9.11.25
Senator Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, told National Journal he "was really disgusted" by some conservatives who used Charlie Kirk's death to say "we're at war" to bolster support, calling it a "cheap, disgusting, awful way to pretend like you're a leader of a conservative movement." Lawmakers and prominent figures across the aisle have condemned the violence, including members of the Trump administration as well as Democrats. Several prominent conservatives have cited his death as evidence that the party is at "war" and issued calls for vengeance, sparking concerns of rising tensions. Many across the political spectrum have offered prayers and tributes to Kirk and condemned political violence. Some on the right have described the escalating situation as "war." Tillis called out this rhetoric, telling National Journal reporter Nancy Vu that he was "disgusted" by the calls, saying some are using this opportunity "to say we're at war so that they could get some of our conservative followers lathered up over this." He continued, "There were two in particular that I found particularly disgusting." Many conservatives have blamed Democrats for Kirk's death, with Fox News host Jesse Watters calling the death a "turning point," and MAGA architect Steve Bannon saying on his War Room podcast, "Charlie Kirk is a casualty of war. We are at war in this country." Several other political commentators have echoed similar rhetoric. Former President Barack Obama said on X on Wednesday: "We don't yet know what motivated the person who shot and killed Charlie Kirk, but this kind of despicable violence has no place in our democracy. Michelle and I will be praying for Charlie's family tonight, especially his wife Erika and their two young children."
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