A moderate House Democrat warned Monday that both parties have fallen short in their public responses to the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and cautioned that escalating partisan retaliation could lead the country down a "road to ruin."
Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., who attended a memorial vigil at the U.S. Capitol called by House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said he was disappointed by what he described as inadequate outreach from both parties to express condolences and call for calm. "Punch, counter-punch is the natural reaction of most human beings. But we can't just keep on doing this. It's very destructive, and it's a road to ruin," Suozzi told Fox News Digital.
Suozzi said he spoke with several House Democrats who told him they had not been informed about the Capitol vigil, and he urged congressional leaders to do more to unify lawmakers. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said he did not attend the vigil because he "had a meeting," while both Jeffries and Johnson have publicly called for unity in the wake of Kirk's killing.
The response to the shooting, which authorities say took place last week in Orem, Utah, has highlighted widening partisan tensions. Republicans have blamed Democrats for rhetoric they say contributed to a climate of anti-GOP sentiment, while Democrats have accused Republicans of stoking hostility both before and after the killing.
Partisan focus in the House has centered on comments by Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., after an interview with the progressive outlet Zeteo in which she discussed Kirk's public record. Conservatives have criticized her remarks as disparaging in the days immediately following Kirk's death. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., announced plans to force a vote to censure Omar, a move Suozzi called "very unhelpful."
Suozzi declined to single out Omar by name in his interview, saying only that he did not think it was the moment to incite more anger. He said he had not known Kirk personally but had followed media accounts about the activist since the killing. "I saw a couple different times people would ask, 'What would you want to be remembered for?' And he said, 'I want to be remembered for having the courage to live my faith,'" Suozzi said.
The New York congressman also pointed to social media as a driver of division, saying platforms are sometimes exploited by foreign adversaries and actors seeking political or financial gain. "We have to understand that there are very strong forces working against us right now," he said, adding that manipulated videos and inflammatory posts fuel hatred and mistrust.
Lawmakers from both parties have publicly condemned political violence since Kirk's death, and investigators and congressional committees have increased scrutiny of security lapses connected to the shooting. Vigils and memorials have been held in multiple locations, and the killing has prompted broader debate about political rhetoric, online misinformation and congressional decorum.
Suozzi urged leaders to emphasize condolence and restraint and to model a less confrontational tone for the country. "One of the most difficult concepts that Jesus ever had was to love your enemies," he said. "And that's what we need to be doing right now."