CBS “Mornings” co-host Nate Burleson on Thursday asked former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy whether Republicans should “reflect” on party rhetoric after the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, who was fatally shot while speaking at a university event Wednesday.
Burleson told McCarthy that Kirk’s comments had at times been “offensive to specific communities” and that "not everyone took to his words or his rhetoric," then asked whether the moment called for Republican self-examination and broader consideration of political leaders’ responsibility when misinformation or disinformation can inflame violence.
McCarthy said he did not view rising political violence as a problem tied to a single party but rather as a challenge facing the nation. He recalled remarks by Robert F. Kennedy after the assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., saying that the country must ask itself “who are we? And how do we want to move forward?”
"We have watched this political attack on both sides… We’ve watched this on both sides," McCarthy said, adding that the question was not about parties but "a question of nations." He referenced recent incidents including the Annunciation Catholic School shooting in Minnesota last month and the assassination attempt on President Donald Trump last year as part of a broader pattern of politically charged violence.
Charlie Kirk, 34, was speaking at a Turning Point USA event as part of his “American Comeback Tour” at Utah Valley University in Orem when he was shot in the neck and later died. The founder of the conservative student organization was a husband and father of two. As of Thursday morning, authorities said the assailant remained at large.
The exchange between Burleson and McCarthy was shown in a clip flagged by The Daily Caller. The conversation came amid public mourning and statements from political figures. Former President Donald Trump, who counted Kirk as an ally, called him a patriot and man of deep faith and said his voice and legacy would endure.
Kirk’s killing has intensified discussion about the tone of political discourse and the potential for rhetoric to contribute to violence. McCarthy’s response emphasized a national approach to preventing political violence rather than singling out one party, urging collective reflection on how the country moves forward after a series of recent attacks.
Authorities continue to investigate the shooting, and questions about motives, security at political events and the role of political rhetoric in fomenting violence are expected to figure in public and political discussions in the days ahead.