[Global Focus] "Revenge" vs "Deserved"... Kirk Assassination Deepens U.S. Political Divide

Trump Blames Democrats Before Suspect Identified
Americans Grow Numb to Rising Political Violence
U.S. Administration Uses Crisis to Rally Supporters, Not to Devise Solutions

The assassination of Charlie Kirk, a young right-wing activist and fervent supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump, has brought America's political divisions to the surface. In particular, this incident has heightened concerns that violence may spread further as the rift between American conservatives and progressives deepens. However, rather than devising countermeasures, the U.S. administration is being criticized by experts for using the situation as an opportunity to rally its base.

Kirk, the founder and head of the right-wing organization Turning Point USA, was shot and killed on September 10 (local time) while participating in a Q&A session with the audience during a debate hosted by his group at Utah Valley University in Utah. U.S. investigative authorities have arrested Tyler Robinson as a suspect in Kirk's assassination and are investigating his motives and other circumstances surrounding the crime.

A poster commemorating Charlie Kirk hangs in the office of Addison McDowell, a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

Who Is Charlie Kirk?

Kirk was one of the leading influencers in the American conservative movement. In 2012, at the age of 18, he founded Turning Point USA and worked to spread conservative ideology across progressive university campuses. Through podcasts, cable TV broadcasts, and other media, he amplified President Trump's messages and led the conservative camp's "culture war." In this process, Turning Point USA grew into an organization with more than 250,000 student members.

Kirk's influence stemmed from his adept use of social media platforms familiar to younger generations and his bold, unfiltered remarks tailored to their perspectives. He called Martin Luther King Jr. a "terrible person" and referred to George Floyd, whose death sparked the Black civil rights movement, as "garbage." He criticized LGBTQ rights advocacy, supported anti-immigration policies, and promoted the "Great Replacement Theory" conspiracy, which claims that non-white immigrants will replace white Americans. He also advocated for gun rights and supported freedom of expression. By repackaging Trump's blunt rhetoric to appeal to younger audiences, Kirk's statements spread widely on social media, drawing in a large number of young people who were previously apathetic or disillusioned with traditional politics.

Through these efforts, Kirk became a key confidant of President Trump. In the 2016 presidential election, Kirk was among the first to support Trump, who had secured the Republican nomination but was shunned by the party mainstream. In the 2024 election, he helped rally significant support among young white men. Kirk served as a personal aide to Donald Trump Jr., the president's eldest son, and frequently visited the White House, earning President Trump's trust. President Trump's order to fly flags at half-mast in mourning for Kirk, a civilian, demonstrates Kirk's stature within the administration.

Before the Suspect Was Identified: "Kirk's Death Is the Fault of Progressives"

As Kirk's assassination brought America's political divisions to the forefront, there were hopes that the incident might serve as a moment for reflection. However, concerns are growing that, instead, political violence may become cyclical, as conservative forces vow retribution against progressives.

President Trump mourned Kirk immediately after the shooting and blamed radical leftists before authorities had even identified a suspect. He vowed to track down the perpetrator and any supporting organizations. In a September 13 interview with NBC, Trump expressed hope for America's healing after Kirk's assassination but added, "We are dealing with a group of radical left lunatics, and they never act fairly."

President Trump was not alone. Nancy Mace, a Republican representative from South Carolina, claimed on September 10-before any suspect was identified-that "what happened today is the responsibility of the Democratic Party." Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and a former Trump administration figure, called the left "the party of murder."

The Financial Times (FT) noted that even moderate right-wing politicians are blaming politicians in general for the incident.

The New York Times (NYT) pointed out, "The death of the popular young conservative activist Kirk has fueled attacks against President Trump's opponents," adding, "While he and his administration have promised to bring the perpetrator to justice, they have also used this moment to more broadly condemn the left."

Some right-wing figures have labeled critical remarks about Kirk as "hate speech" and have taken retaliatory actions. Matthew Dowd, a political commentator for MSNBC, was fired after saying on air on September 10 that Kirk "got what he deserved."

Even Trump Was Targeted... Political Violence in the U.S. Becomes an Opportunity to Rally Supporters

In recent years, both the Republican and Democratic parties in the United States have been targeted by political violence. President Trump himself was shot in the right earlobe during a campaign rally in July 2024, and in September, there was an assassination attempt while he was playing golf at his own course in Florida.

Additionally, in June of last year, Minnesota state representative Melissa Hortman and her spouse were killed in a shooting by an assailant. In September of last year, bullet marks were found at the former campaign office of Vice President Kamala Harris. In April of this year, there was an arson attack at the residence of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.

According to the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP), incidents of political violence against U.S. lawmakers surged from 3,939 in 2017 to 9,474 in 2024, a 2.4-fold increase.

As political violence increases, the public is becoming increasingly desensitized. According to the Chicago Project on Security and Threats (CPST), which has been surveying American attitudes toward political violence since 2021, about 40% of Democratic supporters in May said they supported "the use of force to remove President Trump from office." Meanwhile, 25% of Republican supporters said they supported "deploying the military to suppress protests against President Trump's policies." These figures more than doubled compared to responses to the same questions in the previous fall. Robert Pape, a political science professor at the University of Chicago who leads CPST, commented, "Our country is essentially a powder keg."

However, the Trump administration appears to be using political violence as an opportunity to rally its supporters, rather than presenting measures to address it. President Trump has unusually taken the lead in announcing Kirk's death, the suspect's arrest, and funeral arrangements, seemingly aiming to unite conservatives and amplify the political impact. The Department of Defense announced plans to track down military personnel who celebrate or mock Kirk's death, while the State Department signaled it would block visas for foreigners who glorify violence and hatred.

This has led some to worry that the incident could be used as a pretext for crackdowns on progressive forces in the U.S. Steven Levitsky, a political science professor at Harvard University, said, "President Trump is quick to declare a state of emergency and bypass norms, laws, and even the Constitution," adding, "This could be used to accelerate the deployment of troops in major cities and attempts to suppress the opposition."

Experts have stressed the urgent need for government action to prevent the rise in political violence. William Braniff, director of the Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab (PERIL) at American University's School of Public Affairs, stated that just as investments in seat belts and fire alarms have reduced accident-related harm, government measures are needed to prevent political violence. He warned, "If nothing is done at the federal level, as is the case now, it will truly become inevitable."