Kid Rock criticized the mainstream media as "nuthouses" and accused outlets of fueling political division in comments on Fox News’ "Jesse Watters Primetime" following the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
"The mainstream media is fricking public enemy number one right now," the musician said on the program, adding that he has been labeled a racist and a Nazi by critics and that such coverage contributes to an "echo chamber." Investigators have said they are examining evidence as they search for a motive in Kirk’s death; authorities have identified a suspect, Tyler Robinson, and the probe remains ongoing.
Kid Rock, who has performed at the inaugurations of both former President Barack Obama and President Donald Trump and who described himself on the show as a "very vocal Trump supporter," said he sees a pattern in media coverage that he believes harms public discourse. "We understand that everyone on the left is not sick, but there are enough people in the media and enough of these crazy liberals, too, that just create this big echo chamber," he told host Jesse Watters.
The remarks came amid a broader national debate over whether rhetoric from political figures or commentary could have contributed to the violence. MSNBC on Wednesday terminated political analyst Matthew Dowd after he suggested on air that "hateful" rhetoric from Kirk may have played a role in the circumstances surrounding his death.
Some Democrats defended harsh language directed at political opponents in the wake of the shooting. Representative Jasmine Crockett, a Texas Democrat, defended rhetoric including a description of former President Donald Trump as a "wannabe Hitler," according to comments reported in the aftermath of Kirk’s killing. On the conservative side, figures including Donald Trump Jr. warned about one-sided political violence, saying the threat is not symmetric and lamenting celebratory reactions to the killing.
Kid Rock told Watters he believes that while there is "a little bit of guilty on both sides" for the nation's sharp partisan divide, reactions to Kirk’s death from some on the left have been disproportionate and dangerous. He cautioned those celebrating the killing, saying such behavior could produce violent consequences: "You're gonna keep it up, and you're gonna run into the wrong people. Some people I know, that aren't gonna play that mess. And it's not gonna be pretty. It's gonna be very ugly."
A brawl at a vigil for Kirk prompted law enforcement action this week. Police arrested 41-year-old Terry Wilson following a confrontation at a Wednesday vigil, authorities said. Officials have emphasized that the investigation into Kirk’s death is ongoing and that evidence-gathering and interviews continue as they seek to establish a motive.
The case has intensified discussion about the role of media and public rhetoric in a polarized political environment. Commentators and politicians across the spectrum have alternately called for restraint and criticized perceived bias in news coverage. Kid Rock's appearance on Watters' program reflected a broader conservative critique that mainstream outlets unfairly target right-leaning figures and amplify divisions, while some media and political figures caution that heated rhetoric can have real-world consequences.
Authorities have not publicly identified a motive for the killing and have urged patience as the investigative process continues. The responses from public figures and media organizations underscore ongoing tensions over how political violence is discussed, reported and contextualized in the United States.