MSNBC has now reportedly dismissed political analyst Matthew Dowd after he made comments on-air suggesting that Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk’s outspoken conservatism contributed to his assassination, according to Variety.
Dowd, appearing Wednesday on “Katy Tur Reports” during breaking coverage of the shooting, said Kirk’s rhetoric had made him “an inevitable target.”
His remarks quickly drew outrage, with critics charging that he appeared to rationalize or excuse the killing of a prominent conservative voice.
During the segment, Dowd described Kirk as “one of the most divisive” figures on the right. He claimed Kirk was “constantly sort of pushing this sort of hate speech or sort of aimed at certain groups.” Dowd continued: “And I always go back to: hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions. And I think that’s the environment we’re in. People just, 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.”
But information about Kirk’s condition was still emerging at the time of Dowd’s comments, with initial reports indicating he was in critical condition after being shot. Within hours, the network moved to distance itself from the analyst.
Rebecca Kutler, MSNBC’s president, issued a statement through the network’s public relations account on X. “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,” she wrote.
A network source confirmed that Dowd was fired following the incident. His removal came amid a storm of criticism directed at MSNBC, which has long been accused by conservatives of giving short shrift to voices on the right.
Kirk, 31, was gunned down while speaking with students at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. The conservative activist had built a national profile as the founder of Turning Point USA, traveling to college campuses to debate politics and spar with young progressives.
Just minutes before the shooting, videos posted online showed Kirk tossing hats to students and engaging energetically with the crowd. Roughly 20 minutes into his remarks, while debating a student, a gunshot struck his neck.
Kirk is survived by his wife, Erika, and their two children. His death stunned conservatives across the country, many of whom regarded him as one of the most forceful advocates for their values on campuses often dominated by left-leaning voices.
For MSNBC, the controversy over Dowd’s comments illustrates the minefield faced by news networks when ideology collides with tragedy.
The swift termination highlighted the network’s recognition that suggesting a victim’s speech was to blame for violence crossed a line.
Still, for conservatives, the episode reinforced a broader concern: that prominent voices on the left too often demonize right-leaning figures and then appear surprised when political violence follows. In this case, the words of a network analyst were enough to cost him his job.
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