Barack Obama has warned that the United States faces a political crisis “of the sort that we have not seen before” in the aftermath of the killing of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.
Speaking at an event in Pennsylvania on Tuesday, the former president described the murder as “horrific and a tragedy”, while urging Americans to resist the urge to inflame divisions. Kirk, 31, was shot dead while addressing an audience at Utah Valley University on 10 September.
Tyler Robinson, 22, has been charged with Kirk’s murder and other offences. Prosecutors said they would seek the death penalty, citing text messages in which Robinson allegedly said he acted because he “had enough of his hatred”.
Before Robinson’s arrest, Trump allies quickly attributed blame to left-wing activists. Vice-president JD Vance, who guest-hosted Kirk’s podcast, called for those who celebrated or condoned the killing to be “exposed” and even shamed through their employers. Attorney general Pam Bondi has suggested a crackdown on “hate speech”, despite the absence of any federal law addressing it.
Obama contrasted such rhetoric with the conduct of past Republican leaders. He praised Utah governor Spencer Cox, a conservative who called for restraint, and Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro, a Democrat who has himself faced political violence after his residence was firebombed. He recalled how George W Bush urged tolerance towards Muslims after the September 11 attacks and noted that he did not use the 2015 Charleston church shooting to target opponents.
The White House dismissed Obama’s remarks, describing him as the “architect of modern political division”. A spokesperson accused him of inspiring Democrats to brand opponents as “deplorables” or “fascists”.
Traditionally, former presidents avoid direct criticism of their successors. Obama, however, has become increasingly outspoken, accusing Donald Trump of undermining democratic norms and exploiting moments of national crisis for political gain.
