US vows action against foreigners mocking Charlie Kirk’s death

The U.S. government is vowing to punish foreign nationals who ridicule or celebrate the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said on Sept. 11 that consular officials have been directed to take “appropriate action” against offenders. The move follows a surge of online posts from abroad mocking Kirk’s fatal shooting in Utah.

In a statement on X, Landau said he was “disgusted to see some on social media praising, rationalizing, or making light of the event, and have directed our consular officials to undertake appropriate action.” He added that “foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country.” While his remarks did not outline specific penalties, they suggested that visa restrictions or denials of entry are under consideration.

Kirk, founder of the conservative organization Turning Point USA, was shot and killed on Sept. 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University. Authorities said the suspect is in custody but has refused to cooperate with investigators, leaving the motive for the attack unclear. Utah Governor Spencer Cox confirmed the ongoing investigation, noting that state and federal agencies are working together to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

The State Department has not detailed how it intends to identify foreign nationals who post about Kirk’s death or what standards will be used to determine whether online remarks justify punitive measures. Under President Donald Trump, the department expanded its vetting process for visa applicants to include reviews of social media accounts, requiring applicants to make their profiles publicly accessible and allowing officials to flag posts considered hostile to the U.S. or antisemitic. The current directive appears to build on those practices, with authorities now encouraging reports of foreign nationals whose online comments are viewed as celebrating or trivializing the killing.