Businesses, schools, and government agencies have launched investigations, while political leaders are demanding accountability for those who glorified the killing.
Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed last week during an event at Utah Valley University. His death prompted widespread condemnation of political violence from across the political spectrum.
But while many expressed grief, others used social media to justify or minimize the attack. Employers have since moved swiftly to discipline workers whose comments they say crossed the line.
One of the earliest cases was MSNBC analyst Matthew Dowd, who was fired the day after the shooting. During live coverage, Dowd said Kirk had been “one of the most divisive younger figures,” suggesting his rhetoric contributed to a hostile environment.
MSNBC President Rebecca Kutler later called Dowd’s remarks “insensitive and unacceptable.” Dowd issued an apology, saying he never intended to blame Kirk for the attack.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced on Saturday that American Airlines pilots who posted celebratory comments were grounded and removed from duty. Delta Air Lines also confirmed that several employees were suspended after similar posts surfaced online.
“This behavior is disgusting, and they should be fired,” Duffy wrote on X. Delta CEO Ed Bastian told staff that their words, online or in public, must reflect the airline’s values.
The U.S. Secret Service confirmed that one of its agents, Anthony Pough, was placed on leave for his posts about Kirk.
In a Facebook message, Pough dismissed those mourning Kirk and said the commentator “spewed hate and racism.”
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) called for his immediate termination, writing to the agency’s director that the conduct was “inexcusable.” The Secret Service said it “will not tolerate behavior that violates our code of conduct.”
Consequences have spread across schools and universities.
Florida Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas pledged investigations of teachers who celebrated the killing, praising one district that suspended a Clay County teacher. Florida Atlantic University placed a tenured professor on leave for comments about Kirk.
At Cumberland University in Tennessee, two employees were fired for social media posts, while Middle Tennessee State University and the University of Mississippi each announced terminations of staff members who made “hurtful” or “callous” remarks. Clemson University said it condemned faculty comments that glorified violence, though none of its professors has yet been dismissed.
The backlash extended to private employers as well.
Office Depot fired a Michigan store manager after a viral video showed him refusing to print posters for a Charlie Kirk vigil, calling the request “political propaganda.” The company apologized to the customer and said the employee’s conduct was “unacceptable and insensitive.” The Carolina Panthers football team confirmed it fired communications staffer Charlie Rock after posts surfaced in which he mocked those mourning Kirk’s death.
Statements from business leaders have emphasized that public comments celebrating violence violate company policies and damage public trust. Comcast NBCUniversal executives issued a memo describing Kirk as a “husband, father, and advocate for open debate,” while stressing that “there is no place for violence or hate in our society.”
Federal agencies have also begun internal reviews. A spokesman for the Department of War said it was “unacceptable for military personnel and civilians to celebrate or mock the assassination of a fellow American.” Investigations have been launched into individuals connected to the U.S. Coast Guard and Navy.
The wave of firings and suspensions highlights how employers are moving quickly to draw a line against rhetoric that condones political violence. As social media users continue flagging posts, institutions across the country face pressure to respond.