Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot dead during an event in Utah on Thursday morning — sparking a massive investigation and outpouring of grief. The shooter remains at large with FBI investigators later releasing two images of the person and announcing a $100,000 reward for information. Social media has also erupted into various conspiracy theories — with some seeing an Indian ‘link’ to the assassination.
A small section of the internet now appears convinced that the killing of Charlie Kirk was linked to recent visa crackdowns and the ongoing rift in India-US ties. Others cited various anti-India posts made by the conservative activist during the final days of his life to underscore their point. The conservative leader had been well-known for his hardliner views on immigration, abortion, gun rights and race — often making deeply divisive statements on various issues.
MAGA supporters on social media suggested that the attack was a way to “shift the narrative” since the H-1B visa argument was heating up — with a significant number of these posts devolving rapidly into racist tropes. The increasingly bizarre and growing list of theories has also blamed both Democrats and Republicans with a variety of reasons outlined online.
What did Kirk say?
Kirk had vehemently opposed the granting of new US visas to Indian professionals and urged America to block the outsourcing of tech jobs to the other country. The September 5 post at the center of conspiracy theories had gone a step further to accuse Indian social media accounts of being paid by the government to promote supportive content.
“You have to wonder if this coordinated activity promoting the interests of India should trigger FARA registrations. Many accounts are obviously being paid to peddle this trash from the Indian government, who is paying them and how much? We need answers,” he wrote on X while re-sharing claims that large accounts were being “paid to attack the Trump tariffs”.
What are FARA registrations?
The Foreign Agents Registration Act is an US law which requires individuals or entities acting as agents for foreign governments, organizations, or persons to register with the Department of Justice. They are also required to disclose their relationships, activities, and funding, aiming to promote transparency about foreign influence on American public opinion, policy, and laws.
The demand outlined by Kirk would have required Indian accounts posting at the behest of a foreign entity to register as a foreign agent and disclose their funding and activities. But the practical enforcement of FARA against foreign individuals or accounts without a physical presence or agents in the US would be an impossible feat. It is also unprecedented to apply the American law to foreign citizens posting completely outside the US jurisdiction.
US threatens action against foreigners praising Kirk killing
US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau on Thursday warned that Washington may take action against foreigners “praising, rationalizing, or making light” of the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, adding he had directed consular officials to take appropriate action.
“In light of yesterday’s horrific assassination of a leading political figure, I want to underscore that foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country,” Landau said in a post on social media platform X.
“I have been disgusted to see some on social media praising, rationalizing, or making light of the event, and have directed our consular officials to undertake appropriate action.”
Landau did elaborate on what such action would mean.