Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) called the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk “an attack on a political movement” on Sunday.
“I see this as an attack on a political movement,” Graham told NBC News’s Kristen Welker on “Meet the Press.”
“I see this being different. Charlie Kirk is one of the top three people in the country that allowed President Trump to win in 2024 by his efforts. And I think President Trump sees this as an attack on his political movement, what he created.”
The conservative activist and Turning Point USA founder was shot and killed Wednesday during an event on the campus of Utah Valley University. The alleged gunman, Tyler Robinson, was taken into custody by the FBI late Thursday evening.
Kirk, a close ally of President Trump, played a crucial role in his ground game during the 2024 campaign.
Trump blamed the “radical left” for the shooting during an address Thursday, and he told NBC News on Saturday the group stood in the way of unifying the country.
The president has referenced political violence, such as the two assassination attempts against him last year — one of which resulted in the death of firefighter Corey Comperatore — the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson last December and the shootings of Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.), Capitol Police officer Crystal Griner, congressional aide Zack Barth and lobbyist Matt Mika at a congressional baseball practice in 2017.
However, Trump has not spoken to the same extent about attacks toward Democrats, including the arson attack on Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro in April, the plot to kidnap and kill Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the beating of Paul Pelosi, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) husband, at the couple’s home in 2022. He also failed to mention the Jan. 6, 2021, riots at the United States Capitol.
According to voter records in Utah, Robinson was registered as unaffiliated with a political party. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) said at a press conference on Friday that the alleged gunman became “more political” prior to the shooting.
Lawmakers across the political spectrum have condemned the killing of Kirk.
Graham specifically called for words, not violence, to be utilized to settle political disagreements. However, the South Carolina senator argued “most Republicans see this” as an attack on the MAGA movement.
“Charlie was a symbol of MAGA to so many, young people felt disenfranchised,” Graham added. “He said things that people don’t like. I understand that. But the answer is not to kill him.”
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