MSNBC’s public relations department scrambled to apologize after one of its top commentators insinuated hours after Charlie Kirk was assassinated that the political commentator had it coming.

MSNBC President Rebecca Kutler issued a statement, saying, “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.”

Kutler’s statement focused solely on Dowd, who had implied during the live coverage that Kirk himself was responsible at least in part for the culture of political violence that killed him.

“[He is] constantly sort of pushing this sort of hate speech, aimed at certain groups. And I always go back to, hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which often then to hateful actions,” Dowd said.

WATCH:

Matthew Dowd on MSNBC suggests it’s CHARLIE KIRK’S FAULT HE WAS SHOT:

“[He is] constantly sort of pushing this sort of hate speech, aimed at certain groups. And I always go back to, hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which often then to hateful actions.” pic.twitter.com/Bbl2aicMGn

— Bill D’Agostino (@Banned_Bill) September 10, 2025

Late Wednesday night, Variety reported that Dowd had been fired, citing a network source.

The decision came as critics argued that a simple apology was not enough.

“If he’s not fired this doesn’t matter,” Stephen L. Miller posted.

If he’s not fired this doesn’t matter https://t.co/go5qctoFVl

— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) September 10, 2025

“Not even a period in the time-out chair, huh?” Jim Geraghty commented.

Not even a period in the time-out chair, huh? https://t.co/widD6qdPBo

— Jim Geraghty (@jimgeraghty) September 10, 2025

“If you bring him on again as a commentator, this statement means nothing,” another added.

If you bring him on again as a commentator, this statement means nothing. https://t.co/nUkhH6XEAk

— RBe (@RBPundit) September 10, 2025

Patricia Heaton added, “Fire Matthew Dowd and close up shop. Otherwise shut it.”

Fire Matthew Dowd and close up shop. Otherwise shut it. https://t.co/0TCg79UjAK

— Patricia Heaton (@PatriciaHeaton) September 10, 2025

Some noted that the statement was only posted by the public relations account — which has just over 20,000 followers — and not the main network account that has more than five million.

“Leaving aside that this is probably only the tenth worst thing MSNBC said today, notice that they sent the apology from their junior account, which has 217 times fewer followers, ensuring that far fewer people will see it. You don’t hate the media enough,” Hans Mahncke said.

Leaving aside that this is probably only the tenth worst thing MSNBC said today, notice that they sent the apology from their junior account, which has 217 times fewer followers, ensuring that far fewer people will see it. You don’t hate the media enough. https://t.co/aC8kdgcJjY pic.twitter.com/Y5KcfYxjKY

— Hans Mahncke (@HansMahncke) September 11, 2025

“Rather than firing Tur and Dowd or doing anything real at all regarding deranged coverage today, left-wing hate network MSNBC issues a very quiet tweet on an account with 20K followers,” Mollie Hemingway added.

Rather than firing Tur and Dowd or doing anything real at all regarding deranged coverage today, left-wing hate network MSNBC issues a very quiet tweet on an account with 20K followers. https://t.co/2McNsXcwh1

— Mollie (@MZHemingway) September 10, 2025

And a number pointed out that Dowd was not the only person involved in the coverage. Anchor Katy Tur, for example, went right back to trashing Kirk within minutes of reporting he’d been shot and before his condition was even known. She referred to the TPUSA founder as “a divisive figure, polarizing, lightning rod. Whatever term you want to use.”

🚨 WTF?! MSNBC is ALREADY back to demonizing Charlie Kirk, just MINUTES after he was shot in Utah

Katy Tur called him “a divisive figure, polarizing, lightning rod. What ever term you want to use.”

The left is absolutely VILE!
pic.twitter.com/hSfEg2tX6W

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) September 10, 2025

Tur then wondered aloud about the possibility that someone on the Right would take up arms on Kirk’s behalf.

MSNBC has no shame.@KatyTurNBC ought to be fired: “How worried do you get about somebody taking up the cause of Charlie Kirk?” pic.twitter.com/BdAmHyvtYX

— ForAmerica (@ForAmerica) September 10, 2025

And speculated that Trump might “use” Kirk’s shooting in order to “justify” some unspecified unconstitutional action in the future.

Within minutes of Charlie Kirk being shot, with his condition still unknown, MSNBC ghoul Katy Tur huffs: “You can imagine the [Trump] administration using this as a justification for something.” pic.twitter.com/xJ3xMlJOsK

— Bill D’Agostino (@Banned_Bill) September 10, 2025

Dowd also speculated that the shooter might have been one of Kirk’s supporters, “shooting a gun off in celebration.”

MSNBC just speculated the Charlie Kirk shooting could have “been a supporter shooting their gun off in celebration.”

I have no words for how awful these people are. pic.twitter.com/g6o9KGuaHp

— Bonchie (@bonchieredstate) September 10, 2025

Chuck Ross summed it up, saying, “A decent news organization (so, not MSNBC) would fire Matthew Dowd for this, and probably Katy Tur, too. Beyond the callous remarks, Dowd also speculated that maybe a Kirk supporter was shooting off celebratory gunfire.”

A decent news organization (so, not MSNBC) would fire Matthew Dowd for this, and probably Katy Tur, too. Beyond the callous remarks, Dowd also speculated that maybe a Kirk supporter was shooting off celebratory gunfire. https://t.co/ZEYdJieT8G https://t.co/5IdlQlowX3

— Chuck Ross (@ChuckRossDC) September 10, 2025

UPDATE: This piece was updated with reports that Dowd was ultimately fired.

Daily Wire Editor Emeritus Ben Shapiro said that the killing of influential conservative Charlie Kirk is the “worst political assassination in a half century in this country.”

Shapiro, speaking with Daily Wire host Michael Knowles about the tragic death of Kirk, said that “the actual full-scale murder of a 31-year-old superstar like Charlie for the great crime of saying things on college campuses that people didn’t want to hear” shows that “something needs to change.”

“There have been assassination attempts on presidents. Obviously, Ronald Reagan was shot, there was an attempted assassination of Donald Trump. Both of them lived,” Shapiro said, adding that Kirk’s assassination is “impossible to process.”

“This is the end of outdoor events, in terms of political events. It’s over,” the Daily Wire editor emeritus said. “We saw the president of the United States almost shot in the head during an outdoor public event. We saw Charlie Kirk murdered in front of all of us at an outdoor public event. That’s over. … Something is deeply, deeply broken in this country for somebody like Charlie Kirk to just be assassinated for the great crime of speaking what used to just be known as traditional conservative values.”

Shapiro argued that those who disagreed with Kirk need to step up and push back on violent responses to opposing views.

“I don’t believe I’m exaggerating when I’m saying this shakes the foundations of the country,” he said. “Because if we cannot trust each other to have normal conversations in public about basic issues, about governance and policy and values, how the hell are we supposed to have a country together? It’s not possible.”

Kirk gained prominence after founding Turning Point USA in 2012 at just 18 years old. In recent years, he would often go viral for his debates on college campuses, when he would respectfully engage with leftist students and challenge their worldview. In 2024, Kirk helped push President Donald Trump over the finish line, registering students to vote and advocating for Trump’s policies.

In a post on social media, Shapiro said he was “utterly stunned and heartbroken and sick to my soul today.”

“It is unimaginable to write these words,” Shapiro added. “I met Charlie Kirk when he was 18 years old, a young man so eager and determined that I immediately turned to a friend and said, ‘That kid is going to be the head of the RNC one day.’ Charlie became even bigger and more important than that. It was a privilege to watch this principled man stand up for his beliefs and create the single most important conservative political organization in America. But more importantly, Charlie was a good man, a man who believed in right and wrong, who stood by his Biblical values. All of us will miss him, and I can’t imagine the pain of his beautiful young family, and we must all pray for them. And we must pick up the baton where Charlie left it, fighting for the things he believed in so passionately. And we must fight for a better America – an America where good people can speak truth and debate passionately without fear of a bullet. I weep for Charlie’s family, and I weep for my country today. Most of all, I weep for Charlie.”

Like all of you, I am utterly stunned and heartbroken and sick to my soul today. It is unimaginable to write these words. I met Charlie Kirk when he was 18 years old, a young man so eager and determined that I immediately turned to a friend and said, “That kid is going to be the…

— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) September 10, 2025