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By Robert Birsel
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The Trump administration has begun "looking at names" of foreigners who celebrated the death of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, President Donald Trump said, raising the possibility that their visas could be revoked or denied.
Newsweek contacted the White House for further comment by email outside regular office hours.
Why It Matters
Republicans and Democrats alike have denounced the killing of Kirk, 31, who was shot at Utah Valley University in Orem on September 10 during a question-and-answer session on campus, and there has been an outpouring of grief from his supporters.
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However, there have also been social media posts celebrating his demise, sparking an angry backlash. Some individuals have faced disciplinary actions or have been fired by their employers for their comments, and the State Department has warned that foreigners who "glorify violence" are not welcome in the U.S. The actions against critics of Kirk have raised questions about freedom of speech.
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What To Know
Trump called Kirk a "martyr for truth and freedom" and condemned the "demonizing" of political opponents in the U.S., even as he said that the rhetoric of the "radical left" was responsible for Kirk's death.
When asked by a reporter on Sunday whether he had begun to revoke the visas of foreigners who celebrated Kirk's death, the president said: "No, we haven't, but we are looking at names. We don't like that. That's not right."
"We wouldn't celebrate if something happened on their side, and we don't. These are sick people. These are really deranged people." Trump did not elaborate.
Senior State Department official Christopher Landau warned foreigners on September 11 that those who glorified violence would not be welcome in the U.S.
Earlier this year, the government canceled the visas of thousands of foreign students who had participated in or been linked to pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses or linked to Palestinian causes.
The State Department has increased vetting processes at its consulates and embassies for those applying for U.S. visas, including checking social media feeds for any antisemitic or anti-American messaging.
Immigration advocates have condemned the moves as violations of the First Amendment's right to freedom of speech.
What People Are Saying
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau wrote on X on September 11: "I want to underscore that foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country. I have been disgusted to see some on social media praising, rationalizing, or making light of the event, and have directed our consular officials to undertake appropriate action. Please feel free to bring such comments by foreigners to my attention."
Bruce Hoffman, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and a longtime terrorism expert, previously told Newsweek: "When voices like Kirk's—comparatively moderate voices willing to debate—are silenced, they're often replaced by louder, more radical ones."
What Happens Next
Authorities arrested 22-year-old Tyler Robinson on Friday in connection with Kirk's killing. Robinson is expected to make his first appearance in court on Tuesday afternoon, according to the Utah County Attorney's Office.
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