{"id":2487786,"date":"2025-09-17T16:16:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-17T20:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/obama-takes-second-crack-at-kirk-killing-condemnation-after-taking-criticism-for-initial-reaction\/"},"modified":"2025-09-17T16:17:23","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T20:17:23","slug":"obama-takes-second-crack-at-kirk-killing-condemnation-after-taking-criticism-for-initial-reaction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/obama-takes-second-crack-at-kirk-killing-condemnation-after-taking-criticism-for-initial-reaction\/","title":{"rendered":"Obama takes second crack at Kirk killing condemnation after taking criticism for initial reaction"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fobama-takes-second-crack-at-kirk-killing-condemnation-after-taking-criticism-for-initial-reaction%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2487786&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article reports on former President Barack Obama&#8217;s response to the assassination of conservative activist Charlie kirk. Obama described the killing as a &#8220;horrific&#8221; and &#8220;evil act&#8221; and condemned all forms of political violence as threats to democracy. He emphasized the importance of maintaining respectful debate without resorting to violence, nonetheless of political differences. Obama also addressed criticism he received for his initial cautious reaction, <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >wich conservatives felt downplayed<\/a> the motive behind Kirk&#8217;s murder. During an interview in Erie, Pennsylvania, Obama called political violence &#8220;anathema&#8221; to democracy and referenced other recent acts of violence, including the shooting of Minnesota state lawmakers.Even though he disagreed with many of Kirk&#8217;s political views, Obama expressed sympathy for Kirk&#8217;s family and urged Americans to extend grace during periods of mourning. He praised Utah Governor Spencer Cox&#8217;s handling of the incident. meanwhile,authorities announced they would seek the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/lawyers-for-woman-on-death-row-request-president-trump-grant-clemency-a-week-before-execution\/\" title=\"Lawyers for woman on death row request President Trump grant clemency a week before execution\">death penalty<\/a> against Kirk&#8217;s alleged killer,Tyler Robinson,who <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-to-deliver-unscheduled-speech-tonight\/\" title=\"Biden to Deliver Unscheduled Speech Tonight\">faces multiple <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/breaking-president-trump-gives-pardons-to-73-individuals-and-commutes-another-70-sentences-steve-bannon-is-included\/\" title=\"BREAKING: President Trump Gives Pardons to 73 Individuals and Commutes Another 70 Sentences \u2013 Steve Bannon Is Included\">felony charges<\/a><\/a>. <br \/> <!DOCTYPE html><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Obama takes second crack at Kirk killing condemnation after taking criticism for initial reaction<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2233505\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Former President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/BARACK-OBAMA\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Barack Obama<\/a> said the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/assassinations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">assassination<\/a> of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/charlie-kirk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Charlie Kirk<\/a> was a &ldquo;horrific&rdquo; and &ldquo;evil act&rdquo; and called all acts of political violence a &ldquo;threat to all of us&rdquo; during an interview on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Regardless of where you are on the political spectrum, what happened to Charlie Kirk was horrific and a tragedy,&rdquo; Obama said. &ldquo;The central premise of our democratic system is that we have to be able to disagree, and have sometimes really contentious debates, without resort to violence.&rdquo; <\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/3811485\/suspect-accused-ramming-fbi-pittsburgh-field-office-gate-arrested\/\">Suspect accused of ramming into FBI Pittsburgh field office gate arrested<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/3810648\/jamie-lee-curtis-kirks-views-were-abhorrent-but-condemns-the-replay-of-his-death-online\/\">Jamie Lee Curtis: Kirk&rsquo;s views were &lsquo;abhorrent,&rsquo; but condemns the replay of his death online<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/3810425\/winsome-earle-sears-blasts-spanbergers-silence-after-supporter-justifies-kirk-assassination\/\">Winsome Earle-Sears blasts Spanberger&rsquo;s silence after supporter justifies Kirk assassination<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The former president discussed the problem of political violence across the United States in a sit-down <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/oOv34VgyPgA?feature=shared\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">interview<\/a> with reporter Steve Scully, calling the issue &ldquo;anathema to what it means to be a Democratic country.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Obama previously took heat online from conservatives upset with his original <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/BarackObama\/status\/1965889591090753651\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">statement<\/a> following Kirk&rsquo;s murder, which started with the phrase &ldquo;we don&rsquo;t yet know what motivated the person who shot and killed Charlie Kirk.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We don&rsquo;t yet know what motivated the person who shot and killed Charlie Kirk, but this kind of despicable violence has no place in our democracy. Michelle and I will be praying for Charlie&rsquo;s family tonight, especially his wife Erika and their two young children,&rdquo; Obama said on X. <\/p>\n<p>Prominent conservative voices like Rep. <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/NancyMace\/status\/1965940439351194057\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Nancy Mace<\/a> (R-SC) and <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/LauraLoomer\/status\/1965922619024367693\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Laura Loomer<\/a> condemned Obama&rsquo;s initial reaction, saying it was wrong to lead off with that phrase.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Please. We all know what motivated Charlie Kirk&rsquo;s MURDER. Apparently you will never learn,&rdquo; Mace <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/NancyMace\/status\/1965940439351194057\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">wrote on X<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>Obama told Tuesday&rsquo;s crowd in Erie, Pennsylvania that the United States is at an inflection point when it comes to political violence. He also pointed to and condemned the act of political violence against <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/3442053\/two-minnesota-lawmakers-shot-by-suspect-impersonating-police\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Minnesota state lawmakers in June<\/a>, which killed State Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;When it happens to somebody,&rdquo; Obama <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/oOv34VgyPgA?feature=shared\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">said<\/a>, referring to political violence, &ldquo;even if you think they&rsquo;re &lsquo;on the other side of the argument,&rsquo; that&rsquo;s a threat to all of us, and we have to be clear and forthright in condemning it.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The former commander in chief said that he disagreed with several of Kirk&rsquo;s political beliefs.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I didn&rsquo;t know Charlie Kirk. I was generally aware of some of his ideas. I think those ideas were wrong. But that doesn&rsquo;t negate the fact that what happened was a tragedy and that I mourn for him and his family. He&rsquo;s a young man with two small children and a wife&hellip; and a huge number of friends and supporters who cared about him. So we have to extend grace to people during their period of mourning and shock,&rdquo; Obama <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/oOv34VgyPgA?feature=shared\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">said<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Obama <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/oOv34VgyPgA?feature=shared\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">emphasized<\/a> that Americans have to hold true in the process of free and honest debate and &ldquo;respect other people&rsquo;s right to say things that we profoundly disagree with.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/3805311\/spencer-cox-remarks-charlie-kirk-alleged-killer-transcript\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">UTAH GOV. SPENCER COX&rsquo;S REMARKS ON CATCHING CHARLIE KIRK&rsquo;S ALLEGED KILLER: FULL TRANSCRIPT<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Obama also <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/oOv34VgyPgA?feature=shared\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">noted<\/a> how much he respects Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R-UT) and admires the way he has responded to the assassination.<\/p>\n<p>Utah prosecutors said on Tuesday they would seek the death penalty for Kirk&rsquo;s suspected shooter, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, and filed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3809990\/charlie-kirk-shooting-tyler-robinson-seven-charges-death-penalty\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">seven felony charges<\/a> against Robinson.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Obama readdresses Kirk killing, calls political violence a threat<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3976,"featured_media":2487787,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/barack-obama.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[23987,7375,63553,5315],"class_list":["post-2487786","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-condemnation","tag-criticism","tag-kirk-killing","tag-obama"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/barack-obama.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2487786","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3976"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2487786"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2487786\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2487790,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2487786\/revisions\/2487790"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2487787"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2487786"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2487786"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2487786"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}