Megyn Kelly confronts liberal activist at TPUSA event over Trump rhetoric and Kirk killing

BLACKSBURG, Va. — Megyn Kelly faced a liberal activist during a Turning Point USA campus tour stop at Virginia Tech on Wednesday, pushing back against a claim that President Donald Trump’s rhetoric contributed to the violence that authorities say led to the killing of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk earlier this month. The exchange occurred during a Q&A session co-headlined by TPUSA and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

Kelly told the student that the shooter's motivation could not be tied to Trump’s rhetoric, saying, "Contributing to the atmosphere? Let's just make clear. This guy was motivated by leftist ideology. We know it from the bullet casings, from his own mother." The student pressed the point by referencing Trump’s memorial remarks for Charlie Kirk, asking, "Why do you support a president who contributes to the rhetoric that got your friend Charlie killed? We saw his rally earlier. He said, 'I hate my enemies.'"

Trump’s memorial remarks had included a line about the difference between him and Kirk, with the former president joking that Kirk didn’t hate his opponents. While reporting on the exchange at the podium, the event highlighted how the narrative around the shooting has splintered along partisan lines, with Kelly challenging the caller’s framing. Trump’s remarks during the memorial included, "He did not hate his opponents. He wanted the best for them. That’s where I disagreed with Charlie. I hate my opponent, and I don’t want the best for them. I’m sorry," a line echoed in discussions about the context of the incident.

Kelly rejected the activist’s premise, telling him, "Assumes facts not in evidence. What you said is not true." The student then asserted that, according to his reading, about 70 percent of political violence was committed by Republicans. He added, "DOJ just pulled it from their website." Kelly responded by arguing that, after removing the most extreme actors, the data pointed toward left-wing violence being more prevalent in the current climate. She characterized the claim as a misrepresentation of the broader picture and pressed the point that the rhetorical environment is complicated and cannot be reduced to a single party.

The conversation then shifted to the broader question of whether a president can incite violence. The attendee asked if it was appropriate for Trump to incite violence against liberals. Kelly said the president’s memorial moment was a joke she described as self-deprecating, coming in the wake of Erika Kirk’s forgiveness of her husband’s killer. She asserted that Trump has the right to despise his political enemies, arguing, "Trump has every right to loathe his enemies. They tried to put him in jail for the rest of his life. Tried to bankrupt him. Tried to put his family in jail. And they tried to kill him." Kelly offered the student a chance to respond, but he walked off abruptly.

In the days since Kirk’s death, officials have described the suspect as radicalizing over recent years. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, appearing on NBC’s Meet the Press, said the suspect had developed a leftist ideology. The FBI has indicated it is examining possible ties to leftist groups in connection with the case, though investigators have not publicly disclosed a definitive motive or group.

The Virginia Tech exchange occurred amid broader debates about political rhetoric and violence in American politics. TPUSA and Youngkin aides have framed the event as a discussion about campus civic engagement, while critics have argued that public rhetoric can intensify tensions among supporters and opponents alike. The incident also drew attention to the memorial service for Charlie Kirk and the remarks by then-candidate or current president that have become touchpoints for a national dialogue about violence, accountability, and political speech.

As the scene concluded, Kelly’s exchange with the activist underscored enduring questions about the accountability of political rhetoric and the ways in which public figures address violent incidents. The incident was not only a moment of controversy at a college rally but also a reflection of how political discourse is often reframed in the aftermath of violence, with different sides offering competing interpretations of causation and responsibility.

The broader political environment remains deeply polarized, with investigations continuing into the circumstances surrounding Charlie Kirk’s death and the possible ideological influences involved. Officials have stressed the need for careful, evidence-based analysis rather than broad generalizations about party politics. The TPUSA tour stop in Blacksburg is part of a wider rollout that includes appearances with other GOP figures as conservative groups seek to articulate a message about free speech, campus engagement, and public safety in a charged political climate.