The Donald Trump government is leading a vehement crackdown against critics of Charlie Kirk following his assassination. Republican leaders and conservative commentators have warned Americans to mourn Kirk respectfully or suffer consequences — with many fired or suspended after discussing the killing online.
Searchable database of 30,000 critics
An online group known as the Charlie Kirk Data Foundation has also begun crowdsourcing a database of social media users who criticised Kirk or celebrated his death in any way. The site was initially launched with the name ‘Expose Charlie’s Murderers’ and claimed it was collating data on thousands of critics. The domain was registered anonymously, and its creators insisted that this was not a doxing site. But the campaign has included a wide range of social media posts and even personal messages — many from accounts with scant followers or people who were not public figures.
“This website will soon be converted into a searchable database of all 30,000 submissions, filterable by general location and job industry. This is a permanent and continuously-updating archive of Radical activists calling for violence,” the now-removed site had claimed.
“I will be spending my night making everyone I find online who celebrates his death famous, so prepare to have your whole future professional aspirations ruined if you are sick enough to celebrate his death,” far right influencer Laura Loomer posted on X.
Firings, suspensions and punishment
Multiple people have been fired or suspended over the past few days for their reaction to the killing. The growing list reportedly includes people from various walks of life, including a Secret Service agent, teachers, healthcare workers, airline employees, and media figures.
The Trump administration and various Republican officials have also issued open calls for punitive action — against both private individuals and government personnel. Vice President JD Vance and other Trump aides have also urged people to report their peers in case they make ‘disrespectful’ comments about Kirk. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also confirmed that the US government had initiated visa cancellations for those who expressed negative views about Kirk.
According to reports, US Secret Service agent Anthony Pough was placed on administrative leave with his security clearance revoked earlier this week. He had reportedly posted online that Kirk had “spewed hate and racism” — implying that karma caught up with the activist. Conservative leaders including Senator Marsha Blackburn had subsequently issued calls for his immediate dismissal.
ABC yanks ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ off air
Popular talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live was pushed unceremoniously off air on Wednesday — only to be replaced with a Charlie Kirk tribute. Walt Disney-owned ABC made the announcement after the late-night show host commented on the assassination and prompted a top US official to level threats against the company.
“We hit some new lows over the weekend, with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them, and doing everything they can to score political points from it,” Kimmel had said during a monologue on Monday.
President Donald Trump — who has repeatedly pressured broadcasters to stop airing content he has found objectionable — celebrated the news while several Democratic lawmakers warned that free speech was under attack.