Charlie Kirk’s killing at Utah Valley University has reignited discussions about America’s surge in political violence and the impact of inflammatory language.
Lawmakers are divided on whether to tone down heated rhetoric after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed at Utah Valley University on Wednesday, reigniting debate over the role fiery language plays in America’s surge of political violence.
Political violence has been a steady constant in recent years, including a pair of assassination attempts against President Donald Trump in 2024 and the slaying of a Democratic state lawmaker in Minnesota earlier this year.
Kirk’s death has again reignited the discussion on what role political rhetoric, be it inside the walls of Congress or around the country, has to play in political violence in the U.S.
„This is on all of us, right?“ Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., told Fox News Digital. „I mean, you know, everyone’s been ramping up the rhetoric, right?
„If the left is going to blame the right, and the right is going to blame the left, and we’re going to continue to say ‘It’s your fault‘, and we’re not collectively going to try to bring it down together, then this cycle is just going to continue to go on.“
And Republican leaders are hoping to turn the temperature down in Congress in the wake of Kirk’s death.
„I’m trying to turn the temperature down around here“, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said. „I always do that. I’ve been very consistent.“
Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., told Fox News Digital he believed reining in hostile or divisive rhetoric is „always a conversation with people in leadership.“
„And it should be in both parties to make sure that you don’t incite this kind of an activity“, he said.
