On the anniversary of the September 11 attacks, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard released a forceful statement following the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, condemning the act as “the very definition of terrorism,” as reported by the Gateway Pundit.
Kirk was gunned down earlier this week, a killing Gabbard described as a calculated attempt to silence him and intimidate conservatives across the country.
She drew a parallel between Kirk’s murder and the ideology that motivated the 9/11 hijackers, emphasizing that both were rooted in fear of open debate and the free exchange of ideas.
“Charlie Kirk was truly one of a kind. A kind, loving, and courageous soul who lived what he preached,” Gabbard wrote in her official statement.
“His view that our political, social, and spiritual differences should be debated freely and respectfully was something he put into practice every day — a living embodiment of the vision our founders had for our country.”
Gabbard underscored that Kirk’s assassination was not random but a direct attack on freedom of speech.
“The person who shot Charlie Kirk sought to silence him, using violence to take away his freedom of speech by ending his life and to terrorize those who think like Charlie into silence. This evil act is the very definition of terrorism: an unlawful use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political or ‘religious’ aims,” she said.
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The statement connected the violence against Kirk to the same mindset of Islamist extremists and radical left-wing agitators.
“Today, on the anniversary of 9/11, we recognize that whether it’s Islamists like al-Qaeda, or the fanatics who try to stop Charlie Kirk and others from speaking the truth by banning them from campuses and ultimately by assassination, the one thing they have in common is that they are so afraid that their arguments, views, and policies will not stand when challenged in free and open debate, that they resort to violence,” Gabbard said.
She went on to criticize MSNBC and other outlets for their initial coverage of Kirk’s death.
“I was sickened, but not surprised, when I saw the propaganda media like MSNBC react by encouraging and justifying this evil. Within minutes of the shooting, they said, Charlie ‘brought it upon himself.’ They said the very same thing about President Donald Trump after both assassination attempts on his life. And the Islamists who attacked us on 9/11 also make the same argument—i.e. that ‘the American people deserved the attack.’”
Gabbard urged Americans not to allow such actions to suppress free speech, stressing that Kirk’s life was devoted to protecting constitutional freedoms.
“We cannot allow their darkness and evil to perpetuate. Charlie truly loved our country and dedicated his life to protecting our God-given rights. We must honor his life’s work, and the promise of America, by continuing to lift our own voices and defend our God-given freedoms enshrined in our Constitution.”
She concluded her remarks by offering condolences to Kirk’s wife Erika, their children, and his supporters. “I’m devastated that Erika lost her husband today, their children lost their father, and so many of us lost a dear friend.
Our nation lost one of our greatest champions of freedom. I pray Charlie is now able to rest in the warm embrace of God’s love. He will be dearly missed.”
Charlie Kirk was truly one of a kind. A kind, loving, and courageous soul who lived what he preached. His view that our political, social, and spiritual differences should be debated freely and respectfully was something he put into practice every day — a living embodiment of the… pic.twitter.com/oJ6dc2U7O4
— Tulsi Gabbard (@TulsiGabbard) September 11, 2025
Gabbard also shared her statement publicly on social media on September 11, 2025, reiterating her commitment to protecting freedom and honoring Kirk’s legacy.
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