Exploiting the Ironic Kirk Assassination

Early blame for  the assassination of Charlie Kirk was placed on  a transgender perpetrator because of Kirk’s mention of that lifestyle during a speech on a college campus.

In fact, it turned out that the suspected killer, Tyler Robinson,  a in a romantic relationship with a transgender man.

Ironically, the victim was a deeply religious conservative who sponsored dialogue instead of violent opposition of views.

The killer seems to have had an unconventional social orientation--one that usually would have reduced his tendency to use violence to resolve disputes.  

The killer also had an extremely conservative upbringing.

Trump’s initial publicized reaction was surprisingly correct; but it had undemocratic undertones.

This assassination may be an additional consequence of Trump’s pugnacious, incendiary rhetoric (cf. Jamelle Bouie in 9/20/2025 NYT)

Kirk ironically advocated acceptance of a few gun deaths as the price of relying on the 2nd Amendment to justify loose regulation of firearms (cf. Stephen Cody controversy in Palmetto, FLA).

Politically disaffected people often search for otherworldly solutions to their problems.  This invites exploitation by quasi-demagogues, especially by appealing to evangelical Christians.  Some of these rabble-rousers  are sincerely responding to sociological discomfort; but others are merely megalomaniacs. 

As a result, the Kirk memorial on 21 September 2025 was ripe for exploitation by speakers like Stephen Miller and Donald Trump as a political rally.  The event was an assembly of listeners who were sympathetic to right-wing propaganda.  It couldn’t have been better organized by a campaign advance man.