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After Charlie Kirk was fatally shot, GOP leaders issued a warning: show respect in mourning or face serious repercussions.
Over recent days, both Democratic and Republican leaders universally condemned Kirk’s murder. Kirk was a prominent conservative activist, age 31, known for his outspoken right-wing stance and combative debating style within Trump circles.
There have been organized online campaigns, mainly led by Republicans, aimed at targeting Kirk’s critics.
At least 15 individuals—including journalists, academics, and teachers—have been suspended or terminated from their positions due to discussions about Kirk’s death found on the internet. For instance, a junior employee at Nasdaq was dismissed over her social media posts related to Kirk.
Additionally, some critics faced intense online harassment and mass calls to their workplaces demanding firings, reflecting a surge of right-wing anger following the incident.
Certain GOP figures have advocated for more extreme actions—proposing to deport critics, sue them into poverty, or ban them from social media entirely.
Laura Loomer, a conspiracy theorist and close Trump ally, warned, “If you’re sick enough to celebrate his death, prepare to jeopardize your entire career.” She and others are organizing campaigns on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) to publicly shame Kirk’s detractors.
Congressman Clay Higgins stated on X that anyone “celebrating” Kirk’s murder should be “banned from all platforms forever.” U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau expressed his disgust over social media users praising or trivializing the event, instructing officials to take appropriate action.
This crackdown on disrespect for Kirk contrasts sharply with past instances where some of the same figures—Kirk included—mocked victims of political violence.
For example, Higgins posted a mocking photo of Paul Pelosi after he was assaulted with a hammer at his San Francisco home in 2022, though he later removed the post. Loomer falsely claimed Pelosi’s attacker and Paul Pelosi were lovers, calling the attack a “booty call gone wrong.” Kirk, in a televised statement shortly after the attack, expressed a humorous wish for the attacker’s release from jail, suggesting, “Someone should go bail him out.”
Neither Loomer nor Higgins responded to requests for comment.
A new website, “Expose Charlie’s Murderers,” has been set up, listing 41 individuals it claims supported political violence online. The site states it is processing over 20,000 submissions.
Screenshots and comments posted there reveal some users joked about Kirk’s death or expressed glee, with phrases like “He got what he deserved” or “karma’s a bitch.” Others, however, criticized the far-right figure while explicitly condemning violence.
Some postings merely pointed out that Kirk—a known opponent of gun control—had been shot, referencing his own 2023 remarks where he described some gun deaths as “worth it,” citing the Second Amendment.
One individual noted that their employer had received threatening calls demanding their firing, prompting them to avoid the office in the coming days.
“I do not condone Charlie Kirk’s murder,” they told Reuters anonymously, “but it’s ironic considering his longstanding opposition to gun restrictions.”
Reuters could not determine who runs the site, as they did not respond to questions about ownership or methodology. The hosting platform, Squarespace, also did not comment.
Jay Childers, a communications professor at the University of Kansas, said this situation reflects a longstanding pattern where government officials and political elites attempt to control discourse and suppress dissent.
“While this isn’t entirely new, the internet’s accessibility makes it easier for many people to become targets of attempts to regulate political speech,” he explained.
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