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What did Matthew Dowd say about Charlie Kirk? Political analyst fired by MSNBC after issuing apology over viral on-air remarks

MSNBC fires Matthew Dowd following comments made about Charlie Kirk's death
posted by Amrita Das
Thursday 9/11/2025 at 1:48AM EDT
  • MSNBC's Matthew Dowd fired after viral remarks on Charlie Kirk's death (Image by by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
    MSNBC's Matthew Dowd fired after viral remarks on Charlie Kirk's death (Image by by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

    Political pundit Matthew Dowd made some remarks about conservative activist Charlie Kirk's death on Wednesday, leading to his reported termination from MSNBC. Charlie, 31, was shot during an event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday, September 10.

    Charlie, a right-wing activist and the co-founder of Turning Point USA, was answering questions on gun deaths and mass shootings right before he was fatally shot.

    Following his death, MSNBC was reporting on Charlie's death when host Katy Tur asked Matthew, who joined the show as a guest to discuss the matter:

    "I'm talking about the environment in which a shooting like this happens."

    Matthew highlighted that the details of the shooting were still unclear, adding:

    "We don't know if this was a supporter shooting their gun off in celebration."

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    Matthew opined:

    "But following up with what was just said, he’s been one of the most divisive, especially divisive younger figures, in this, who is constantly sort of pushing this sort of hate speech, or sort of aimed at certain groups, and I always go back to hateful thoughts, lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions, and I think that’s the environment that we're in."

    Matthew continued:

    "You can't stop with these sort of awful thoughts you have, and then saying these awful words, and then not expect awful actions to take place. And that's the unfortunate environment we are in."

    MSNBC fires Matthew Dowd over his comments on Charlie Kirk's death

    Matthew Dowd's remarks earned him severe criticism online. Several netizens called out MSNBC and blamed the network for Matthew's "insensitive" and "inappropriate" words.

    Rebecca Kutler, the network's president, soon addressed the situation. MSNBC shared her statement on X on September 11:

    "During our breaking news coverage of the shooting of Charlie Kirk, Matthew Dowd made comments that were inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable. We apologize for his statements, as has he. There is no place for violence in America, political or otherwise."

    According to Variety, Matthew Dowd also issued his apology on BlueSky:

    "My thoughts & prayers are w/ the family and friends of Charlie Kirk. On an earlier appearance on MSNBC I was asked a question on the environment we are in. I apologize for my tone and words."

    He explained:

    "Let me be clear, I in no way intended for my comments to blame Kirk for this horrendous attack. Let us all come together and condemn violence of any kind."

    Matthew, who joined the network as a guest analyst in 2022, has reportedly been fired, per Fox News.

    TOPICS: Matthew Dowd, Charlie Kirk, Charlie Kirk, Charlie Kirk's death, Gun Violence


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