Klein reaffirms defense of Charlie Kirk's 'right way' approach to politics after backlash, as Kirk is killed in campus shooting
New York Times columnist Ezra Klein stands by his assessment that Charlie Kirk practiced politics the right way by engaging with opponents on campuses, even as Kirk was fatally shot and officials discuss possible motives behind the attack.
Ezra Klein, a columnist for The New York Times, reaffirmed his defense of Charlie Kirk's approach to political persuasion, saying the Turning Point USA founder practiced politics 'the right way' by engaging with opponents on college campuses. The remarks come as Kirk was shot and killed during a campus event at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10.
Officials, including the FBI and Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, later stated that the shooter held a 'leftist ideology' that could have motivated the attack. Klein had long argued that Kirk's willingness to show up and talk with anyone on campus was essential to the craft of persuasion. One day after Kirk's death, Klein published a piece titled "Charlie Kirk Was Practicing Politics the Right Way," praising Kirk's engagement with the opposition and his willingness to dialog with people who disagreed with him.
Klein described the response to the column as highly polarizing. On his podcast, he said the reaction was among the most divided he has encountered, with supporters on the right appreciating the framing while many on the left were infuriated. Privately and publicly, he noted, people offered criticisms about Kirk's statements and actions. Yet Klein said he grew more sympathetic toward Kirk as a person and a figure in a politics he himself fights to prevent.
"We are going to have to live here with one another, believing what we believe, disagreeing in the ways we disagree," Klein said, describing his shift toward empathy as a result of grieving for Kirk as a participant in U.S. politics. He added that his grief did not hinge on viewing Kirk as a saint or agreeing with his views, but on recognizing a common thread: Kirk was murdered for participating in the nation's political life.
In the spirit of finding common ground, Klein released a full conversation between himself and Daily Wire co-founder Ben Shapiro. He framed the exchange around the idea that the country must learn to coexist despite deep ideological divides, stressing the need for civility and tolerance even amid sharp disagreement: "We are going to have to live here with one another, believing what we believe, disagreeing in the ways we disagree." This exchange underscored Klein's broader aim of reconciling a commitment to civil discourse with the reality of political violence.
The episode and its fallout come as U.S. political discourse continues to confront questions about violence, rhetoric, and the limits of persuasion in an era of highly polarized media. While Klein's assessment of Kirk's methods drew praise from some conservatives who felt the piece captured a more navigable approach to opposing viewpoints, it also drew scrutiny from critics who argued that endorsing engagement with adversaries could normalize or excuse harmful rhetoric. The investigation into the Utah Valley incident is ongoing, and authorities have cautioned against drawing premature conclusions about motive. The broader discussion about how public figures talk about opponents—and how Americans respond to political violence—remains unsettled, with lawmakers and commentators weighing strategies for reducing harm while preserving a robust public discourse.
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