In a political climate where the lines between civil disagreement and open warfare have been erased, a new, shocking truth has emerged. It’s not just about what people say, but what they refuse to say. And according to Fox News’ chief political analyst Brit Hume, the left’s refusal to mourn the death of Charlie Kirk with a shred of basic human decency is not only a moral failure but a political blunder of historic proportions. In a searing, no-holds-barred appearance on “Special Report,” Hume delivered a blunt warning: the celebratory and vicious online reaction will backfire, and the damage will be long-lasting.
Hume did not mince words. He drew a direct and powerful parallel between the online mockery of Kirk’s assassination and what he called “Trump Derangement Syndrome.” In his view, the widespread and irrational hatred of Charlie Kirk is a mere reflection of the venom directed at President Donald Trump. “I think, to a considerable extent, the reaction to Charlie Kirk is a reflection of what has been the reaction to Donald Trump. Donald Trump has triggered what is widely referred to as Trump Derangement Syndrome, which refers to an absolute inability to see Donald Trump as anything other than a danger, a threat to society, a national emergency,” Hume said. “Charlie Kirk went around the country supporting President Trump by and large, but with his own agenda as well. And the reaction is very similar. It is irrational, it is vicious, it is extraordinarily harsh.”
His comments struck a nerve because they spoke to a reality many Americans, regardless of their political affiliation, are wrestling with. In the wake of Kirk’s death, a grim and disturbing picture has emerged. Social media platforms were flooded with posts celebrating the assassination, with some individuals writing that Kirk “deserved it” or that his death was a cause for celebration. Commentators and public figures on the left have been accused of not just failing to condemn the violence but actively trying to justify it. In a shocking turn, several individuals, including a public school teacher in Toronto and a nurse in New Jersey, have lost their jobs over online remarks either mocking Kirk’s death or celebrating his assassination.
For Hume, this behavior is a fundamental betrayal of a core American value. “Americans as a people have long thought that ordinary decency requires that you don’t speak ill of the dead, certainly not in the immediate aftermath of a death. You don’t do that,” Hume said. “That’s not how Americans react. It’s not how most people in the world react. And yet we’ve seen some of that. And I think that you’re right, Bret, that it’s been so poisonous and seems so poisonous to so many people that it reflects badly on the American left and, therefore, to some extent on the political party that represents the American.”
Hume’s analysis touches on a broader trend that has been amplified by the assassination. Many have pointed to a disturbing new trend of prominent figures on the left using the tragic death as an opportunity to score political points or justify their hatred. In one example, Tom Elliot, founder of Grabien News, shared a viral montage on social media showing left-wing figures and commentators who have a large online following either celebrating or applauding Kirk’s assassination. The video was a powerful and chilling testament to the kind of commentary that has become all too common.
However, the condemnation is not just coming from the right. In a powerful, televised moment, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, during his SiriusXM show, publicly condemned the online cheers over Kirk’s murder. Smith, a figure not known for his conservative leanings, took a firm moral stand against the hateful rhetoric. His stance was a clear sign that the issue of basic decency is one that transcends the political spectrum, and that the left’s actions are creating a moral backlash that they may not be prepared for.
Hume ended his commentary with a powerful and optimistic note, suggesting that something “very positive may have come out of this” tragic event. When asked by Baier about reports of a surge in faith among younger generations in the wake of Kirk’s death, Hume suggested that Kirk’s unapologetic embrace of his beliefs may have created “a new kind of permission structure” that encouraged others to do the same. “It was certainly central to Charlie Kirk’s message and the way he lived his life. It may have helped to create a new kind of permission structure on that very thing in life,” Hume said. He even mentioned that “he was reading that the churches were filled to a much greater extent than usual this Sunday,” a detail that has since been widely cited as evidence that the tragedy has sparked a spiritual awakening.
Ultimately, Hume’s analysis is not just a commentary on a political spat; it’s a profound observation about the state of American society. He argues that in their blind hatred of a man, the left has not only lost their way but has also handed their political opponents a powerful new weapon. The debate is no longer about policy, but about decency, morality, and the very soul of the nation. As the outrage continues to mount and more people face real-world consequences for their online behavior, Hume’s prediction of a backlash seems less like a possibility and more like an inevitability. The political left is now in a position where they must either abandon their celebratory and indecent rhetoric or face the wrath of a nation that still believes in the simple truth that you don’t speak ill of the dead.
