Sept 12 (Reuters) - The killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk ignited a wave of fury on the far right, where some Trump supporters cast the murder as a political flashpoint and threat to conservative power amid a broader reckoning over rising violence.

Some supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump blamed the political left, casting Kirk’s murder as the culmination of years of hostility toward Trump’s Make America Great Again movement. On social media, they pointed to posts that appeared to celebrate Kirk’s death as evidence of conservatives increasingly being targeted.

The killing of Kirk has become a potent symbol for a segment of the American right that increasingly views the political left not merely as ideological opponents but as existential threats to conservative identity and power. Fueled by years of rhetoric, amplified by social media echo chambers, this anger reflects a broader narrative in which Trump's allies often portray themselves as besieged patriots facing a lawless and hostile opposition.
“They couldn’t beat him in a debate, so they assassinated him,” Isabella Maria DeLuca, a pardoned January 6 rioter and conservative activist, wrote on X.

A 22-year-old man, Tyler Robinson, was in custody on Friday for the shooting after a 33-hour manhunt. Utah Governor Spencer Cox said Robinson had recently become more political and had expressed disdain for Kirk, one of the right's most influential figures whose social media posts often included inflammatory comments about Jewish, gay and Black people. Cox said an unfired cartridge recovered with the shooter’s gun was engraved with, “Hey, fascist! Catch!”

Jen Golbeck, a computer science professor at the University of Maryland who studies right-wing online activity, analyzed more than 3,000 posts on two websites – X and the pro-Trump forum Patriots.Win – in the 24 hours following the shooting. She found a volatile mix of grief, rage, and signs of growing radicalization. With the shooter’s identity and motive still unknown, Golbeck said Trump supporters were “grabbing on to a narrative that fits what they want.”

On Patriots.Win, calls for vengeance surged. “The entire Democrat party needs to fucking hang now!” one anonymous poster wrote. “This is the Reichstag Fire,” another said, referencing a 1933 arson attack that helped usher in Nazi rule in Germany. “It’s time to end democracy.” Reuters was unable to reach a representative of Patriots.Win for comment.


One anonymous user on X called Kirk’s death a breaking point, warning that the nation was “teetering between a political rupture and civil war.” “We’re past words,” the post read.
Amid the fury, some voices urged restraint. “Stop trying to stoke violence,” one Patriots.Win commenter wrote.

Mike Davis, a Republican lawyer and prominent Trump supporter, said in an interview Kirk’s ability to galvanize a new generation of conservatives posed “an existential threat to the future of leftist ideology and power.”
Kirk, 31, founder of Turning Point USA, was a prominent figure in the MAGA movement, known for his ability to mobilize young conservatives.

Before a suspect was taken into custody, Trump blamed the “radical left” for Kirk’s murder and told reporters on Thursday that “we just have to beat the hell out of them.” Trump also said that Kirk “was an advocate of nonviolence — that’s the way I’d like to see people respond.” U.S. Representative Nancy Mace, a Republican from South Carolina, told reporters after the shooting on Wednesday that “Democrats own what happened today.”

U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat from Massachusetts who decried the shooting as “horrific,” pushed back on criticism that Democrats needed to tone down their political rhetoric. "Oh, please. Why don't you start with the president of the United States? And every ugly meme he's posted and every ugly word," she told reporters.

Numerous Democratic leaders urged for calm and condemned Kirk’s murder. “Political violence is NEVER acceptable,” U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries posted on X. California Governor Gavin Newsom called the attack on Kirk “disgusting, vile and reprehensible,” and urged Americans to “reject political violence in EVERY form.”

On his War Room podcast, far-right commentator Steve Bannon called Kirk “the America First martyr,” claiming Kirk had been under constant threat from “evil people” on the left. “We cannot back off. We cannot flinch,” Bannon said.

Some chapters of the Proud Boys, the far-right organization that played a leading role in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, refrained from calls to arms but posted accusations on the Telegram messaging app that left-wing activists were mocking Kirk’s death. The Tennessee chapter of the Proud Boys shared a video montage of people laughing at Kirk’s death compiled from social media sites.
Stewart Rhodes, the pardoned founder of the Oath Keepers militia who was sentenced to 18 years for his role in the January 6 Capitol riot, urged Trump to declare martial law and mobilize veterans as militia leaders during an appearance on far-right host Alex Jones’ show.

Citing the killing of Kirk, rising crime, immigration issues and left-wing resistance to Trump’s agenda, Rhodes called on Trump to invoke the Insurrection Act and label the political left as being in “open rebellion.” He claimed veterans such as himself are drafting a proposal to submit to Trump, outlining how they could organize and train civilians to defend their communities under emergency conditions. The 1807 law empowers a president to deploy the U.S. military to enforce the law and suppress events like civil disorder.

Chaya Raichik, a right-wing influencer known for her Libs of TikTok account, posted screenshots of social media users who allegedly celebrated Kirk’s death. Ryan Nichols, a January 6 rioter pardoned by Trump, urged followers to identify and harass those individuals. “Tag them, their employers, and make it so uncomfortable for them to even leave their house,” he wrote on X. “This is the way!”
Nealin Parker, executive director of Common Ground USA, a nonprofit that seeks to reduce political violence and polarization, said she worried that radical voices on the fringes were stoking hate and fear, with potentially violent consequences.

“Right now people are willing to believe terrible things about the other side,” she said. “What’s happening online really matters.”

https://youtube.com/shorts/maA...?si=OopOG0QQzKzLUo77

As the 1st commenter says, define 'extremist network'. Pretty sure it will be far right, not left. I can only remember 1 attack by a left wing radical trying to kill people, that was the congressman shot at a ball game. There are legions of attacks by white, far right radicals.

I would like to ask forum conservatives if they believe the murder of Kirk was an act of a lone criminal or the action of a far left conspiracy?

As a conservative. possibly. Id answer with I dont know yet.

If you ask what my guess would be?

Id say it was the act of an individual with an unhealthy mindset, who was fuelled by a notion, thats come from a community, In Which the bubble of thought led him to believe this was a reasonable action to take.

Edit to add too that. Ive just watched a debate. On one side was Jordan Peterson and Stephen fry as teammates.

Jordan started direct to topic.

Stephen had to explain that his left wing community was very unhappy with him doing such an event with Jordan.

A question in return would be, name one event where the right expressed unhappiness or displeasure at one of its own participating in a speech event with a known left winger?

Name a speech event where a right winger initiated participation with a left winger, other than a campaign event?

And what bubble of thought that comes from the left community leadership is clearly intended to influence those with unhealthy mindset to think murder is a reasonable action to take?

quote:

Id say it was the act of an individual with an unhealthy mindset, who was fuelled by a notion, thats come from a community, In Which the bubble of thought led him to believe this was a reasonable action to take.

That strikes me as pretty sketchy, and if you'll forgive me (or even if you won't), sounds like gobbledegook, i.e., word salad. I don't know what you mean by "community" or "bubble of thought.

Is your "community" the minority group of trans people? Gay people?

Robinson is a white man--should all white men take the blame? How about all young males, since that's what the killer is? Everyone with brown hair?

How do you define the group to blame?

What "bubble of thought" are you blaming on the "community"? Are you claiming a community preached violence against Kirk or rightwingers generally?

quote:

Originally posted by Magine Enigam:
Name a speech event where a right winger initiated participation with a left winger, other than a campaign event?

And what bubble of thought that comes from the left community leadership is clearly intended to influence those with unhealthy mindset to think murder is a reasonable action to take?

Well the one I mentioned above for a start.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxYimeaoea0&t=1265s

and on the wider issue, this from Bill Maher saying the republicans come on his show where the democrats won't.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/dCM1U7PwTc4

Any bubble of hate- the internet is full of them. We just have to wait and find out rather than pronouncing our pet radical group we dislike.

quote:

Originally posted by RolandtheHeadless:

quote:

Id say it was the act of an individual with an unhealthy mindset, who was fuelled by a notion, thats come from a community, In Which the bubble of thought led him to believe this was a reasonable action to take.

That strikes me as pretty sketchy, and if you'll forgive me (or even if you won't), sounds like gobbledegook, i.e., word salad. I don't know what you mean by "community" or "bubble of thought.

Is your "community" the minority group of trans people? Gay people?

Robinson is a white man--should all white men take the blame? How about all young males, since that's what the killer is? Everyone with brown hair?

How do you define the group to blame?

What "bubble of thought" are you blaming on the "community"? Are you claiming a community preached violence against Kirk or rightwingers generally?

As allready replied. I dont know, thats why I used such generic terms. Im not going to lay blame without evidence. And you are using word salad wrong, which is ironic.

The shooter has been influenced from somewhere is all I know. The writing on bullets is copycat for example. Ordinary internet hatred from people who feel safe behind a computer, but who also never intend to do anything other than spew bile, can be transformed into action by individuals who dont recognise the difference.

There are right wing nuts calling for violence against anyone who does not show sorrow fir this murder!!

quote:

Originally posted by shankspony:

quote:

Originally posted by RolandtheHeadless:

quote:

Id say it was the act of an individual with an unhealthy mindset, who was fuelled by a notion, thats come from a community, In Which the bubble of thought led him to believe this was a reasonable action to take.

That strikes me as pretty sketchy, and if you'll forgive me (or even if you won't), sounds like gobbledegook, i.e., word salad. I don't know what you mean by "community" or "bubble of thought.

Is your "community" the minority group of trans people? Gay people?

Robinson is a white man--should all white men take the blame? How about all young males, since that's what the killer is? Everyone with brown hair?

How do you define the group to blame?

What "bubble of thought" are you blaming on the "community"? Are you claiming a community preached violence against Kirk or rightwingers generally?

As allready replied. I dont know, thats why I used such generic terms. Im not going to lay blame without evidence. And you are using word salad wrong, which is ironic.

The shooter has been influenced from somewhere is all I know. The writing on bullets is copycat for example. Ordinary internet hatred from people who feel safe behind a computer, but who also never intend to do anything other than spew bile, can be transformed into action by individuals who dont recognise the difference.

Well, you didn't answer my questions. So be it; I can't force you and don't like repeating myself.

A debate about whether your sentence qualifies as word salad doesn't interest me much, but it fits the broad definition, an unintelligible string of words.

"Influenced from somewhere"--there you go again, being vague. Should people censor themselves just because their words might have an unknowable and unintended influence on some violent nutcase?

I refuse to censor myself and will oppose all Trumplican attempts to censor me.

Rolland you can be pretty pathetic at times.

You are trying to force me to state a category of people who I believe are responsible.
In that regard, I dont know is a perfectly acceptable answer. Given I also said my premise was a guess.

Stop trying to manufacture conflict.

its easy to understand, and so your motives are just nothing more than needles after yesterdays go.

Grow up a bit and stop being petty.

My, you are thin-skinned. I thought we were having a debate.

Perhaps you should avoid debates then.

I think it was petty and unfounded of you to blame a "community"--I believe you meant the trans or gay community wihout coming right out and saying it.

Who knows what influences a violent nut?

It was Colonel Mustard, in the Study, with a candlestick.

No,no,no,no, wait..

It was Nick Fuentes, in the Billiard room, with a Dreyse M1907.

No,no,no, wait.

It was Mussolini, in the Library, with a lead pipe.

.

Okay, your turn.

Who done it Rollie?

.

quote:

Originally posted by shankspony:
Rolland you can be pretty pathetic at times.

You are trying to force me to state a category of people who I believe are responsible.
In that regard, I dont know is a perfectly acceptable answer. Given I also said my premise was a guess.

Stop trying to manufacture conflict.

its easy to understand, and so your motives are just nothing more than needles after yesterdays go.

Grow up a bit and stop being petty.

Why should it be a CATEGORY of people?

It was ONE deranged individual!

quote:

Originally posted by Thomas "Ty" Beaham:
Okay, your turn.

Who done it Rollie?

.

Mr. Greenjeans, with a pitchfork.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

quote:

Originally posted by shankspony:
Rolland you can be pretty pathetic at times.

You are trying to force me to state a category of people who I believe are responsible.
In that regard, I dont know is a perfectly acceptable answer. Given I also said my premise was a guess.

Stop trying to manufacture conflict.

its easy to understand, and so your motives are just nothing more than needles after yesterdays go.

Grow up a bit and stop being petty.

Why should it be a CATEGORY of people?

It was ONE deranged individual!

We have a winner!

quote:

Right wing calls for violence surge

Really?

No riots. Nothing burning. Businesses are not boarding up. I think you confuse us for you.

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:

quote:

Right wing calls for violence surge

Really?

No riots. Nothing burning. Businesses are not boarding up. I think you confuse us for you.

Some are!

Going as far as to threaten others who do not show sorrow for this!

How sick can THAT be??

No riots, nothing burning, no looting, no violence. Just plenty of celebrations from the sick left.

quote:

Originally posted by RolandtheHeadless:
My, you are thin-skinned. I thought we were having a debate.

Perhaps you should avoid debates then.
...?

Goodness me, the irony

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:

quote:

Right wing calls for violence surge

Really?

No riots. Nothing burning. Businesses are not boarding up. I think you confuse us for you.

Some are!

Going as far as to threaten others who do not show sorrow for this!

How sick can THAT be??

Stuck on clueless.......

quote:

Originally posted by JTEX:

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:

quote:

Right wing calls for violence surge

Really?

No riots. Nothing burning. Businesses are not boarding up. I think you confuse us for you.

Some are!

Going as far as to threaten others who do not show sorrow for this!

How sick can THAT be??

Stuck on clueless.......

Yes.

Just like your hero

quote:

Originally posted by shankspony:

quote:

Originally posted by Magine Enigam:
Name a speech event where a right winger initiated participation with a left winger, other than a campaign event?

And what bubble of thought that comes from the left community leadership is clearly intended to influence those with unhealthy mindset to think murder is a reasonable action to take?

Well the one I mentioned above for a start.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxYimeaoea0&t=1265s

and on the wider issue, this from Bill Maher saying the republicans come on his show where the democrats won't.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/dCM1U7PwTc4

Any bubble of hate- the internet is full of them. We just have to wait and find out rather than pronouncing our pet radical group we dislike.

That's a rather decent answer, and I appreciate that.

Of course what I was getting at was laying blame on a group rather than an individual. A group, BTW, that represents a core institution(s) in the country. One that provides the balance, which is exactly why the Right wants domination and dominion, to run amuck. That's really what's behind this fabricated blaming the left, and above all - the demonization. And the head-waters is at the top, Dear Leader. Sewage flows down hill.

I've watched some videos of Jordan Peterson and Bill Maher recently.

That video you linked is 7 years old. I've noticed a change in Peterson's presentation, if not views.

And I think Maher is a fake liberal. Obama had a lot of gumption to accept his invite. Maher likes to lay traps, for ratings.

quote:

Why should it be a CATEGORY of people?

It was ONE deranged individual!

What about all the others: schools, churches, malls, streets, etc.?

Too many "deranged" single individuals on the loose.

quote:

Originally posted by fulvio:

quote:

Why should it be a CATEGORY of people?

It was ONE deranged individual!

What about all the others: schools, churches, malls, streets, etc.?

Too many "deranged" single individuals on the loose.

Just think of all the money that was saved by closing the mental institutions.

quote:

Originally posted by fulvio:

quote:

Why should it be a CATEGORY of people?

It was ONE deranged individual!

What about all the others: schools, churches, malls, streets, etc.?

Too many "deranged" single individuals on the loose.

All of them are caused by deranged individuals.

I don’t ready organization behind any of them.

If you want to talk about groups.
Go to, Timeline of far left violence.
see how many times antifa is mentioned.

The Proud Boys and the Boogaloos are no saints and have been involved in plenty of violence, including murder.

Once again, political violence is wrong, no matter who engages in it.

Unilateral political violence is also, ultimately, self-defeating.

Look at the racial violence perpetrated during the Civil Rights Movement. That violence as federal legislation was debated and stalled directed at those the nation saw to be non-violent caused those pieces of legislation to become law.


Whatever visions of grandeur and actress killers have, the delusions does not equate the reality. What unilaterally inflicted political violence preformed against our principles of debate generate is backlash. That backlash snaps against legitimate social concerns.

MLK Jr., is celebrated. Elijah Muhammad is not.

quote:

Originally posted by RolandtheHeadless:

quote:

Originally posted by Thomas "Ty" Beaham:
Okay, your turn.

Who done it Rollie?

.

Mr. Greenjeans, with a pitchfork.

Ahhhh,

Inspired by a Captain Kangaroo Court no doubt.

Great minds do think alike.

.

quote:

Originally posted by RolandtheHeadless:
My, you are thin-skinned. I thought we were having a debate.

Perhaps you should avoid debates then.

I think it was petty and unfounded of you to blame a "community"--I believe you meant the trans or gay community wihout coming right out and saying it.

Who knows what influences a violent nut?

No, I just dont tolerate deceit. ME understood my answer. It was actually very simple. For some reason you wished to regurgitate the exception you took from the day earlier. It was blindingly obvious. So lets talk about thin skinned.

I will say it so slowly and clearly that even you will understand.

He Will have Gained His Ideas from somewhere. Some Echo chamber/ Bubble Where people say Horrible things they dont intend to do themselves.

Given the target, It is more likely to be from the left, but I dont know and I dont feel it needs to be the lgbq etc. It could be 4chan, gaming, student led, Antifa etc.

I will be surprised if he hasn't said someone should do this or he will do this, and people have agreed, not thinking anyone would.

quote:

Originally posted by Magine Enigam:

quote:

Originally posted by shankspony:

quote:

Originally posted by Magine Enigam:
Name a speech event where a right winger initiated participation with a left winger, other than a campaign event?

And what bubble of thought that comes from the left community leadership is clearly intended to influence those with unhealthy mindset to think murder is a reasonable action to take?

Well the one I mentioned above for a start.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxYimeaoea0&t=1265s

and on the wider issue, this from Bill Maher saying the republicans come on his show where the democrats won't.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/dCM1U7PwTc4

Any bubble of hate- the internet is full of them. We just have to wait and find out rather than pronouncing our pet radical group we dislike.

That's a rather decent answer, and I appreciate that.

Of course what I was getting at was laying blame on a group rather than an individual. A group, BTW, that represents a core institution(s) in the country. One that provides the balance, which is exactly why the Right wants domination and dominion, to run amuck. That's really what's behind this fabricated blaming the left, and above all - the demonization. And the head-waters is at the top, Dear Leader. Sewage flows down hill.

I've watched some videos of Jordan Peterson and Bill Maher recently.

That video you linked is 7 years old. I've noticed a change in Peterson's presentation, if not views.

And I think Maher is a fake liberal. Obama had a lot of gumption to accept his invite. Maher likes to lay traps, for ratings.

Maher isn't fake, the left just moved and he stayed where he was. I dont agree with a lot he says, but it's uncharitable to call him fake. And even so, the republicans still show up and discuss their ideas, knowing it's a hostile audience.

No, let me be very clear, I totally blame the individual. But it's foolish not to address the level of hate that people think it's acceptable to spew nowadays. It happened on here the other day. crossed the line. We all recognise the impact of dehumanisation. Put a sick mind in amongst that and what happens?

quote:

Originally posted by theback40:
If you want to talk about groups.
Go to, Timeline of far left violence.
see how many times antifa is mentioned.

Aaron "Jay" Danielson comes to mind here.

Say his name Wymple.

.

and bingo! right when its useful.

This on my twitter feed today. Theres a transcript so I'll post link and words.

https://x.com/JasonJournoDC/st.../1967535685847384440

quote:

"Charlie Kirk was a guy who was always talking — and I talked to him here. The right-wingers — say what you want about them — but they talk to you."

"The left really has much more of a 'I don't talk to you, I don't want to deal with you, you're deplorable, I can't break bread with you' attitude. All the right-wingers — they don't have that attitude."

"Charlie Kirk and I certainly don't agree on much politically — but he sat here, he's a human being, he's not a monster!"

"I liked him! I like them all! They're all nice people when you meet them in person. And nobody's as crazy as they make them out to be."

I will admit that I have seen more right wing folks talking about violence in retribution for Kirk’s killing than I recall about anything from them. It is even more prominent than what I recall after the Trump assassination attempts.

Sadly I’m also seeing more “finally” type comments from the left as well.


The level of discourse seems to almost be getting to the level of the 1850’s.

That should be a wake up call.

It’s both sides. Sure, the right doesn’t riot in the streets very often, but they do commit acts of violence on their fringes, no different than the left.

You can't change the FACT that the vast majority of this type of violence belongs to the right wing. Charlie Kirk was a stochastic terrorist. Wrap yourself in plausible deniability while stoking the fires by marginalizing groups as abnormal & abhorrent, knowing that a certain number of your followers will act upon it. He didn't outright tell them to, but he knew it would happen now & then.

quote:

Originally posted by shankspony:

quote:

Originally posted by RolandtheHeadless:
My, you are thin-skinned. I thought we were having a debate.

Perhaps you should avoid debates then.

I think it was petty and unfounded of you to blame a "community"--I believe you meant the trans or gay community wihout coming right out and saying it.

Who knows what influences a violent nut?

No, I just dont tolerate deceit. ME understood my answer. It was actually very simple. For some reason you wished to regurgitate the exception you took from the day earlier. It was blindingly obvious. So lets talk about thin skinned.

I will say it so slowly and clearly that even you will understand.

He Will have Gained His Ideas from somewhere. Some Echo chamber/ Bubble Where people say Horrible things they dont intend to do themselves.

Given the target, It is more likely to be from the left, but I dont know and I dont feel it needs to be the lgbq etc. It could be 4chan, gaming, student led, Antifa etc.

I will be surprised if he hasn't said someone should do this or he will do this, and people have agreed, not thinking anyone would.

It's not that you don't tolerate deceit; you don't tolerate disagreement. As soon as someone challenges one of your views, you hit the roof in anger. You did it the other day, and now again. You might want to work on that.

At least you finally own up to what you meant. Yes, he gained his ideas from somewhere: maybe violent movies or video games or some other nut on the internet. That doesn't make anyone else but the killer to blame.

Don't use euphemisms and code speak for blaming the gay/trans community. Have the guts to come out and say it, if that's what you mean. And yes, that's exactly what you meant.

quote:

Originally posted by RolandtheHeadless:
...
It's not that you don't tolerate deceit; you don't tolerate disagreement. As soon as someone challenges one of your views, you hit the roof in anger. You did it the other day, and now again. You might want to work on that.
.....

Again, the irony of this poster

Rolland. everyone else here understood what I said. It was just you chose, or thought you were being clever bringing up the previous discussion. It wasn't, and I called you on it, and now you dont like it. Grow up. The fact you keep returning the other day tells me its your anger/ passive aggression thats an issue.

Also dont try and make my words into something the are not. I have very clearly said I dont know and you contradict yourself by agreeing with my statement, and then telling me what group I ment.
You are just plainly wrong and being deceitful. Just like the other day as well.