An ever-growing list of workers across the country are being removed from their jobs or facing sanctions for praising Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
While those within MAGA and Trumpworld are reeling from Wednesday’s shocking violence on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem, others celebrated the right-wing political activist’s death online.
Republicans are demanding action against people who reacted to his killing by “praising, rationalising, or making light” of it or by “belittling” Kirk’s memory.
And Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that the Pentagon is “tracking closely” any civilian and military employees who celebrate the murder.
After evading local, state and federal law enforcement for more than 24 hours, suspect Tyler Robinson, 22, is now in custody. He allegedly “confessed” to a relative that he committed the crime, according to Utah’s Governor Spencer Cox.
Kirk’s assassination has been deeply polarizing, and everyone from teachers, university staffers and media personalities, to firefighters, a U.S. Secret Service agent and a Marine is now finding themselves in hot water for reveling in the killing.
Marine fired for social media post: ‘Another racist man popped’
A U.S. Marine is the latest to be fired for a social media post celebrating Kirk’s death.
The Marine allegedly posted the caption: “Another racist man popped” on Instagram, along with three beer glass emojis, according to screenshots circulating on social media.
The Marines confirmed the individual has been fired in a statement, while the Department of War’s chief spokesperson Sean Parnell said it was “unacceptable for military personnel and Department of War civilians to celebrate or mock the assassination of a fellow American.”
“We are aware of a social media post that does not align with our core values,” said lead spokesman Lt. Col. Joshua Benso. “The Marine in question has been relieved of his recruiting duties, and the matter is currently under investigation.”
Secret Service agent: ‘Kirk spewed hate and racism’
U.S. Secret Service Anthony Pough has reportedly been put on leave after he allegedly wrote in a Facebook post that Kirk “spewed hate and racism on his show.”
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“At the end of the day, you answer to GOD, and speak things into existence,” Pough allegedly wrote. “You can only circumvent karma, she doesnt leave.”
The agent’s security clearance has been revoked, according to CBS, citing two U.S. officials.
Oregon teacher whose day was ‘brightened’ by Kirk’s death
An Oregon teacher has been put on leave for saying that his day was “brightened” by Kirk’s murder, according to local news outlet KATU.
John Colgan, a middle school teacher at Neil Armstrong Middle School and a city councilor in Cornelius, just outside Portland, allegedly made the remarks on a Facebook post.
“Hearing that Charlie Kirk got shot and died really brightened up my day,” Colgan wrote, according to the outlet. “Nobody deserves it, but some are asking for it.”
“Consistent with our policies, we have placed this staff member on paid administrative leave and we are conducting an investigation,” the school district said in a statement.
Carolina Panthers PR employee: ‘Why are y’all sad?’
A public relations employee of the Carolina Panthers football team has been fired over insensitive comments he made on social media.
Charlie Rock, who joined the North Carolina team as a PR intern last year, shared a video on his personal Instagram account of Kirk speaking.
It was captioned: “Why are yall sad? Your man said it was worth it,” according to The Athletic, along with a screenshot of the Wu-Tang Clan song Protect Ya Neck.
A source told the outlet that Rock is no longer with the organization, while the Panthers released a statement saying they have “accordingly addressed” the matter with the individual.
New Orleans firefighter said ‘bullet was a gift from god’
A member of the New Orleans Fire Department’s job is on the line after she allegedly posted the bullet that struck Kirk was “a gift from god.”
Ashley Creekbaum allegedly commented on Instagram: “I think he should be forced to carry that bullet in his body. That bullet has a right to be there because it’s a gift from god.”
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill waded in and said she expected “consequences” for the “grossly inappropriate comment.”
New Orleans Fire Department Superintendent Roman Nelson said the department was aware of the “insensitive” comment and is investigating.
“This conduct is unacceptable, and it does not reflect the values, standards, or mission of our Department,” Nelson said.
Writer’s Batman spinoff dropped by DC Comics
DC Comics abruptly canceled its new Batman spinoff following public backlash over social media posts by its writer, Gretchen Felker-Martin, that appeared to celebrate Kirk’s assassination.
According to The Wrap, Felker‑Martin, who identifies as transgender, made the remarks about Kirk on her now-suspended Bluesky account.
“Thoughts and prayers you Nazi b***h,” one post read. “Hope the bullet’s okay after touching Charlie Kirk,” another said.
Kirk was outspoken about his anti-transgender views. He argued against gender-affirming care for transgender people and insisted there are only two genders, sporting a T-shirt at one Arizona rally last year that read: “xy = man.”
A DC Comics statement acknowledged the right of creators to “peaceful, individual expression of personal viewpoints” but said that “posts or public comments that can be viewed as promoting hostility or violence are inconsistent with DC’s standards of conduct.”
Texas football coach who labeled Kirk a ‘horrible human being’
A Texas football coach was fired after he labeled Kirk “a horrible f***ing human being” in a Facebook comment, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Derek Woods was a teacher and football coach at Schindewolf Intermediate and was responding to someone else’s post that thanked Kirk for “all [he] has done.”
Woods said he did not understand “why anyone is sad” over Kirk’s death and criticized the MAGA figure for saying that “some gun deaths” were “worth it” for the Second Amendment.
“Yes he is leaving behind 2 beautiful little girls and I pray for them. but that man was a horrible f***ing human being,” Woods allegedly posted. “He was a legit racist, homophobic, a mysoginist [sic], transphobic nasty person.”
The school district stated that it had taken “swift action” on Friday morning. “The employee was not permitted to step foot in his classroom and instead was sent to human resources, where his employment was terminated,” the Chronicle reported.
TV political pundit who appeared to blame Kirk for his own murder
Political analyst Matthew Dowd was fired from MSNBC after appearing to blame Kirk for his own death.
Asked by anchor Katy Tur about the “environment in which a shooting like this happens”, Dowd said Kirk has been “one of the most divisive, especially divisive younger figures in this, who 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. You can’t stop with these sort of awful thoughts you have and then saying these awful words and not expect awful actions to take place. And that’s the unfortunate environment we are in.”
In a Substuck post Friday, Dowd said that MSNBC caved to a “right wing media mob” in firing him.
“The Right Wing media mob ginned up, went after me on a plethora of platforms, and MSNBC reacted to that mob,” Dowd said, adding that he was “getting over the shell shock of the past few days.”
