Triggernometry's Konstantin Kisin on Charlie Kirk's Assassination: "A line has been crossed" | WATCH

Konstantin Kisin, co-host of the popular podcast Triggernometry, delivered a somber reflection on the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, describing the event as a chilling turning point that evokes the same dread he felt during the 9/11 attacks. In a poignant statement shared across social media platforms, Kisin expressed fear that Kirk’s murder marks a permanent shift in the “rules of the game,” signaling a darker era for political discourse and civic engagement in America.

Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA and a prominent conservative voice, was fatally shot in the neck on September 10 during his “American Comeback Tour” at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. The attack, described by authorities as a targeted assassination by a lone gunman, occurred while Kirk was engaging with students in a debate about mass shootings. Utah Governor Spencer Cox labeled it a “political assassination,” and the FBI’s Salt Lake City office is leading a manhunt for the suspect, with no motive yet publicly confirmed. The killing has sent shockwaves through the U.S., prompting President Donald Trump to order flags flown at half-staff until September 14 and drawing condolences from global leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former U.S. President George W. Bush.

In his statement, Kisin, a Russian-born British commentator known for his incisive takes on free speech and cultural issues, articulated a profound sense of unease: “Tonight feels like some sort of invisible line has been crossed that we didn’t even know was there. The last time I felt like this was 9/11 when it was clear, without knowing the how and the what, that the world was about to change forever.” He contrasted the visceral impact of Kirk’s death with the attempted assassinations of President Trump in 2024, noting that while presidential attacks, however horrific, fit within a historical precedent, murdering a young activist for hosting debates and mobilizing voters feels unprecedented. “To murder a young father simply for doing debates and mobilising young people to vote for a party that represents half of America? This is something else,” Kisin wrote.

Kisin’s remarks, which have been shared thousands of times on X, strike a personal chord. He expressed deep sympathy for Kirk’s wife, Erika, and their young children, stating, “Charlie’s death is a tragedy for his wife, his children and his family. I don’t pray often. I am praying for them tonight.” Yet, his broader concern is the ripple effect on society: “I fear his murder will be a tragedy for all of us in ways we will only understand as time unfolds.” Kisin’s hope that he is “wrong” about the lasting impact underscores the gravity of his fears about escalating political violence.

The assassination comes amid a troubling wave of attacks on U.S. political figures, including the June 2024 murder of Minnesota Democratic state lawmaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, an April arson attack on Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s home, and two attempts on Trump’s life last year. Kirk’s death has intensified debates about the state of American democracy, with analysts like CNN’s Juliette Kayyem warning that such violence threatens free speech and civic participation. Vice President JD Vance praised Kirk’s campus events as vital for “open and honest dialogue,” while critics of the political climate, including former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, a shooting survivor, called the killing a “tragedy for all Americans.”

Kisin, whose *Triggernometry* platform has hosted figures across the political spectrum to promote free expression, is no stranger to navigating polarized landscapes. His comparison to 9/11, a moment that reshaped global security and societal norms, reflects a belief that Kirk’s murder could herald a new era of fear and division. As investigations continue and tributes pour in, Kisin’s words resonate as a call to confront the growing specter of political extremism, with the hope that his grim prediction does not come to pass.