Obama Blames Trump as Kirk’s Assassination divides the U.S.
Former President Barack Obama states that the United States is at an inflection point after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, asserting that President Donald Trump has deepened divisions in the country instead of fostering unity. “There are no ifs, ands or buts about it: The central premise of our democratic system is that we have to be able to disagree and have sometimes really contentious debates without resorting to violence,” Obama said Tuesday night.
“And when it happens to some, but even if you think they’re, quote, unquote, on the other side of the argument, that’s a threat to all of us,” he said. “And we have to be clear and forthright in condemning them.” Obama has maintained a relatively low profile since leaving the presidency. In response to a moderator’s questions on Tuesday, he discussed Trump’s rhetoric following Kirk’s assassination, along with other administrative actions. The Democrat addressed his leadership in the aftermath of the 2015 murder of nine Black parishioners at a Charleston, South Carolina, church, alongside Republican then-President George W. Bush’s response to the September 11 terrorist attacks. “He said he sees the role of a president in a crisis to constantly remind us of the ties that bind us together.”
“The sentiment among Trump and his aides following Kirk’s killing of calling political opponents ‘vermin, enemies… speaks to a broader problem,’” Obama said. Kirk, a prominent figure in conservative politics, became a trusted advisor to Trump after establishing Arizona-based Turning Point USA, one of the largest political organizations in the country. Trump has intensified threats to address what he labels as the radical left after Kirk’s assassination, raising concerns that his Republican administration is attempting to leverage the outrage over the killing to stifle political dissent. On Wednesday, Trump’s White House reacted to Obama’s comments by attributing the country’s animosity to him, labeling him the architect of modern political division in America. “Obama used every opportunity to sow division and pit Americans against each other, and following his presidency more Americans felt Obama divided the country than felt he united it,” White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said in a statement. On Tuesday, Obama also mentioned Trump’s recent deployment of National Guard troops in Washington and the ID checks by federal agents in Los Angeles. He urged citizens and elected officials to closely monitor the decisions that break established norms.
“What you’re seeing, I think, is the sense that through executive power, many of the guardrails and norms that I thought I had to abide by as president of the United States, that George Bush thought he had to abide by as president of the United States, that suddenly those no longer apply,” Obama said. This is a perilous time. Following Kirk’s death, Obama expressed on X that he and Michelle were praying for Kirk’s family, stating: “This kind of despicable violence has no place in our democracy.” Obama expressed his disagreement with many of Kirk’s positions, emphasizing that this does not diminish the tragedy of the situation, stating, “I mourn for him and his family.” Obama described political violence as contrary to the essence of a democratic nation. Obama praised Utah Gov Spencer Cox for advocating civility in the public response to Kirk’s killing. Obama stated that although he and the Republican governor have numerous disagreements, Cox’s approach to addressing Kirk’s death demonstrates that it is feasible to have differing opinions while adhering to a fundamental standard for public discourse.
Prior to Obama’s speech, the 22-year-old suspect in Kirk’s killing appeared in court for the first time, facing charges that include capital murder. Court documents released Tuesday reveal that as authorities pursued the individual responsible for the shooting death of Kirk at Utah Valley University last week, Tyler Robinson communicated via text with his partner, admitting he was the shooter. A judge stated he would appoint an attorney for Robinson, whose family has chosen not to comment.
