A MAGA commentator stirred a row after claiming that transgenderism was responsible for the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the Turning Point USA co-founder, during a speech at the same organization’s AmericaFest event.
Right-wing commentator Benny Johnson posted on X and called Transgenderism an 'epidemic': "I called out - by name - the true evil, demonic force that took Charlie Kirk from us live on stage at AmericaFest. Transgenderism. The epidemic of transgender violence is running rampant in our country. Transgenderism is a lie. God made male and female. God did not make you in the wrong body. God does not make mistakes. Charlie’s final words warned of this threat. The very ideology that claimed his life. His death exposed the danger. His legacy demands we confront it. Openly, unapologetically, without fear. Thank God the Trump administration is doing just that."
Charlie Kirk was shot and killed in September while speaking at a campus event by a sniper. Turning Point USA held a major conference in Phoenix to honour Kirk’s legacy.
The man accused of killing Kirk was in a romantic relationship with a transgender partner, Utah officials confirmed at the time, but authorities say there is no evidence yet that this was the motive for the attack.
22-year-old Tyler Robinson was charged with aggravated murder. Robinson has also been charged with obstruction of justice and other offences. He has not publicly explained why he carried out the attack and is not cooperating with investigators.
Utah governor Spencer Cox said that Robinson’s partner was male and transitioning to female, and that the individual has been “very cooperative” with authorities and had no advance knowledge of the shooting.
Regarding Kirk, he was an outspoken activist who promoted traditional views on family and gender roles. He was an evangelical Christian who did not support transgender policies and often criticised LGBTQ+ communities at various events. He had a hardline stance that third-gender roles undermine the “natural” male and female roles.
Under GOP administration, Pete Hegseth, US secretary of defence, has moved to implement policies removing openly transgender troops from the military and ending gender‑affirming care, following a Supreme Court decision allowing a trans service ban. He has also criticised diversity initiatives and “gender delusion” within the armed forces.
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