Democratic Massachusetts Rep. Seth Moulton pointed fingers at Republicans on Thursday for a rise in political violence after Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
Kirk died from a gunshot wound to the neck on Wednesday while he hosted an event at Utah Valley University. Moulton accused Republicans on “CNN News Central” of publicly accelerating political rhetoric that in turn leads to violence. He shifted blame toward President Donald Trump for calling out the left’s rhetoric in the aftermath of the tragic assassination.
“[House Speaker Mike Johnson] is saying we need to tone down the rhetoric and is calling out what he calls major outlets, some of these groups that are out there on the internet and maybe even on TV actually calling to up the political violence,” Moulton said. “We are hearing a lot of that from the [political] right right now. Democrats across the board are saying ‘we need to come together. (RELATED: University Dean Fired For Saying She Had ‘ZERO Sympathy’ For Charlie Kirk)
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“We need to tone down the rhetoric [and] we need to stop this political violence.’ It’s shocking to me that so many Republicans are not doing that,” the congressman added. “Not following the lead of Speaker Johnson, but actually following the lead of Donald Trump who is trying to call out extremist left-wing groups. We heard that from my colleague [Republican South Carolina Rep.] Nancy Mace before we even know who the shooter is.”
The shooter has not yet been identified, but authorities said on Thursday that they have clear security footage of him that will help them identify the assailant. They recovered the high-powered, bolt-action rifle in a wooded area, which appeared to contain messages supporting transgenderism and Antifa.
Some Democrats have attempted to shift blame toward Trump and Republicans for the surge in political violence. Democratic Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren claimed on Wednesday that Trump’s rhetoric and his alleged incitement of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot have led to a rise in political violence. Democratic Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker also claimed that Trump’s rhetoric had fomented political violence.
Democratic New York Rep. Dan Goldman condemned conservatives on “Anderson Cooper 360” for saying there is a “war” against them.
“I would really urge the President of the United States to speak out against that. I don’t view this as an issue as the right or the left. I think we’ve seen political violence on both sides of the spectrum and it’s not that one is worse than the other … And I hope these far-right podcasters come to their senses & recognize that this is not war,” Goldman said.
“CBS Mornings” host Nate Burleson suggested to former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Thursday that Republicans should “reflect” on their own rhetoric. MSNBC fired political analyst Matthew Dowd on Wednesday night after he suggested that Kirk’s so-called “hate speech” made him a target for an assassination.
Trump endured two separate assassination attempts against him in 2024 and the Republican Party of New Mexico’s headquarters was “destroyed in a deliberate act of arson” in March. Two Israeli Embassy staffers were shot in Washington, D.C. in May by a pro-Palestinian activist.
Democratic Minnesota state Sen. Melissa Hortman and her husband were fatally shot at their home in June. Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s official residence was set ablaze by a self-proclaimed socialist who supported the Black Lives Matter movement.
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