 "From India to Gaza and guns: Why Charlie Kirk was so controversial")
Right-wing commentator Charlie Kirk has been shot dead. The 31-year-old Trump loyalist was killed while speaking at an event in Utah. Videos on social media show Kirk clutching at his neck after a loud gunshot is heard, while the large crowd listening to him flees. US President Donald Trump, condemning the incident, said White House flags would be lowered to half-mast until Sunday.
Kirk was a controversial figure in many US circles. He has a long history of making inflammatory and racist remarks against Indians, women, trans people and Palestinians. He has also previously remarked that gun deaths are “worth it” in order for the US to continue having the Second Amendment.
Let us take a look at his controversial remarks and controversies.
On India and Indians
Kirk has recently made inflammatory and racist remarks about Indians. Just last week, Kirk said America was “full” and that they needed to put their “own people” first.
"America does not need more visas for people from India. Perhaps no form of legal immigration has so displaced American workers as those from India. Enough already. We’re full. Let’s finally put our own people first,” Kirk wrote on X on 2 September.
Kirk on 5 September also claimed social media accounts were being paid to attack Trump’s tariffs on India.
“You have to wonder if this coordinated activity promoting the interests of India should trigger FARA registrations. Many accounts are obviously being paid to peddle this trash from the Indian government — who is paying them and how much? We need answers,” Kirk wrote.
That very same day, he also praised Donald Trump for reportedly mulling blocking outsourcing to India. “President Trump is reportedly considering blocking American tech companies from outsourcing their work to Indian companies. Good. Invest in this country first. Hire American companies and American workers,” Kirk wrote.
He also reposted another right-wing commentator who accused Indians of being among the biggest violators of H-1B rules.
“I have just now heard about the illegal India payments to influencers — this is exactly the sort of scam I was talking about this morning. Tariff!” Kirk said.
On Gaza and Muslims
Kirk has been a staunch defender of Israel’s war on Gaza. While many experts have accused Israel of starving the Palestinian people, Kirk has rejected this argument. “No, Israel is not starving Gazans,” Kirk said in July 2025.
That same month, Kirk called images of starving children in Gaza “propaganda”, saying it’s “emotional, visual, optical warfare.”
In 2023, he also made racist remarks against Muslims.
“Muslims that run Hamas are not going to stop until they believe they can kill every single Jew on the face of the earth. That is their goal.”
On guns
Kirk’s previous remarks about gun violence have now resurfaced. A staunch Second Amendment advocate, Kirk said in April 2023 that he thought some gun deaths every year were “worth it”.
“I think it’s worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights. That is a prudent deal. It is rational,” Kirk said at the Turning Point USA Faith event on the Salt Lake City campus of Awaken Church.
Ironically, his last remarks were also about gun violence. Kirk was asked how many mass shooters there have been in America over the last 10 years. He replied:
“Counting or not counting gang violence?” For many, Kirk’s remarks on guns gain new significance in the light of his death.
On women
Kirk has made several derogatory remarks about women during his career. The latest came on 8 September, just days before his death.
Appearing on Laura Ingraham’s Fox News show, he claimed that young women do not value having children. He stated, “This is one of the reasons why we are seeing a fertility collapse in the West.”
Kirk was among many in the right-wing movement in the US that are obsessed with the birth rate. Some on the far right espouse what is known as the Great Replacement Theory — which claims that a shadowy elite wants to replace white Americans with immigrants, Muslims and people of colour.
Kirk also slammed women who voted for Kamala Harris, “Young women who voted for Kamala Harris want careerism, consumerism and loneliness,” while “Trump voters, young men, they want family, children and legacy.”
In August, Kirk called on Taylor Swift — the idol of millions of young American women — to get married and have a ton of children:
“Submit to your husband, Taylor. You’re not in charge,” Kirk said. He also told her to change her name — which many independent women refuse to do. And most importantly, I can’t wait to go to a Taylor Kelce concert. I can’t say it without laughing. You’ve got to change your name. If not, you don’t really mean it.”
On abortion and rape
Kirk, who claimed to be “pro-life”, has taken a hardline stance when it comes to abortion.
Asked during a debate what he would do if his underage daughter got pregnant as a result of rape, Kirk did not hesitate:
“That’s awfully graphic,” Kirk said. “But the answer is yes, the baby would be delivered.”
Many in the right-wing movement do not support exceptions for abortion, even in cases of rape and incest — a view not shared by the vast majority of Americans.
Kirk has constantly framed the debate over abortion as a “spiritual battle between good and evil”. He has accused women who have abortions of having committed murder.
He also espoused problematic views when it comes to rape, claiming there is a “grey area” when alcohol is involved in cases of consent.
On trans people
Kirk has a long history of going after trans people.
In May 2025, appearing at the Oxford Union, he described JK Rowling as “a hero”. Many have criticised Rowling for her views on transgender people. Kirk also said, “There’s something sick and awful about chopping off a 14-year-old’s breasts.”
In September 2024, while appearing at Kansas State University, Kirk said, “Transgenderism is a mental disorder… I want people who are suffering from transgenderism to get health and care because I have compassion for people.”
In 2023, he described trans people as “a throbbing middle finger to God” and “an abomination.” He quoted the Bible to say the trans movement was “against our senses” and “against natural law”. He also deadnamed University of Pennsylvania transgender swimmer Lia Thomas.
That same year, Kirk called for trans people to be “taken care of like men did in the 1950s and 60s.” Many interpreted his remarks as a call for violence against the trans community.
Ironically, one of Kirk’s last words were about trans people. “Do you know how many transgender Americans have been mass shooters over the last 10 years?” an audience member asked Kirk. “Too many,” Kirk responded.
On Black people
Charlie Kirk has also made racist remarks about Black people and been critical of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).
“If I see a Black pilot, I’m going to be like, ‘Boy, I hope he’s qualified,’” Kirk said in January 2024.
Kirk, in 2023, slammed affirmative action as evil.
“The problem is Blacks that kill themselves a lot – kill each other in inner cities. Black crime is a huge problem no one wants to talk about. … Maybe we can agree on that. The failing government schools in inner cities.”
He also slammed affirmative action.
“Affirmative action is evil. … The problem is Blacks that kill themselves a lot – kill each other in inner cities. Black crime is a huge problem no one wants to talk about. … Maybe we can agree on that. The failing government schools in inner cities.”
“The problem is that Black fathers abandon the women that they impregnate,” Kirk added.
In 2023, he also criticised a number of successful Black women, including Michelle Obama, Joy Reid, Sheila Jackson Lee, and Ketanji Brown Jackson.
They “do not have the brain processing power to otherwise be taken really seriously … you had to go steal a white person’s slot to go be taken somewhat seriously,” Kirk said.
Kirk in 2021 also described George Floyd, who was killed by the US police, as a ‘scumbag’ and claimed he was unworthy of the attention.
With inputs from agencies
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