WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a charged and politically divisive monologue, Vice President JD Vance used his guest-hosting appearance on “The Charlie Kirk Show” Friday night to directly blame left-wing extremism for the assassination of the show’s namesake, conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Kirk was shot and killed on September 10 at an event at Utah Valley University by 22-year-old Tyler Robinson. The incident sent shockwaves through the political world and has ignited a fierce national debate over the causes of political violence.
Speaking from the show’s set on September 15, Vance delivered a tribute to Kirk before launching into a sharp critique of his perceived enemies. He pointed to unnamed surveys suggesting higher tolerance for political violence among liberals and accused institutions funded by philanthropist George Soros of creating an environment that promotes such acts.
“We are not just facing a lone individual; we are facing an ecosystem of hate that has been nurtured and funded by powerful forces on the left,” Vance stated. “It is an ideology that has been taught in our schools and promoted in our media, and it must be dismantled.”
The Vice President’s remarks have already spurred action in conservative circles. Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced the suspension of over 100 teachers in the state for allegedly endorsing or celebrating Kirk’s death on social media.
Liberals and fact-checkers were quick to counter Vance’s claims, citing studies from organizations like the Department of Homeland Security and the Anti-Defamation League which have consistently found that a majority of deadly extremist violence in the United States in recent years has been perpetrated by right-wing extremists.
Further complicating the fallout, Attorney General Pam Bondi’s pledge to prosecute “hate speech” that celebrates the assassination has drawn sharp bipartisan criticism. Legal experts from both sides of the aisle warn that such a move could severely threaten First Amendment protections, arguing that even repugnant speech is constitutionally protected unless it incites imminent lawless action.
The investigation into the assassination and the shooter’s motives remains ongoing.
