Former MSNBC analyst Matthew Dowd on Friday defended remarks he made during the network's breaking coverage of the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and said he was terminated after the network "caved to a mob." Dowd said he did not know Kirk was the victim at the time he spoke and called his dismissal premature.
Kirk, the 31-year-old co-founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed after speaking at an event at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025. A 22-year-old suspect, identified by police as Tyler Robinson, was arrested Thursday night in connection with the shooting.
In a post on his Substack, Dowd said he had made nearly 1,000 appearances on MSNBC over the years and that he has consistently condemned gun and political violence. He said he was asked to comment on the "national environment" just as reports came in that shots had been fired at a Kirk event, and that at the time of his brief on-air comments the only confirmed information was that shots had been fired.
"Keep in mind when the anchor came to me to comment on the 'national environment,' the only thing known at the time was shots were fired and there was no reporting yet that Kirk was the target or had been shot at," Dowd wrote. He said he told the anchor the media needed to get the facts because it could have been a celebratory firing or other non-targeted activity. He added that he had apologized for any miscommunication and lamented how his words were later portrayed.
Dowd wrote that he had referenced lessons from Holocaust survivors and a phrase he said has gained traction online: "#ItStartedWithWords." He said he meant to convey the idea that "hateful thoughts lead to hateful words which ultimately lead to hateful actions." Dowd said he was "naive" to expect the remarks to be received without controversy.
MSNBC President Rebecca Kutler had earlier described the analyst's comments as "inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable" and issued an apology. By the end of the day Wednesday, the network had severed ties with Dowd.
Comcast, MSNBC's current parent company, and Versant, which is slated to become the network's parent, later admonished employees over the handling of the breaking coverage. In a memo to staff, Comcast chief executive Brian Roberts, President Mike Cavanagh and prospective Versant CEO Mark Lazarus said: "You may have seen that MSNBC recently ended its association with a contributor who made an unacceptable and insensitive comment about this horrific event. That coverage was at odds with fostering civil dialogue and being willing to listen to the points of view of those who have differing opinions. We should be able to disagree, robustly and passionately, but, ultimately, with respect. We need to do better."
Coverage of the assassination and commentary that followed drew swift backlash on social media and from across the political spectrum. Some critics said Dowd's remarks wrongly connected Kirk's rhetoric to the shooting; others argued the network failed to provide appropriate context given the fluid and violent nature of the breaking news.
Kirk had become a prominent conservative voice on college campuses and in conservative media. The shooting prompted an outpouring of grief and condemnation, and it intensified scrutiny of political rhetoric and safety at public events.
Law enforcement officials have not publicly linked the alleged shooter’s motive to any specific rhetoric or organization. Authorities arrested the suspect and said the investigation into the circumstances of the shooting is ongoing.
Dowd said on Substack that right-wing media had "ginned up" attacks on his comments and that MSNBC reacted to that pressure. He said many at the network understood his remarks were being misconstrued but that he was nevertheless let go.
MSNBC did not provide additional public comment beyond the earlier apology and Kutler's statement. The incident and subsequent corporate memo underscore heightened sensitivity inside newsrooms about conduct and commentary during live breaking coverage, particularly in the wake of violent incidents with political overtones.
The police investigation into Kirk's death continues, and the broader debate over political rhetoric, media responsibility and the safety of public figures is expected to persist in the days ahead.