A newly released poll from Rasmussen Reports reveals a sharp ideological divide in how Americans interpret assassination of Turning Point USA CEO Charlie Kirk — and his legacy.
“Charlie Kirk was speaking hateful words, and his murder was tragic but understandable,” respondents were asked to agree or disagree with.
According to the poll, just over half of liberal voters (54%) and almost half of registered Democrats said they considered Kirk’s murder “understandable,” citing what they described as his “hateful rhetoric.” In stark contrast, only 9% of Republicans shared that view.
The results came just a week after Kirk was assassinated while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on September 10 — an attack that shocked the nation and drew both condemnation — as well as justification and even celebration. The Rasmussen poll, conducted September 16–18 among 1,165 likely voters, is one of the first surveys to gauge public sentiment about Kirk since the killing.
Majority of Americans Say Kirk Was a “Unifying Voice”
While reactions from the political left drew headlines, the survey also found that a majority of likely voters (62%) rejected the notion that Kirk’s rhetoric justified violence.
These respondents agreed with the statement “Charlie Kirk was peacefully and respectfully debating people, and it is a tragedy that he was murdered.”
This suggests that while a significant portion of left-leaning Americans may have viewed Kirk’s politics with hostility, most Americans overall see his death as a tragic loss for civil discourse.
High-Profile Democrats Blame the Victim
In the days following the assassination, several high-profile Democratic politicians, media hosts, and pundits openly blamed Kirk for his own death. Prominent cable news figures and liberal commentators described the murder as a consequence of what they labeled as “dangerous” right-wing rhetoric, rather than denouncing the act of political violence outright — or examining escalating threats on the left.
Political Violence and Free Speech in the Spotlight
The poll’s findings have reignited a national conversation about political violence, free speech, and the growing tolerance for ideological extremism.
The results also come amid a wider climate of political tension, as universities, school districts, and public institutions wrestle with speech policies, club charters, and ideological diversity.
Growing Concern Over Domestic Threats
The Rasmussen survey also found that 60% of respondents believe domestic terrorism is a greater threat to the United States than foreign terrorism — a sign that Americans are increasingly concerned with the rise in politically motivated violence from within.
Only 24% believe foreign terrorism poses the bigger danger, while the rest were unsure.
Context: A Nation Mourns — And Divides
The data was collected prior to Kirk’s nationally televised memorial on Sunday at State Farm Stadium in Arizona, which reportedly drew over 100 million livestream views and featured emotional eulogies from religious leaders, political figures, and Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, who has since taken the reins of Turning Point USA as CEO.
The Rasmussen poll may reflect an evolving — and polarizing — cultural battle in America.
Still, the notion that political violence could be seen as “understandable” by any significant portion of the electorate is cause for concern.
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ANYONE that claims murder is “understandable” likely lacks a moral compass and is very likely just as warped as Charlie’s killer. That is just my opinion of course but there is a reason civilized societies have restrictions on that crime.
This poll shows exactly how unstable and mentally ill half of liberals are.
Hello, Seijah! Thank you for your excellent reporting. Re: the recent Rasmussen poll about half of liberals thinking Kirk’s assassination was understandable, I’d like to see a poll of those same people which asks them if they’d ever listened to or watched Charlie’s interactions with on-campus students, & if so, how many times with a range of times given. So many have already said that they’d never even heard of Charlie Kirk, at least among conservatives who were motivated enough to begin watching such interviews & found that they admired him.
Thank you!