Charlie Kirk shot dead: Internet celebrities mock dead Trump ally

Prominent conservative US activist Charlie Kirk was gunned down on Wednesday at a panel discussion at Utah Valley University just moments after his appearance began. Authorities confirmed the death of the 31-year-old father of four that same evening.

Kirk was considered a close confidant of US President Donald Trump and had founded the organization Turning Point USA, with which he aimed to win young people over to conservative politics. In the US, the attack sparked dismay, anger, and expressions of solidarity. But while grief and horror dominated in America, malice was spreading in some quarters.

For example, Lars Wienand, senior research editor at T-Online, caused outrage with an X-post on the evening of the attack. He wrote, alluding to Kirk's position on gun ownership: "Part of Liberty? Perhaps the shocking murder of Charlie Kirk could also be a reason for the right-wing camp in the USA to rethink gun laws." Wienand linked to an appearance by Kirk in which he defended the right to bear arms. Shortly afterward, he deleted the post, stating that it was "not disrespectful or disrespectful," but merely "too early."

Felix Schulz, communications director for Left Party leader Heidi Reichinnek, posted a meme on X with the caption "Oh no! Anyway." The meme is a common internet phrase used to express indifference to an event. Schulz may have wanted to make it clear that Kirk's murder left him cold.

Even more violent reactions were triggered by satirist "El Hotzo," real name Sebastian Hotz, known for his appearances as a guest contributor on Jan Böhmermann's ZDF program "Neo Magazin Royale." Shortly after the incident, he wrote on X: "American gun lover shot during debate on gun violence is a tasteless headline that the publishing media (not me) should be ashamed of."