Vice President JD Vance has intensified his criticism of the left after Charlie Kirk’s assassination, stating that celebrating someone’s death shouldn’t protect them from consequences. He called for universities to cut funding if professors celebrate Kirk’s death and blamed liberal groups for inciting violence. Vance also claimed that his administration plans to target organizations that fund left-wing political violence.
In an interview with Fox News, Vance said the First Amendment doesn’t protect people who celebrate violent acts, but it does allow civil society to take action. He stated that the government can’t stop hate speech, but it can punish those who promote it. Vance’s comments reflect a growing effort by the Trump administration to target liberal groups for investigation or funding cuts.
Vance also echoed President Donald Trump’s views on left-wing radicals being the problem and implied that right-wing violence is not equivalent. He shared his personal connection with Kirk, saying he wouldn’t be vice president without Kirk’s support during his Senate primary campaign. Vance expressed support for televising Tyler Robinson’s trial, but did not comment on whether he supports the suspect’s punishment.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/09/17/politics/vance-first-amendment-charlie-kirk