Matthew Dowd faced criticism on social media for allegedly suggesting that Charlie Kirk’s death was the result of his “hateful words.”
Charlie Kirk was killed on Wednesday (10) during an event at Utah Valley University in the U.S. He was shot in the neck and died at the scene.
Matthew Dowd was asked by host Katy Tur about the “environment” in which such acts of violence can occur.
“He has been one of the most divisive figures, especially among younger people, someone who is constantly promoting this kind of hate speech directed at certain groups,” Dowd said of Charlie Kirk.
“And I always go back to this: hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions,” the commentator continued.
“You cannot have these horrible thoughts, then speak these horrible words, and not expect horrible actions to happen. And that is the unfortunate environment we live in,” Dowd concluded.
Users on X, formerly Twitter, considered the commentator’s remarks offensive and disrespectful to Charlie Kirk. Many called for Dowd’s dismissal, which eventually happened.
MSNBC president Rebecca Kutler condemned the statements as “inappropriate, insensitive, and unacceptable.” “There is no place for violence in America, political or otherwise,” Kutler said.
Charlie Kirk was a political activist who supported Donald Trump and was known for problematic statements in recent years. U.S. authorities are investigating the case.
Political analyst Matthew Dowd on MSNBC wonders whether the Charlie Kirk shooting may have been “a supporter shooting their gun off in celebration.” pic.twitter.com/cW3IQzLEcD
— The Recount (@therecount) September 10, 2025
Photos: X @charliekirk11. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
