CBS host suggests Republican ‘rhetoric’ to blame for Charlie Kirk assassination

The mainstream media is pointing the finger at Republicans in the aftermath of the horrific assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.

Kirk was shot and killed at the Utah Valley University campus on Wednesday during the first stop of his highly anticipated college campus tour. Kirk was rushed to a nearby hospital, where the 31-year-old later passed away, leaving behind his wife, Erika, and their two beautiful children.

‘Is this a moment for your party to reflect on political violence?’

Less than 24 hours later, CBS host Nate Burleson made a classless insinuation that Republicans are to blame for the atrocity, asking former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) if his party should “reflect on political violence” following Kirk’s murder. At the same time, Burleson took it upon himself to remind the audience of Kirk’s “offensive” rhetoric.

“Not everyone took to his words or his rhetoric,” Burleson said. “You know, at times, they were offensive to specific communities. But with that said, this is not the time to focus on that. We are focused on this tragedy.”

RELATED: Witnesses say ‘there was not enough security’ prior to horrific Charlie Kirk assassination

Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images

“Speaking of this tragedy, is this a moment for your party to reflect on political violence?” Burleson asked McCarthy.

“Is it a moment for us to think about the responsibility of our political leaders and their voices and what it does to the masses as they get lost in misinformation or disinformation that turns in and spills into political violence?” Burleson reiterated.

McCarthy rejected Burleson’s premise that Republicans are to blame. Another panelist interjected, “I say both parties.”

“I don’t even say parties; I say a nation,” McCarthy responded.

“We have watched this political attack on both sides,” McCarthy said. “We’ve watched what happened in Minnesota. We watched what happened to President Trump. We’ve watched this on both sides. This is not a question about parties; this is a question about nations.”

“We cannot normalize this,” McCarthy added. “But Charlie was not elected.”

CBS did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Blaze News.

RELATED: New York Times continues SPLC demonization of Charlie Kirk, accuses him of provocation

Photo by Nathan Howard/Getty Images

Burleson was not the only media talking head to pin the blame on Republicans. During the live coverage of the horrific assassination, MSNBC host Matthew Dowd seemingly blamed Kirk because he was “divisive.”

Dowd 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 we’re in. … You can’t stop with these sort of awful thoughts you have and then saying these awful words and not expect awful actions to take place. And that’s the unfortunate environment we’re in.”

After Dowd’s remarks aired, MSNBC’s public relations account on X issued a statement disavowing the host, and the network later fired him.

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

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