MSNBC has fired political analyst Matthew Dowd following controversial on-air comments he made about conservative activist Charlie Kirk after Kirk was shot and killed at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025. The network’s president condemned Dowd’s remarks as inappropriate and unacceptable.
During MSNBC’s breaking news coverage of the shooting, anchor Katy Tur asked Dowd about the environment in which such violence occurs. Dowd responded by characterizing Kirk as one of the most divisive younger political figures who constantly pushed hate speech aimed at certain groups. He suggested that hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions.
Dowd also speculated during the segment that the shooting might have involved a supporter firing a gun in celebration, before any details about the incident were known. Kirk, the 31-year-old co-founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot while speaking at the university as part of his fall campus tour.
The remarks sparked immediate outrage across social media platforms, prompting swift action from network leadership. MSNBC President Rebecca Kutler issued a public apology on the network’s social media accounts, describing Dowd’s comments as inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable. Kutler emphasized that violence has no place in America, whether political or otherwise.
Dowd had joined MSNBC in 2022 after a lengthy career at ABC News, where he served as chief strategist for George W. Bush’s 2004 presidential campaign before becoming a political commentator. His firing was confirmed by network sources to multiple media outlets by the end of Wednesday.
Following the backlash, Dowd issued his own apology on his BlueSky social media account. He expressed thoughts and prayers for Kirk’s family and friends while clarifying his intentions. Dowd indicated he apologized for his tone and words, stating he never intended to blame Kirk for the attack. “Let us all come together and condemn violence of any kind,” Dowd wrote.
On Thursday morning, MSNBC’s Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough praised the network’s leadership for condemning Dowd’s remarks. Scarborough described Dowd’s comments as wild speculation that was obviously wrong and extraordinarily hurtful to many people, expressing satisfaction with Kutler’s strong condemnation.
President Donald Trump announced Kirk’s death on Truth Social Wednesday afternoon, praising the conservative activist as great and legendary. Trump noted that no one understood the heart of American youth better than Kirk, describing him as loved and admired by all. The president extended sympathies to Kirk’s wife Erika and family.
In a subsequent Substack article published Friday, Dowd defended his original remarks while acknowledging the controversy. He maintained that most people at MSNBC knew his words were being misconstrued and that the timing of his comments was forgotten, since he made them before anyone knew Kirk was the target. Dowd claimed the network caved to what he called a right-wing media mob.
Dowd explained in his article that he had emphasized the need to get facts because details were unknown at the time, suggesting the incident could easily have been someone firing a gun to celebrate the event. He expressed being in shell shock over what transpired and described himself as down and disheartened by the experience.
The firing has generated significant discussion about media responsibility during breaking news coverage. Republican Representative Tim Burchett posted on social media that everyone at MSNBC needed to be fired in response to the broadcast. The incident has also raised questions about the appropriate timing and content of political commentary during developing news situations.
Kirk’s assassination has prompted broader conversations about political violence in America. The FBI has identified 22-year-old Tyler Robinson as the suspect in the shooting, according to multiple reports. The conservative activist’s death has been condemned across the political spectrum as an unacceptable act of violence.
The controversy surrounding Dowd’s dismissal reflects the ongoing challenges news networks face when covering politically sensitive breaking news events. His departure from MSNBC represents one of the most high-profile media firings related to commentary about political violence in recent years.
