Following Kirk's assassination, lawmakers react to lethal political climate: 'Violent words precede violent actions'

Kirk's assassination is the latest in a string of political violence that has left several high-profile figures dead or injured since July 2024, when President Donald Trump was shot while campaigning for his second term in Butler, Pennsylvania. Trump was targeted again by a would-be assassin just months later. In April, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro was the victim of an arson attack. And in June, two Minnesota lawmakers and their families were attacked, leaving two dead. 

The political violence has had a chilling effect on the nation, with some lawmakers going so far as to cancel public appearances amid fears of physical violence.  

The sentiment was echoed by Democratic lawmakers on the Hill as well. 

Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon added that in order for this Republic to work, people must be able to "passionately share [their] viewpoints and do so knowing that we resolve our differences through advocacy and voting, not through violence."

"I don't know what it says about political discourse, but it certainly says something about violence, and it has no business in political discourse. You can have a robust disagreement with people, but when it turns to violence, something's gone badly wrong," responded Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., when asked about what Kirk's death said about the current state of political discourse.

"I mean, that's the shame of this. Charlie Kirk was polite, he had a message, and he spread that message, and he engaged people to speak and debate, and then he lost his life for that," said Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky. "That's the thing about this country, we have freedom of speech. Nobody should ever take out violence based on something somebody said."

Hawley, meanwhile, suggested a tactic to help solve the issue.

"I'll just say again, part of the way we stop it, is we realize that there's stuff in life that's more important than politics," he told reporters.