Education Chief Urges Colleges to Punish Faculty Who Cheered Charlie Kirk's Death
Secretary of Education Linda McMahon says more penalties should be applied to campus officials who celebrate Kirk's death as tributes and memorials have been defaced and staff faced discipline for remarks about him.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon on Thursday urged colleges to discipline faculty members who celebrated the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, saying she would like to see more presidents take action against such conduct. The comments came as tributes to Kirk on college campuses have been defaced and as institutions have disciplined staff for remarks tied to his death. McMahon spoke with Fox News Digital at the Reagan Institute Summit on Education in Washington.
McMahon said she has seen examples where campus leaders fired or suspended teachers or other faculty for celebratory posts, and she urged institutions to do more. "I've seen some of those college presidents who have fired or suspended teachers or other faculty members that have spoken out really incredibly poorly and celebrated Charlie's death — I would like to see more of that, quite frankly," she told Fox News Digital. She pointed to incidents such as a George Washington University administrator who is no longer employed after posting "no thoughts, no prayers" following Kirk's death, and at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, where students painted over a rock that Kirk supporters had crafted to honor him. Reagan Faulkner, president of UNCW's College Republicans, said the rock is typically painted to promote various movements or causes on campus. "That is really, in and of itself, a crime of personal integrity, when those kinds of things happen," McMahon said about ruined tributes to Kirk on campuses.
Kirk, 31, was killed after suffering a gunshot wound in the neck during his "American Comeback Tour" stop at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10. The shooting suspect, Tyler Robinson, was charged Monday with aggravated murder, along with other counts. The incident has drawn scrutiny of civil discourse on campuses and the way institutions respond to provocative statements, with the report noting the shooting occurred amid broader concerns about political violence.
The administration's focus on campus conduct comes as a separate political moment unfolded. In Congress, 58 House Democrats voted against a resolution honoring Kirk's life and legacy. The Trump administration has vowed to take action against those who cheered for Kirk's death on social media, with former President Donald Trump accusing the "radical left" of driving political violence. "The radical left has done tremendous damage to the country," Trump told reporters Tuesday. "But we’re fixing it."
McMahon emphasized that Kirk's death, while tragic, could elevate attention to civil dialogue and free speech on campuses nationwide. "Charlie's legacy is going to be more and more people are going to understand how important civil dialogue is, and freedom of speech on campuses around the country," she said. "Charlie was a very forthright speaker about his faith, about his beliefs, about his principles. He didn't shy away from challenging people who had different beliefs, but not in a way to be an affront to them, but a way to ask them to share why they believe what they believed, and he would share why he believed what he believed."
As the discussion of campus culture and political rhetoric broadens, observers note that institutional responses to Kirk's death—and to the responses he provoked—will likely continue to shape debates over free speech, safety, and civility in higher education. The Reagan Institute Summit where McMahon spoke has become a focal point for policymakers seeking to shape education policy in the wake of high-profile campus episodes.
