A heated exchange on Fox News’ “The Five” has captured the nation’s tense political climate following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
The debate, which occurred on September 15, 2025, centered on the killing of Kirk, 31, who was fatally shot four days earlier during a speaking event at Utah Valley University. Authorities arrested 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, who confessed to the targeted killing. Reports indicate Robinson had shifted from a conservative upbringing to adopting far-left ideologies prior to the attack.
During the show, co-host Jessica Tarlov attempted to equate political violence from both sides of the aisle, citing the earlier 2025 murder of Minnesota House Majority Leader Melissa Hortman, a Democrat. This “both-sides” argument was sharply rebuked by host Greg Gutfeld.
Gutfeld dismissed Tarlov’s stance as invalid, particularly in light of ongoing investigations into Robinson’s online radicalization. The direct confrontation drew immediate and widespread attention on social media platform X.
The reaction online split along predictable ideological lines. Conservatives lauded Gutfeld’s directness and his rejection of what they saw as a false equivalence. Progressives criticized his response as one-sided, arguing it ignored the broader context of political violence. The intense online response underscores the ongoing national tensions surrounding political rhetoric and extremism.
