MSNBC’s reporting on the shooting of Charlie Kirk on Wednesday was met with backlash.
Katy Tur Reports was live when a gunman opened fire at Kirk and shot him in the neck. Kirk later died from his wounds, President Donald Trump confirmed. Graphic footage captured Kirk recoiling as a single gunshot was heard.
“We don’t know any of the full details of this that we don’t know if this was a supporter shooting their gun off in celebration,” MSNBC contributor Matthew Dowd said before it was confirmed Kirk had been killed. “We don’t know anything.”
🚨OMG — MSNBC just said the shooter might have been "a supporter shooting their gun off in celebration."
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) September 10, 2025
WHAT?!
The Fake News is blaming MAGA already. Shameful. pic.twitter.com/BEOP3NlgFD
While discussing Kirk, Tur posed the question, “Charlie Kirk is a divisive figure, polarizing, lightning rod, whatever term you want to use. Why?”
Dowd replied, “He’s one of the MAGA’s most prominent voices online. He hosts a near-daily podcast.
“He opines on almost everything. He’s been very closely aligned with the president since his initial run for office in 2015, 2016. And his ties to Trump really elevated his own brand.”
MSNBC anchor and apparent psycho Kate Tur lashes out at Charlie Kirk after he was shot in the neck moments ago, calling him a "divisive figure, polarizing, lightning rod. What ever term you want to use." pic.twitter.com/2grSfGyEzE
— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) September 10, 2025
Dowd added that Kirk is “constantly sort of pushing this sort of hate speech, aimed at certain groups. And I always go back to, hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions.”
The segment subsequently appeared on X, where it drew the ire of users.
“MSNBC just said Charlie could have been shot by a supporter in celebration,” reporter Adam Housley said. “What the hell is happening in and to this country. The media … and I know first hand … is a damn disaster.”
“Everyone @MSNBC needs to be fired!” Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) said.
“This is absolutely disgusting,” Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-TX) said of the coverage.
COX SAYS UTAH LAW ENFORCEMENT WORKING WITH FBI ON CHARLIE KIRK SHOOTING
“A disgusting, reprehensible and predictable take from MSNBC who claims that this was just a supporter shooting a gun in the air,” former Department of Government Efficiency spokeswoman Katie Miller said. “These are the people whose rhetoric leads to today’s action.”
MSNBC President Rebecca Kutler apologized for the coverage Wednesday evening, saying, “During our breaking news coverage of the shooting of Charlie Kirk, Matthew Dowd made comments that were inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable. We apologize for his statements, as has he. There is no place for violence in America, political or otherwise.”
Kirk was transported to Timpanogos Regional Hospital in critical condition, where he later died.
