Charlie Kirk’s killing sparks firings and outrage as reactions expose deep divides

In the days since the assassination of conservative figure Charlie Kirk, institutions from airlines to schools have moved quickly to discipline employees accused of celebrating or mocking his death, a reflection of the charged atmosphere surrounding the killing.

On the right, some have called for the aggressive punishment of anyone seen condoning his assassination. Former adviser to President Donald Trump and right-wing podcaster Steve Bannon called for mass arrests and a crackdown on universities, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed staff to identify and discipline service members who mocked or condoned Kirk’s killing, two defense officials told NBC News.

Kirk was one of the right’s most prominent and polarizing voices. He built his following by amplifying the false claim that the 2020 election was stolen and by railing against what he called “woke” culture. His comments on race, feminism, LGBTQ rights and immigration often drew sharp criticism, sparking campus protests when he visited and making him a lighting rod for mockery and inspiration.

Kirk was the 31-year-old co-founder of conservative youth organization Turning Point USA, a nonprofit that promotes conservative politics on high school and college campuses nationwide. He was fatally shot Wednesday during an event at Utah Valley University.

Officials on Friday identified 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, now in custody, as a suspect in his murder.

Airlines

Since Kirk’s assassination Wednesday, terminations and disciplinary actions against employees have mounted across industries.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy called for the firing of American Airlines pilots accused of celebrating Kirk’s death. The pilots were “immediately grounded and removed from service,” according to Duffy.

“We heal as a country when we send the message that glorifying political violence is COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE!” he wrote on X.

American Airlines confirmed it had “initiated action to address this,” emphasizing that “hate-related or hostile behavior runs contrary to our purpose, which is to care for people on life’s journey.”

Delta Air Lines also announced it had suspended employees pending an investigation after they shared social media posts that “went well beyond healthy, respectful debate.” The airline did not disclose details about the posts, but said that violations of the company’s social media policy can lead to termination.

Schools and universities

Idaho’s West Ada School District said it fired an employee who allegedly posted a video online. The school district did not elaborate on the contents of the video but said in a statement that it was “shocked and saddened” by it.

“West Ada remains committed to nurturing and supporting our students and families, and to addressing harmful actions thoughtfully, with care, and with a focus on doing what is right,” the school district said in a statement.

In Oregon, a middle school science teacher was placed on administrative leave for posting on Facebook that Kirk’s death “brightened up” his day, NBC affiliate KGW reported. The teacher ultimately resigned.

South Carolina’s Clemson University announced Saturday that an employee was suspended pending further investigation after they made social media posts about Kirk’s death. The university did not share the contents of the posts and said it was also thoroughly reviewing posts made by other employees in response to Kirk’s death.

“Clemson University remains committed to upholding the principles of the U.S. Constitution and the employment laws of the State of South Carolina,” the university said in a statement.

The actions at Clemson prompted Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., to post, “Free speech doesn’t prevent you from being fired if you’re stupid and have poor judgement.”

Health care sector

The University of Miami’s health system announced that it fired an employee after “unacceptable public commentary,” but did not elaborate on what the individual said.

“Freedom of speech is a fundamental right,” the statement read. “At the same time, expressions that condone or endorse violence or are incompatible with our policies or values are not acceptable.”

A Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta employee was fired after making “inappropriate comments” about Kirk’s killing Friday.

“This type of rhetoric is not acceptable for Children’s employees and violates our social media policy,” a spokesperson for the health care center said in a statement.

In Portage, Michigan, an Office Depot employee was fired after allegedly refusing to print flyers about Charlie Kirk at a customer’s request. The specific contents of the flyer are not clear at this time.

Office Depot called the incident deeply concerning, adding that the employee’s behavior “is completely unacceptable and insensitive, violates our company policies, and does not reflect the values” of the company.

“We are committed to reinforcing training with all team members to ensure our standards of respect, integrity, and customer service are upheld at every location,” the company said in a statement.

The investigation into Kirk’s death is ongoing.