A TV analyst working for MSNBC has been fired for his response to news that Charlie Kirk had been shot dead during a rally in Utah.
Kirk, 31, was a popular conservative political commentator and co-founder of Turning Point USA. He regularly traveled the country to take part in debates and host talks, and had built such a reputation that he was considered a close ally of President Donald Trump.
Shocking scenes yesterday, September 10, saw Kirk shot through the neck by a single bullet believed to have been fired from the roof of a nearby building on campus at Utah Valley University.
Two people were arrested in the immediate aftermath of the shooting but were subsequently released as it was found they had “no current ties” to Kirk’s death.
As is often the case in the modern world, horrific clips of the fatal shooting surfaced online even before the mainstream media had a chance to report on it. Donald Trump was one of the first to announce that Kirk had died, writing on Truth Social:
“The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!“
Yet there were other outlets who received criticism relating to their handling of the heartbreaking news. TMZ were forced to issue an apology after staff members were heard laughing in the background of a live report on the subject (they were reportedly laughing at an unrelated video), while a political analyst on MSNBC has lost his job.
Reacting to the shooting on TV, Matthew Dowd was asked to discuss “the environment in which a shooting like this happens”.
Dowd proceeded to call out Kirk for his past comments, suggesting he was part of the “unfortunate environment” which led to his death.
Dowd had said: “He’s 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. And I think that is the environment we are in.
“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.”
Yet Dowd’s comments were largely criticized. MSNBC’s president Rebecca Kutler released a statement reading: “During our breaking news coverage of the shooting of Charlie Kirk, Matthew Dowd made comments that were inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable.
“We apologize for his statements, as has he. There is no place for violence in America, political or otherwise.”
Dowd, who has since been fired for his comments, wrote later on social media platform Bluesky: “I apologize for my tone and words.
“Let me be clear, I in no way intended for my comments to blame Kirk for this horrendous attack. Let us all come together and condemn violence of any kind.”
