❓WHAT HAPPENED: MSNBC fired senior political analyst Matthew Dowd after he appeared to suggest Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk had invited his own assassination.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Matthew Dowd, Charlie Kirk, and MSNBC President Rebecca Kutler.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The firing followed comments made during a broadcast about Kirk’s assassination at Utah Valley University on Wednesday.
💬KEY QUOTE: “We apologize for his statements, as has he. There is no place for violence in America, political or otherwise.” – MSNBC President Rebecca Kutler
🎯IMPACT: Dowd’s comments sparked widespread condemnation, with MSNBC facing calls for accountability.
MSNBC terminated senior political analyst Matthew Dowd on Wednesday, just hours after he made remarks on the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk suggesting he had drawn “hateful actions” on himself.
“He’s been one of the most divisive, especially divisive younger figures, in this, who has constantly sort of pushing this sort of hate speech… sort of aimed at certain groups, and I always go back to, hateful thoughts lead to hateful words which then lead to hateful actions,” Dowd said of the 31-year-old, who leaves behind a widow and two young children.
MSNBC President Rebecca Kutler released a statement addressing the controversy: “We apologize for his statements, as has he. There is no place for violence in America, political or otherwise.” Dowd also issued a personal apology on Bluesky, claiming, “Let me be clear, I in no way intended for my comments to blame Kirk for this horrendous attack. Let us all come together and condemn violence of any kind.”
As of now, no suspect has been detained or publicly identified in Kirk’s assassination, although the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has released images of a person of interest. A rifle believed to be the murder weapon has been recovered, and law enforcement sources suggest it was found with ammunition engraved with antifa and transgender slogans.
Before his comments on Kirk’s supposed divisiveness, Dowd had specilated that he could have been killed by “a supporter shooting their gun off in celebration.”
🚨 BREAKING: Matthew Dowd has been FIRED from MSNBC after blaming the assassination of Charlie Kirk on Charlie himself, per Variety
Good riddance, loser! pic.twitter.com/BbfFxTTzpM
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) September 11, 2025
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