8 People Fired or Put on Leave Over Responses to Charlie Kirk Assassination

Most Americans are expressing horror at the assassination of Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk, but some on the Left have not only refused to lament his death but suggested he deserved it—and many of them have already lost their jobs or been placed on leave after saying so in person or on social media.

Kirk, who organized the largest conservative grassroots youth organization in America, died Wednesday after getting shot in the neck at Utah Valley University in Orem. Authorities arrested a suspect in Kirk’s death Saturday.

Also on Wednesday, a 16-year-old student opened fire at Evergreen High School in Evergreen, Colorado, injuring two other students before turning the gun on himself. Some of those who condemned Kirk after the assassination said Americans should be more concerned about the school shooting.

1. Matthew Dowd

MSNBC fired Matthew Dowd, the chief strategist for the 2004 reelection campaign of President George W. Bush who had become a political commentator and a Democrat.

As news about the shooting broke, Dowd condemned Kirk as “divisive” and claimed he “is constantly sort of pushing this sort of hate speech or sort of aimed at certain groups, and I always go back to hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions.”

“During our breaking news coverage of the shooting of Charlie Kirk, Matthew Dowd made comments that were inappropriate, insensitive, and unacceptable,” MSNBC President Rebecca Kutler said in a statement Thursday. “We apologize for his statements, as has he. There is no place for violence in America, political or otherwise.”

Dowd said he did not intend to blame Kirk for the attack.

“I was asked a question on the environment we are in,” he said in a post on BlueSky. “I apologize for my tone and words. Let me be clear, I in no way intended for my comments to blame Kirk for this horrendous attack. Let us all come together and condemn violence of any kind.”  

2. Charlie Rock

The Carolina Panthers NFL team fired a communications staffer after he made insensitive social media posts following Kirk’s death, the Charlotte Observer first reported.

A few hours after Kirk’s death, Charlie Rock reportedly posted, “Why are yall sad? Your man said it was worth it…” He also reportedly shared part of the song “Protect Ya Neck” from the Wu-Tang Clan.

“The views expressed by our employees are their own and do not represent the Carolina Panthers,” the team posted on X. “We do not condone violence of any kind. We are taking this matter very seriously and have accordingly addressed it with the individual.”

3. Karen Attiah

Karen Attiah, who had been a columnist at The Washington Post for 10 years, posted on Substack Monday that the Post had fired her over social media posts in the wake of Kirk’s assassination.

Attiah claimed she wrote about “the familiar pattern of America shrugging off gun deaths, and giving compassion for white men who commit and espouse political violence.”

“This cycle has been documented for years. Nothing I said was new or false or disparaging—it is descriptive, and supported by data,” she added. “And yet, the Post accused my measured Bluesky posts of being “unacceptable”, “gross misconduct” and of endangering the physical safety of colleagues—charges without evidence, which I reject completely as false. They rushed to fire me without even a conversation—claiming disparagement on race” (emphasis original).

When The Hill reached out to the Post for comment, the Post merely forwarded its ethical policies and standards.

4. Secret Service

The U.S. Secret Service also disciplined an employee for remarks about Kirk.

Anthony Pough reportedly condemned those mourning Kirk in a post on Facebook. He wrote that Kirk “spewed hate and racism on his show” and insisted that “we should be mourning the innocent children killed in Colorado,” instead.

The agency told Fox Business that it had put Pough on administrative leave.

5. American Airlines Pilot

American Airlines pilots celebrated Kirk’s assassination, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy wrote on X.

The company responded to a social media post claiming that a pilot named Steve Holmes had posted, “Well hey Charlie. Sorry you got shot in your fat f—ing forehead. It was just the cost of our liberty. ‘Thoughts and prayers.'”

“American Airlines condemns violence of any kind,” the company wrote on X. “Furthermore, hate-related or hostile behavior runs contrary to our purpose, which is to care for people on life’s journey. Any such behavior is unacceptable, and we have already initiated action to address this with our team.”

“Employees who promote such violence on social media were immediately removed from service,” the company told The Dallas Morning News on Monday.

6. Office Depot Employee

Office Depot fired an employee at its Portage, Michigan, location after she refused to print posters for a Charlie Kirk vigil.

“Yeah, so, we don’t print propaganda,” the employee reportedly said.

On Friday night, the company told Fox News that it had launched an “immediate internal review” and that the employee was “no longer with the organization.”

“The behavior displayed by our associate is completely unacceptable and insensitive, violates our company policies, and does not reflect the values we uphold at Office Depot,” Office Depot said. “On behalf of the Company, we sincerely apologize for this regrettable situation.”

7. Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines confirmed to Fox 5 Atlanta that it suspended multiple employees who violated the company’s social media policy by posting messages about the Kirk assassination. The company is considering further consequences, including termination.

“Whether we’re in uniform and on the clock, online or out in public, our colleagues, customers and communities expect us to reflect Delta’s values—integrity, care and servant leadership—that we hold dear,” Delta CEO Ed Bastian said in an email to the company. “Remember that we all represent Delta, at all times, in any forum. It’s essential that we act in ways that uphold our shared values and the human connection that defines us.”

8. Doctor Who Retaliated Against Nurse

Englewood Health, a company that runs a hospital in New Jersey, confirmed to Fox News Monday that it has accepted the resignation of a doctor who allegedly “cheered and celebrated” Kirk’s assassination and then retaliated against a nurse who called him out.

Lexi Kuenzle, 33, the nurse, sued the hospital, Dr. Matthew Jung, and others on Friday. She claimed Jung made the remarks “in front of patients and staff.”

John Coyle, Kuenzle’s attorney, wrote in the complaint that the nurse “had the audacity to question how Dr. Jung can comply with the Hippocratic Oath’s and the American Medical Association’s Code of Medical Ethics while celebrating the murder of a non-violent Christian speaker who was on a college campus.”

In the lawsuit, Kuenzle said she heard she would be fired. After her lawsuit, the nurse claimed the hospital suspended her without pay while an investigation took place.

“We have accepted the physician’s resignation, and the nurse is expected to work her scheduled shifts,” the hospital told Fox News.

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