Rep. Bob Onder (R-Mo.) was sharply criticized Thursday after he used the House floor to denounce left-leaning Americans following the killing of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, saying parts of the American left are "pure evil" and equating their ideology with historical totalitarian figures.
Onder said in the prepared remarks and floor address that "everything has changed" and that "some on the American left are undoubtedly well-meaning people but their ideology is pure evil. They hate the good, the truth and the beautiful and embraced the evil, the false and the ugly." He added, "And they, literally, will kill those with whom they disagree just as their predecessors, leftists [Karl] Marx and [Joseph] Stalin and [Vladimir] Lenin and Pol Pot and Fidel Castro did."
Onder's remarks came as national political figures seized on the fatal shooting of Kirk, a prominent conservative activist, to assign blame. President Donald Trump used an Oval Office address to attack what he called the "radical left," saying those who described Kirk as a Nazi were "directly responsible for the terrorism that we’re seeing in our country today." Conservative commentators and allies of the former president also publicly suggested liberal rhetoric had contributed to the violence, and some called for retribution. Conservative podcast host Katie Miller, the wife of senior White House aide Stephen Miller, wrote on social media that liberals had "blood" on their "hands."
The reaction to Onder's floor speech was swift and bipartisan on social media, with critics calling his language incendiary. Former Justice Department official George Conway described the remarks as "pure projection." Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) said Onder's words amounted to spreading hate and fueling anger from the House floor. Progressive organizer Nate Blouin wrote that the "they are well-meaning but pure evil" framing cloaked extremist rhetoric in flowery language. Other commentators noted the repetition of long-standing partisan tropes and urged caution about assigning motive before investigators have released details.
Authorities have released limited information about the shooter and the motive in Kirk's killing. Law enforcement officials are continuing an investigation, and no official determination has been made publicly tying the suspect to any organized movement or political ideology. Despite those gaps, political leaders across the spectrum have publicly attributed responsibility for the violence to opposing ideological camps.
The episode underscores a broader concern among lawmakers and analysts about the role of partisan rhetoric in an already polarized political climate. In recent years, both Republican and Democratic officials have been criticized at times for harsh language about opponents; observers say the escalation raises risks for public discourse and personal safety. Congressional ethics officials and House leaders have not announced any formal response to Onder's remarks.
Onder, first elected to Congress in 2022, has served on the House floor and in committee debates as a prominent conservative voice from Missouri. In his recent address, he urged a framing of political conflict that, he said, acknowledged the stakes of an ideological struggle.
Investigators continue to examine the circumstances of Kirk's death. Officials have not indicated a timeline for releasing additional findings. Meanwhile, the public exchange of blame by elected officials and media figures has intensified calls from some quarters for de-escalation and caution in public statements while investigators develop a clearer picture of the shooting and any possible motives.