Videos: MSNBC analyst fired after blaming Charlie Kirk for his own assassination

An MSNBC political analyst has been fired after making “inappropriate” and “unacceptable” comments shortly after Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk was shot while addressing a crowd of thousands of students at Utah Valley University on Wednesday.

Following reports of Kirk being shot at Utah Valley University, political analyst Matthew Dowd, who was the chief strategist for George W. Bush’s presidential campaign in 2004, described the 31-year-old conservative leader as one of the “most divisive” individuals.

“He’s been one of the most divisive, especially divisive younger figures in this, who is constantly sort of pushing this sort of hate speech or sort of aimed at certain groups,” Dowd said. “And I always go back to, hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions.”

In another video clip, Dowd added, “I think that’s the environment we’re in, that the people just — you can’t stop with these sort of awful thoughts you have, and then saying these awful words, and not expect awful actions to take place. And that's the unfortunate environment we’re in.”

Fox News reported that Dowd’s comments were met with widespread backlash in the aftermath of Kirk’s assassination on Wednesday. Regarding MSNBC’s reporting featuring Dowd, an anonymous senior Trump administration official told Fox News, “They are scumbags. They need to look inward and realize they are hurting this nation with their awful rhetoric.”

Meanwhile, Fox News host Jesse Watters suggested that the MSNBC political analyst “should be fired immediately.”

“I expect him to be terminated within 24 hours,” Watters stated. “You can’t say Charlie deserved to die. You just can’t say that, and I hope he loses his job.”

In a Wednesday evening post on X, formerly Twitter, MSNBC shared a statement from MSNBC President Rebecca Kutler, which said, “During our breaking news coverage of the shooting of Charlie Kirk, Matthew Dowd made comments that were inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable. We apologize for his statements, as has he. There is no place for violence in America, political or otherwise.”

Two sources familiar with the situation told Fox News that the news outlet fired Dowd following his “unacceptable” comments on Wednesday.

Referencing his initial comments in the aftermath of Kirk’s assassination, Dowd later issued a statement on BlueSky, saying, “My thoughts & prayers are w/ the family and friends of Charlie Kirk. On an earlier appearance on MSNBC I was asked a question on the environment we are in. I apologize for my tone and words. Let me be clear, I in no way intended for my comments to blame Kirk for this horrendous attack. Let us all come together and condemn violence of any kind.”