Teachers, firefighters, military and journalists – fired in the US after commented on social networks about Charlie Kirk's shooting
Reactions on social networks to the killing of the far-right activist Charlie Kirk have cost their jobs on many US people, with several US states taking restrictive measures to critical comments, although the Trump administration generally advocates freedom of expression. Among those who have been fired, suspended or censored in the last days for their opinions are teachers, firefighters, journalists, politicians, a Secret Service employee and an employee of an important team from the NFL, the American Football League, writes the Guardian newspaper, quoted by News.ro.
The dismissals take place in the context in which Donald Trump's administration promises to take measures against foreign citizens who will praise, judge or minimize the murder of Charlie Kirk, himself a fervent supporter of freedom of expression.
Pete Hegseth, the Secretary of Defense, ordered his staff to “find and identify the members of the army and anyone associated with the Pentagon who mocked or seemed to tolerate Charlie Kirk's killing,” NBC News informed on Friday. Citing two officials of the Defense Department, NBC News claims that several members of the army were released from office due to posts on social networks and that “dozens” by other people, including civilian employees, were “called to order”.
The head of the Pentagon wants to sanction the US military who “mocked” the death of Charlie Kirk
In addition to the government's efforts to take drastic measures, a number of personalities and conservative groups try to collect and expose examples of comments considered unacceptable.
Laura Loomer, a supportive loyal of Trump, posted X: “Get ready to see all your future professional aspirations ruined if you are sick enough to celebrate his death. You'll make you want to never open your mouth,” she threatened.
Attention in schools
Scott Presler, an extreme right -wing activist with 2.3 million X -followers, asked for teachers who “enjoy Charlie Kirk's death” – and distributed posts and social media profiles of alleged culprits, including details about their jobs, Time magazine said.
In Florida, the State Education Council issued a proactive memorandum in which it specifically warns the school employees not to post personal opinions that “could undermine the confidence of the students and families.” Two teachers from Clay County were removed from the classrooms and subjected to a state investigation, on Thursday, one of them being a primary school teacher who posted on his personal social media account an article about the Utah incident and the comment: “Maybe it is not the obituary that we all hope to see when we are in the second place.”
The other, a high school counselor, alluded to a post at Kirk's position, expressed in 2023, that “it is worth” to have “a few deaths every year” to protect the “right given by God” to hold weapons. The counselor wrote: “37 years in public education, ready to collect a bullet for my children. No, no tear, he chose to sacrifice for the rights (to) protected. Karma!”. The comments were “flagrant” and “hatred,” said Jennifer Bradley, a republican senator, in a statement.
Charlie Kirk's assertion that was viral after being shot dead. Spoke about the subject a few seconds before
Journalists in the viewfinder
Probably the most prominent person who lost his job was Matthew Dowd, a MSNBC veteran political analyst because he suggested live that Kirk's radical rhetoric could have contributed to the violence that was killed. “Hate thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions,” said Dowd, adding: “You can't stop having such awful thoughts and then say these terrible words and not expect terrible actions to take place.”
The television network and Dowd have issued separate apologies. But in an article on substance published on Friday, Dowd said he was the victim of a “right-wing press”, and his words were misinterpreted because he spoke before he knew Kirk was the target.
However, most of those who have been fired or suspended are people with ordinary jobs, whose comments have dissatisfied employers or have been exhibited in another way. These include a Secret Service agent who said that Kirk “scattered hatred and racism in his show” and “You cannot bypass Karma”.
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Carolina Panthers, an American football team, fired a communication coordinator who asked on Instagram: “Why are you all sad? Your man said that it was worth it,” another reference to Kirk's previous comments in relation to the second amendment of the Constitution, which guarantees the Americans the right to bear weapons.
A reporter that covered the evolution of the Professional Basketball team Phoenix Suns has lost his job because he posted comments such as: “I honestly do not care if you think it is insensitive or inappropriate to refuse to respect a bad man who died.”
A woman from New Orleans would have been reprimanded by her employer after posting – and then wiped – a comment on the social networks in which she called the bullet that hit Kirk “a gift from God.”
The Hill has given many other examples of employees, including nurses, universities and others, fired or sanctioned for their comments. According to the quoted publication, a teacher from Oregon lost his job because he said that Kirk's death “checked the day.”
