On Tuesday, September 16, at a Jefferson Educational Society event in Erie, Pennsylvania, former President Barack Obama strongly criticized President Donald Trump’s handling of the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Obama condemned Trump’s refusal to seek national unity following the September 10 shooting at Utah Valley University.
Without mentioning Trump by name, Obama referenced the president’s history of inflammatory rhetoric. He criticized leaders who have called political opponents “vermin” and “enemies” who need to be “targeted,” describing this as part of a broader problem facing the nation. The former president specifically highlighted Trump’s stated position that he “couldn’t care less” about bringing the country together after the Utah shooting.
Obama contrasted Trump’s approach with that of previous Republican leaders, noting that figures like George W. Bush, John McCain, and Mitt Romney would have sought to calm tensions following such an incident. He characterized unity as an American value rather than a partisan position, emphasizing that part of a president’s job during times of high tension is to pull people together.
The former president drew parallels to his own response during the 2015 Charleston church shooting, when white supremacist Dylann Roof killed nine people at a historic Black church in South Carolina. Obama explained that his response as president was not to target political opponents or seek to assign blame for influencing the troubled individual.
Kirk, who was fatally shot while speaking at Utah Valley University, was considered one of the most influential figures in the MAGA movement and was seen as pivotal in improving Republican appeal to young voters during Trump’s political career. Since the shooting, Trump and other Republicans have attempted to blame “radical” left-wing ideology for the violence, despite data showing that right-wing terrorists account for more than half of politically motivated murders in recent years.
The White House responded through spokesperson Abigail Jackson, who accused Obama of being the “architect of modern political division” in America. Jackson criticized Obama for once characterizing Americans who resisted his liberal policies as being bitter and holding onto guns or religion. She argued that Obama’s division has inspired Democrats to label opponents as “deplorables,” “fascists,” or “Nazis.”
Obama’s criticism extends beyond Trump’s response to Kirk’s death. The former president has become increasingly vocal about what he perceives as dangerous trends in the current administration. In a recent social media post, he condemned the administration’s pressure on media companies, specifically referencing the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live after FCC Chairman Brendan Carr threatened to withdraw ABC’s broadcasting license.
During the Pennsylvania event, Obama also addressed personal comments Kirk had made about his wife, Michelle Obama, and other prominent Black women. In a 2023 podcast episode, Kirk had claimed that Michelle Obama, Joy Reid, the late Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, and Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson had all “stolen a white person’s slot” to achieve their success. While offering condolences to Kirk’s family, Obama disagreed with the suggestion that his wife or Justice Jackson lacked adequate intellectual capabilities.
Authorities have charged 22-year-old Tyler Robinson with multiple offenses, including aggravated murder, in connection with Kirk’s shooting. Officials allege that Robinson messaged his transgender roommate that he had “enough of Kirk’s hatred” while admitting responsibility for the killing. The case continues to fuel debates about political rhetoric and violence in American discourse.
