Obama Faces Backlash After Remarks on Charlie Kirk Shooting

Former President Barack Obama is facing criticism following his response to the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed during an event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday. In a statement on social media, Obama said, “We don’t yet know what motivated the person who shot and killed Charlie Kirk, but this kind of despicable violence has no place in our democracy,” adding that he and Michelle Obama were praying for Kirk’s family.

Critics quickly slammed the former president, accusing him of downplaying the gravity of the attack. Conservative commentator Clay Travis said Obama and other Democrats had spent years demonizing Donald Trump and his supporters. “You can’t call people Nazis for a decade and then act shocked when violence happens,” Travis said during an emotional segment on Fox News.

Trump also weighed in, calling Kirk’s murder a result of years of “radical Left” rhetoric. “This kind of rhetoric is directly responsible for the terrorism that we’re seeing in our country today,” he said in a video. The former president urged Americans to reject political demonization and blamed the media for fueling division.

Law enforcement officials have called the shooting a targeted attack. Authorities say the shooter fired from a rooftop and was dressed in dark clothing. The FBI is working with local authorities and has asked for public help in the investigation. Surveillance footage is being reviewed, and the search for the suspect is ongoing.

Senator Elizabeth Warren dismissed the idea that Democratic rhetoric contributed to the shooting, telling reporters, “Oh, please. Why don’t you start with the President of the United States?” The incident has reignited debate over political discourse in America and the growing risk of violence tied to partisan tensions.