Cable news network MSNBC has issued a formal apology over the on-air comments by its political analyst Matthew Dowd following the political assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.
Responding to news of the shooting, Dowd, who was on air, blamed the act of violence on Kirk himself, saying it was the result of his “awful words” that represent his conservative views.
“You can’t stop with these sorts of awful thoughts you have and then saying these awful words and then not expect awful actions to take place.”
Dowd also suggested at the time that it was too early to tell if it was a targeted shooting or if the single round of gunfire heard had come from a “supporter shooting their gun off in celebration.”
Shortly after, MSNBC issued a statement from its president, Rebecca Kutler, on its X public relations account apologizing for Dowd’s comments.
The Epoch Times has reached out to MSNBC for comment.
As of Wednesday night, no suspected shooter is in custody. Officials said that neither of the two people taken into custody throughout the day had been found to have any connection to the fatal shooting of Kirk.
“There is an ongoing investigation and manhunt for the shooter,” the FBI and Utah Department of Public Safety said in a joint statement.
The shooting has been described as a targeted attack. Authorities believe the suspect fired from the roof of the nearby Losee Center building down to the Fountain Courtyard, where Kirk was answering questions from students in his “prove me wrong” tent.
Charlie Kirk hands out hats before speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. Tess Crowley/The Deseret News via AP
Charles James Kirk, 31, was born on Oct. 14, 1993, in Arlington Heights, Illinois. He was raised by a mother who specialized in mental health counseling and an architect father.
Kirk founded Turning Point USA in 2012 with retired marketing entrepreneur and Tea Party activist Bill Montgomery. Since then, he devoted his time to publicly voicing conservative values and political views to educate, train, and organize students around principles of free markets and limited government.
As part of this advocacy work, Kirk would travel to colleges to speak and debate with willing students.
Outpourings of grief for a young life lost to political violence and gratitude for Kirk’s legacy continued many hours after his passing, including from young people impacted by Kirk’s work.
Arizonans mourn Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk outside of the Turning Point USA headquarters in Phoenix on Sept. 10, 2025. Rebecca Noble/Getty Images
“It’s long passed time all Americans and the media confront the fact that violence and murder are the tragic consequence of demonizing those with whom you disagree, day after day, year after year, in the most hateful and despicable way possible,” the president said.
“For years, those on the radical left have compared wonderful Americans like Charlie to Nazis and the world’s worst mass murderers and criminals. This kind of rhetoric is directly responsible for the terrorism that we’re seeing in our country today, and it must stop right now.
“Tonight, I ask all Americans to commit themselves to the American values for which Charlie Kirk lived and died, the values of free speech, citizenship, the rule of law, and the patriotic devotion and love of God.”
