their efforts to regulate content over the past year, they still maintain rules against direct threats to individuals.

Earlier this year, Meta, which runs Facebook and Instagram, relaxed some rules on hate speech, particularly dropping protections for LGBTQ individuals. Their current model aligns more with Elon Musk’s platform X, where users can suggest edits or reports for potentially misleading posts.

Kirk’s murder has ignited a wave of anger on the right, as investigators work to locate the shooter. Critics of Kirk argue that his divisive rhetoric contributed to a culture of violence.

Matthew Dowd, a political analyst with MSNBC, remarked, “He consistently pushed hate speech directed at specific groups. It’s a cycle: hate thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to violent behavior.”

Dowd was dismissed from his position on Thursday.

Higgins is not alone in calling for action from social media platforms following the shooting. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) has urged X, Meta, and TikTok to remove graphic videos of Kirk’s assassination, emphasizing the impact on his family and young child. “Not everyone should have to relive this tragedy online,” Luna stated in a post on platform X.

Higgins expressed his determination to ban users who showed happiness regarding Kirk’s death, adding, “I am also going after their business licenses and permits. These individuals should be blacklisted, kicked out of all schools, and have their driver’s licenses revoked.”

“I plan to cancel these sick individuals who celebrated the assassination of Charlie Kirk with extreme prejudice. I’m starting today, and this is just the beginning,” he concluded.