MSNBC political analyst Matthew Dowd has reportedly been dismissed after making controversial remarks about the death of Charlie Kirk. Kirk, a prominent right-wing political commentator, was tragically fatally shot during a campus event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday, September 10. He was just 31 years old.
Following the incident, Dowd, aged 64, appeared on MSNBC Live With Katy Tur. When host Katy Tur inquired about "the environment in which a shooting like this occurs," as reported by Variety, Dowd responded candidly: "He’s been one of the most divisive, particularly among younger figures, constantly pushing hate speech and targeting certain groups. I always revert to the notion that hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which in turn lead to hateful actions. And I believe that's the environment we currently find ourselves in."
He continued, "You can't harbor these terrible thoughts, voice these awful words, and not anticipate terrible actions to follow. That's the unfortunate reality we're facing."
Subsequently, Variety, Deadline, and the Wall Street Journal reported Dowd's termination, citing sources within the network.
Dowd's comments ignited a storm of outrage on social media, prompting MSNBC president Rebecca Kutler to issue an apology via the MSNBC Public Relations X account. "We apologize for his statements, as does he. There is no room for violence in America, political or otherwise," Kutler wrote.
Dowd then shared his own apology on his BlueSky account, stating, "My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Charlie Kirk. On my earlier appearance on MSNBC, I was asked about the current environment. I apologize for my tone and choice of words. Let me be clear: I never intended for my comments to imply that Kirk was responsible for this heinous act. Let us all unite in condemning violence of any kind."
President Donald Trump announced Kirk's passing on Truth Social, writing, "The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead. No one understood or possessed the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us."
Kirk, a right-wing media personality who founded the conservative advocacy group Turning Point USA, was manning his signature "Prove Me Wrong" table during the first stop of his American Comeback Tour in Orem, Utah, when the shots rang out.
At a press conference on Wednesday, authorities stated that a person of interest had been apprehended. Utah Governor Spencer Cox described the shooting as a "political assassination," adding that authorities did not possess information "that would lead us to believe there is a second person involved."
FBI Director Kash Patel later announced on X that the individual in custody had been "released after an interrogation by law enforcement," stating, "Our investigation continues, and we will continue to release information in the interest of transparency."
Kirk is survived by his wife, former Miss Arizona USA Erika Frantzve, and their two children—a 3-year-old daughter and a 1-year-old son.
