The Pentagon has suspended Army Col. Scott Stephens from official duties while investigating social media posts attributed to him that celebrated the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, the Army confirmed.
An Army spokesperson told Fox News Digital that Stephens was placed on administrative leave after posts ostensibly from his account lauded Kirk’s death. The posts included language saying Kirk died "doing what he loved best — spreading hate, racism, homophobia, misogyny, and transphobia on college campuses," and another that said, "I would offer empathy, but Charlie hated empathy. As we have been told in the wake of so many other tragedies, we have to move on. We can’t make this political." Stephens could not be reached for comment by publication time.
Pentagon officials said they were tracking active-duty personnel who posted comments celebrating Kirk’s death and would address those instances. "It is unacceptable for military personnel and Department of Defense civilians to celebrate or mock the assassination of a fellow American. The Department of Defense has zero tolerance for it," Sean Parnell, assistant to the secretary of defense for public affairs and the Pentagon’s chief spokesman, said in a social media post. Another defense official shared similar language saying the matter was being monitored closely and would be addressed immediately.
The suspension of Stephens comes amid a broader response from the military to social media postings after the killing of the Turning Point USA co-founder, which occurred earlier this month in Utah. The Army previously suspended an Army Reserve major, Bryan Bintliff, who used the handle "Bryan Harlow" on social media and was reported to have written posts that celebrated Kirk’s death. Officials confirmed that multiple cases were under review.
Stephens, who previously commanded 1st Battalion, 4th Armor Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade, has a public record of advocating against sexual assault within the Army. In a 2021 interview with Task & Purpose, Stephens said he had "been guilty my whole life" of being part of the problem surrounding sexual assault and its cover-ups and described efforts in recent years to confront the issue and support victims. He had drawn attention in the past for his efforts to address harassment and assault in the force, saying he did not know "a single woman in the Army who has not been harassed."
The State Department also warned it would consider revoking visas for foreigners who publicly "glorify violence" in the wake of the shooting, part of a broader governmental push to condemn celebratory commentary. The Pentagon and other federal agencies have emphasized that public expressions by service members that celebrate or endorse violence could lead to administrative or disciplinary action.
The Army said an investigation into Stephens’s conduct is underway but did not provide details on the specific allegations, the status of the social media accounts in question, or a timeline for the probe. Military officials declined to discuss potential outcomes while the inquiry is pending.
A memorial for Kirk has been held in Utah and across conservative circles, where his supporters called for unity and lawfulness in responding to the killing. The federal response to celebratory posts underscores heightened scrutiny of service members' public statements after high-profile incidents involving political or partisan figures.
The Army and the Pentagon reiterated that they would act in accordance with military justice and administrative processes, and investigations into the posts attributed to Stephens and others remain open.