US Vice-President JD Vance has urged accountability for individuals who publicly celebrated the killing of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk, calling such behaviour a breakdown of civility.
“Call them out, and hell, call their employer,” Vance said while guest hosting an episode of The Charlie Kirk Show on Monday. “We don’t believe in political violence, but we do believe in civility.”
Kirk was fatally shot in the neck last Wednesday while moderating a debate at Utah Valley University. Since then, numerous social media posts celebrating his death have sparked disciplinary actions against their authors, including suspensions and dismissals of pilots, medical workers, educators, and even a US Secret Service employee.
Vance accused left-leaning Americans of being more likely to justify political violence. “There is no civility in the celebration of political assassination,” he said. A recent YouGov poll similarly found liberals more inclined than conservatives to defend expressions of joy over the deaths of political opponents.
Other Republican lawmakers have echoed Vance’s stance. Florida congressman Randy Fine vowed to demand the firing or defunding of those who post celebratory remarks, while South Carolina’s Nancy Mace called on the Department of Education to cut funding to schools that fail to act against staff who make such comments.
Kirk, a Christian conservative known for his controversial positions on gender, race, and abortion, had long drawn sharp criticism from liberals, particularly on college campuses.
Some disciplinary cases have attracted wide attention. Anthony Pough, a US Secret Service employee, had his security clearance revoked after posting that Kirk “spewed hate and racism” and that “at the end of the day, you answer to GOD.” Secret Service Director Sean Curran reminded staff in a memo that agents must not inflame political tensions.
Private companies have also taken action. Office Depot confirmed it fired employees at a Michigan branch after a video showed them refusing to print posters for a Kirk vigil. The company said the behaviour was “unacceptable and insensitive.”
Academic institutions have likewise moved swiftly. Clemson University dismissed one employee and suspended two professors for “inappropriate” posts, while in Canada, the University of Toronto placed Professor Ruth Marshall on leave after she appeared to suggest that “shooting is honestly too good” for political opponents.
The wave of firings has reignited debate about free speech, employment protections, and so called “cancel culture.” Legal experts note that the US Constitution’s free speech protections apply to government restrictions, not private employers. “At will” contracts allow most US companies to dismiss employees for nearly any reason.
Still, critics argue that political pressure is shaping the response. Risa Lieberwitz of Cornell University’s Worker Institute warned that such firings reflect a climate of fear under the Trump administration. The American Association of University Professors also raised concerns, saying academic freedom “should not be curtailed under political pressure.”
