Obama called Kirk’s killing a “tragedy” and warned that political violence is a threat to everyone.
Former U.S. President Barack Obama has described the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk as a “tragedy” and a warning sign of rising political violence.
Speaking at the Jefferson Educational Society in Pennsylvania, Obama said: “Regardless of where you are on the political spectrum, what happened to Charlie Kirk was horrific and a tragedy… that’s a threat to all of us.”
He also accused President Trump of worsening the climate with “extreme” rhetoric. “When I hear our current president and his aides call opponents ‘vermin’ or enemies who need to be ‘targeted,’ that speaks to a broader problem,” Obama said.
Praising Utah Governor Spencer Cox’s measured response, Obama urged leaders to reject inflammatory language. He added that Americans must resist blaming entire political movements for the actions of extremists.
The remarks follow Obama’s earlier condolences to Kirk’s family after the shooting.