Clemson Fires Staffer Who Allegedly Praised Charlie Kirk’s Killer

Bowing to public pressure — and the threat of state funding cuts — Clemson University’s Board of Trustees have fired one of three employees accused of posting disturbing celebratory messages about the assassination of conservative icon Charlie Kirk on social media. 

The board met Monday in executive session, emerging from the special meeting with a statement of action. 

“Following an immediate and deliberate investigation into inappropriate social media content, Clemson today terminated an employee due to their social media post,” the university announced.

Clemson also said it has pulled two faculty members from their teaching duties, after notifying them to “stay out of the classroom.” 

Administration officials said they will “continue to follow required processes with urgency.” But officials cited “personnel matters” in refusing to identify the individuals. 

‘They’ve Made Their Hatred Clear Enough’

Based on the context of the press release, it appears the university has fired Robin Newberry. The long-time Clemson Asbestos Program Manager reportedly grotesquely mocked Kirk’s murder on Facebook. 

“In a world full of Charlie Kirks and Brian Thompsons, be a Tyler Robinson or a Luigi Mangione,” Newberry allegedly wrote, according to a screenshot posted by Clemson College Republicans. The post refers to Kirk’s alleged assassin and the accused killer of health insurance executive Brian Thompson, Mangione, who is charged with fatally shooting the CEO in the back.

The College Republicans also posted screenshots of online comments and retweets by Clemson music professor Earl Villaver Jr., who declared the day of Kirk’s murder “one of the most beautiful days ever.” 

“Racism and White Supremacy age you,” the “Hip Hop artist and scholar” apparently wrote in response to some particularly vile posts. 

And leftist assistant professor Josh Bregy, according to the College Republicans, reposted a rage tweet from a fellow leftist, highlighting the assertion that “KARMA” caught up with Charlie Kirk. 

“As Kirk said, play certain games with certain prizes,” the original post, written by Kaitlyn Eubanks-Philips, declared. 

The university still hasn’t addressed allegations that left-wingers on campus are ramping up harassment and threats against conservative students in the belief that administration leaders won’t discipline law-breaking liberals. 

“It’s definitely discouraging knowing the administration doesn’t care about its Christian students enough to take action,” one student told The Federalist. “I don’t have any of the professors that are making those posts but I wouldn’t feel safe going to their classes if I did — they’ve made their hatred clear enough.”

‘Do I Deserve to Die?’

Clemson Communications Director Jonathan Veit said he hasn’t heard anything about the harassment allegations. 

Jack Lyle, chairman of the Clemson College Republicans, said he’s surprised by Veit’s comments, particularly after a leftist student approached a college GOP table on campus and danced and mocked Kirk’s assassination. Lyle said video of the incident has gone viral. 

Jackson Heaberlin, social chairman of the Clemson College Republicans, took the video of the young woman’s profanity-laced rejoicing of Kirk’s violent death. He said he and Lyle were doing what the young Republicans often do on campus, and what Kirk did on campuses across the country; they were “tabling” — having conversations with fellow students.

“It was the only way we felt we could have a positive impact [in the wake of Kirk’s assassination],” Heaberlin told The Federalist in an interview Monday night. “We wanted to do anything we could to talk to people.”

What the College Republicans got from a troubling number of students was heckling, harassment, and rejoicing over the cold-blooded murder of the leader of the young conservative movement. He said the hate stood out because it was so surprising. And a thought unnervingly struck the freshman with a passion for politics.

“Deep down it does affect me. I’m thinking, ‘If they think Kirk deserves to die, I’m a conservative, so do I deserve to die?’” the young Republican said. “I’m at a traditionally conservative college. I can’t imagine how conservatives at other colleges feel right now.”

Lyle said the university was slow to respond to the Clemson employee posts, and the disciplinary actions only came after South Carolina lawmakers began pressing the administration to act.

“It was only after the [South Carolina] House Judiciary Committee made a couple of comments about maybe defunding the university, only when they were threatened with defunding did they take the issue seriously,” Lyle, a junior Political Science major at the storied South Carolina university, told The Federalist Monday in a phone interview. 

Over the weekend, House Speaker Murrell Smith, Senate President Thomas Alexander, House Ways and Means Chairman Bruce Bannister and Senate Finance Chairman Harvey Peeler, all Republicans, sent Clemson Trustees a letter urging them “to meet to consider the situation and take immediate and appropriate action.”

‘Woefully Insufficient’

“As trustees, it is your duty to ensure the University and its employees maintain the trust and confidence of South Carolinians,” the letter stated. 

Clemson had condemned “any and all expressions that endorse, glorify or celebrate political violence,” but said it “stood firmly” by U.S. constitutional free speech protections. 

“Free speech doesn’t prevent you from being fired if you’re stupid and have poor judgement,” Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C,. said in a post on X.

Lyle said Clemson’s disciplinary actions on Monday are still “woefully insufficient.” The college GOP chairman said he’s glad to see one university employee fired for his callous remarks, but the professors need more than a pass from class on the taxpayer’s dime. While he believes the faculty members’ speech is constitutionally protected, it fails to meet Clemson student and faculty codes of conduct. 

“At least we now won’t have to have our fellow conservatives in their classrooms moving forward, so that’s good,” Lyle said. 

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson said the faculty members do not have blanket protection under the law to say “vile” things.

“The First Amendment protects freedom of speech, but it does not shield threats, glorification of violence, or behavior that undermines the mission of our state institutions,” Wilson wrote in a letter to Clemson President James Clements. “Clemson, and any state university in South Carolina, should not be paralyzed by fear of prosecution when dealing with employees who publicly endorse political violence.”

‘It Will Become Stronger’

Erika Kirk, Charlie’s wife and mother to their two young children, said in an address to the nation over the weekend that the movement the 31-year-old built will never die. 

“It won’t. I refuse to let that happen … No one will ever forget my husband’s name,” she said. “And I will make sure of it. It will become stronger, bolder, louder, and greater than ever. My husband’s mission will not end. Not even for a moment.”

Charlie Kirk’s conservative movement is alive and well at Clemson University — light puncturing a very dark time in America. 

“We have seen an incredible increase in both engagement and a positive impact on the numbers of our organization,” Lyle said. 

In the days following Kirk’s murder, Clemson College Republicans has added 50 student members, the chairman said. Turning Point USA’s Clemson chapter, one of the largest in the country, has added some 400 members, Lyle added. 

Heaberlin said the response has been amazing. He said he’s heard from so many conservative students on campus who have called him “brave” for speaking out against the leftist celebrants of political violence.

“All I’ve ever said is that assassination of a political figure is wrong. I live in an era where saying you shouldn’t shoot a guy is brave,” Heaberlin said.

Matt Kittle is a senior elections correspondent for The Federalist. An award-winning investigative reporter and 30-year veteran of print, broadcast, and online journalism, Kittle previously served as the executive director of Empower Wisconsin.