Charlie Kirk and Donald Trump at a Turning Point USA rally, July 2022 (AP)
UPDATE, SEPT 22:
Before Sunday’s rally for Charlie Kirk in Arizona, I spoke with BBC Radio Scotland on Sunday about Donald Trump using the activist’s murder to extend his power and to shut down criticism and dissent.
The other guest is Professor Frank Costigliola of the University of Edinburgh.
To listen, you need to be in the UK or use a VPN.
Listen to Discussion from 1:15.34
What’s been most striking is the attempt by certain people, starting with the man in the White House, to exploit Charlie Kirk’s murder to widen divisions.
Within hours of the killing, Donald Trump talked of a “war” against the “radical left”, whom he called the “enemies within”. That’s been taken up not only by his supporters but also by Government officials, heads of universities, and employers to purge those who raised issues around and beyond Charlie Kirk.
UPDATE, SEPT 15:
I joined Dublin NewsTalk’s Pat Kenny Show on Monday to analyze the latest in the investigation of Charlie Kirk’s murder and the exploitation of the political violence.
Listen to Discussion from 2:00.58
We begin with discussion of Utah Governor Spencer Cox’s blame of social media for the murder, noting how the Trump Administration and tech entrepreneurs have collaborated to remove even limited regulation.
I urge caution to avoid irresponsible speculation over the motives of the suspect, Tyler Robinson, while noting the Trumpist attempt — without evidence — to use this as an assault on the “Left”.
We discuss the ongoing Jeffrey Epstein affair and whether it will continue to damage Donald Trump.
I also analyze the Trump Administration’s full support for the Netanyahu Government’s mass killings in Gaza, despite Israel’s bombing trying to assassinate Hamas officials in Qatar, and the Israeli plan for long-term occupation.
EA on WION: Trump Administration Gives Full Support to Netanyahu’s Gaza Killing
UPDATE, SEPT 14:
I joined Germany’s DW News on Sunday to examine the ongoing exploitation of Charlie Kirk’s murder by Trumpist and far right groups.
I discuss the firings, led by calls from Donald Trump’s senior officials, of people who have criticized Kirk’s words and actions. I link this to the Trumpist call for a “war” on the political opponents, labelled as the “radical left”, and to break the US system.
This is an attempt to seize an opportunity. Look at Trump’s immediate statement. There is still no evidence that the suspect is a committed political ideologue of the “left”.
I connect this to the far right rally in London on Saturday, using and distorting “free speech” to justify hate speech in attacks on migrants and asylum seekers as well as organizations pursuing civil rights.
UPDATE 1357 GMT:
I joined Matt Frei on London’s LBC to analyze further the exploitation by Trumpist and far right groups of Charlie Kirk’s murder to justify their erosion of rights, undermining of the US system, and promotion of division and hatred.
Listen to Discussion from 1:36.21
I’ve said for several years that this is probably the most dangerous point for the US since the end of the Civil War.
It’s more dangerous than the 1960s or 1970s because of the polarization of the political culture, with the speed and scope of social media to foment division and confrontation.
The second reason is that even in the 1960s and 1970s, there was a consensus around American institutions. The idea of that consensus is gone for many people, and there are certain politicians and groups that exploit that.
The Trump camp, with its attacks on institutions, opens the path for people to act on their anger and frustration.
UPDATE, SEPT 12:
I joined Times Radio’s Henry Bonsu late Thursday to put the killing of Charlie Kirk within both the historical and contemporary context of political violence in the US.
After knocking back the spin of Trumpist commentator Scott Jennings, I set out the data of a sharp rise in violent acts in the past five years and especially in 2025.
While noting the motives of individual attacks goes beyond a simple “right” or “left”, I explain the key variable: the encouragement of a culture of violence by political leaders and activists. In this case, many of them are from the camp of Donald Trump — including Trump himself.
The man in the White House has quite often used inflammatory language to whip up anger and fear.
With no evidence whatsoever in this case, Trump immediately said, “You have to go after the ‘radical left’. You then have members of Congress, podcasters, and bloggers saying, “These are your enemies. You have to wipe out the ‘Left’.”
ORIGINAL ENTRY, SEPT 11: I joined Monocle Radio’s The Globalist on Thursday to analyze the killing of far-right activist Charlie Kirk as he spoke at Utah Valley Univ
Listen from 3:10:
Host Georgina Godwin and I discuss the latest information on Kirk, the shooting, and the suspect.
Then I examine how the killing of Kirk, who thrived on a political approach emphasizing division and animosity, will likely be exploited by Donald Trump and supportive outlets to profit off that division and extend their quest for power.
In a polarized America, when you have voices across the political spectrum that are not calling for dialogue but for confrontation, and when they portray their political opponents as the enemy, this feeds into attacks which are likely not to stop.
Listen from 3:10:
Host Georgina Godwin and I discuss the latest information on Kirk, the shooting, and the suspect.
Then I examine how the killing of Kirk, who thrived on a political approach emphasizing division and animosity, will likely be exploited by Donald Trump and supportive outlets to profit off that division and extend their quest for power.
In a polarized America, when you have voices across the political spectrum that are not calling for dialogue but for confrontation, and when they portray their political opponents as the enemy, this feeds into attacks which are likely not to stop.
You are a disappointment to me and clearly you did not know what Charlie Kirk stood for. He was at lUniversity of Utah to share a discussion of his ideas and carry on a reasonable exchange of ideas with those who disagreed with him. He believed that reasonable people should be able to exchange ideas in a constructive manner. Apparently the Left including you are ignorant ofhis true nature.
You seem to believe denigrating and questioning the very existence of entire groups of people are okay if they are uttered in dulcet tones. White supremacism, Christian nationalism, denying the existence of transgender people, etc…these are harmful and violent no matter how they are communicated.
Fafa,
Well said.
S.