Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., on Thursday urged President Donald Trump to temper his rhetoric after the assassination this week of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, saying some supporters may take heated language literally.
"I mean, there is a lot of rhetoric. And the president himself engages in it — he called it a 'hostile act' to co-sponsor the Epstein resolution," Massie told The Hill, referring to his bipartisan bill to release files related to Jeffrey Epstein. "It's ridiculous rhetoric. It's amusing. It doesn't offend me that he's over the top with the rhetoric, but some people take it literally, and he should probably tone that down himself."
Massie's comments were echoed by other Republican lawmakers who called for cooler tones in a bitterly polarized moment. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., told NBC News that Trump should dial back the anger and work to unite the country, saying of populist leaders, "populists dwell on anger." Bacon added that political violence has struck both parties in recent years, citing the killings of Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, who were fatally shot by a gunman who also targeted other Democratic figures.
Authorities have said they do not yet have a suspect or motive in the attack that left Kirk, 31, dead while he was speaking at an event at Utah Valley University. Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was killed on Wednesday and is survived by his wife and two young children, according to law enforcement and organizers.
President Trump showed no sign of altering his tone on Thursday, blaming what he called the "radical left" for the violence and urging a tough response. "We have radical left lunatics out there and we just have to beat the hell out of them," he said. The president has used heated language on multiple occasions, and some lawmakers said the moment called for restraint.
Massie cautioned that immediate reactions in the days following the killing have been emotional and said he would give colleagues leeway. "I don't think you can blame anybody for what they say in the next 24 or 48 hours, but I think it'll settle down, and hopefully it settles down to a calmer place than it was before," he told The Hill.
The shooting of Kirk prompted an intense response on Capitol Hill and across social media, with lawmakers and political figures of all stripes condemning the violence. Investigators have not publicly linked the attack to Kirk's public profile or policy positions, and they cautioned against speculation while the probe continues.
Kirk's death comes amid heightened concerns about political violence that have persisted since the 2016 election cycle, including attacks on elected officials and candidates. Republicans and Democrats have at times traded blame for inflammatory rhetoric, and the latest killing intensified debates over whether leaders should adjust their public language in the wake of violence.
As authorities continue their investigation into the Utah shooting, some Republican lawmakers signaled they want national leaders to de-escalate partisan language. Others emphasized the need to hold perpetrators accountable and to address broader questions about political extremism and public safety.
The White House and Trump campaign had not announced any planned changes in messaging as of Thursday. Law enforcement officials urged the public to await official updates and to refrain from spreading unverified information as the inquiry proceeds.