Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) on Wednesday rebuked the notion that Democrats are to blame for the death of Charlie Kirk, which numerous conservatives have suggested, and argued that one powerful figure has caused more volatile divisiveness than anyone else.
Kirk was killed by a suspected sniper Wednesday while speaking at Utah Valley University, prompting Republicans, such as Fox News host Jesse Watters and President Donald Trump, to respectively blame “the media” and supposedly culpable “radical left.”
Warren was asked hours after the shooting about this rhetoric. The Massachusetts Democrat, who has spent much of her time in Congress fighting for sensible gun reform, responded bluntly.
“Oh, please,” Warren told a CNN reporter outside Capitol Hill. “Right, why don’t you start with the president of the United States? Right? And every ugly meme he has posted and every ugly word.”
Authorities have yet to identify a suspect in Wednesday’s shooting after taking two people in for questioning and later releasing them. The Utah Department of Public Safety said in a statement that the investigation into what is “believed to be a targeted attack” is ongoing.
Several conservatives were quick to place blame on Democrats and the media, however, despite the shooter still being at large and a motive for the killing remaining nebulous. Trump himself broadened the political divide Wednesday in an Oval Office address.
“For years, those on the radical left have compared wonderful Americans like Charlie to Nazis and the world’s worst mass murderers and criminals,” Trump said. “This kind of rhetoric is directly responsible for the terrorism that we’re seeing in our country today.”

Ross D. Franklin/Associated Press
Kirk was a prominent Trump ally and political organizer for the modern conservative movement. He regularly hosted debates at college campuses across the country, and had accused Democrats of being “pro-child grooming” and supporting “baby killing” policies.
Kirk is survived by his wife and two small children, a 3-year-old girl and a 1-year-old boy.
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His death has spawned virulent debate about the political divisions in America. Warren wrote on social media Wednesday that she was “praying for Charlie Kirk” and concluded: “Political violence has no place in our country — it’s never ok.”
Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) discussed Warren’s remarks to CNN on Wednesday’s “OutFront.”
“I’ve heard things said by my Democratic colleagues that are not helpful,” he said. “I’ve heard things said by my Republican colleagues. And I think it’s important for people to understand, especially when they are in leadership positions, that your words have consequences.”