Within the speedy aftermath of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s homicide on Sept. 10, Republican politicians and influencers jumped to put blame on the political left with a blanket insinuation: “They did it.”
“They assassinated our nice guy who actually talked to them peacefully debating ideas,” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) wrote on X alongside a name for a “peaceful national divorce.”
“They couldn’t silence him so they killed him,” Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) instructed the Albany Occasions-Union.
“They’re killing us in our churches. They tried to kill our president. They killed Charlie, one of our greatest advocates,” conservative podcaster Matt Walsh mentioned on X.
“If they won’t leave us in peace, then our choice is fight or die,” billionaire Elon Musk wrote on X.
“They are at war with us!” Fox Information anchor Jesse Watters mentioned on Sept. 10.
“The evildoers responsible for my husband’s assassination have no idea what they have done,” Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, mentioned. “They should all know this: If you thought that my husband’s mission was powerful before, you have no idea what you just have unleashed across the country and this world.”
“They almost killed Donald Trump, they killed Charlie Kirk, both outdoors,” Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) instructed Fox Information Digital.
Who “they” is is never mentioned explicitly, although it’s closely implied — some blurry coalition or Venn diagram encompassing Democrats, liberals and political opponents; but additionally establishments which can be already right-wing targets reminiscent of assume tanks, donors and better training, with some conservatives blaming the one semester of faculty suspect Tyler Robinson attended for radicalizing him.
Conservatives’ efforts in charge some imprecise “they” for these assaults will not be a slip of the tongue: It crafts a story of victimhood geared toward enacting retributive repression or violence in opposition to their political opponents. That is made express in calls to indict billionaire liberal donor George Soros, examine and dismantle liberal nonprofits and goal media firms, none of which seem to have had any involvement, as a response to Kirk’s homicide.
Vice President JD Vance made this clear in a livid speech stating that the nation can’t be united until the establishments of the political opposition are dismantled and destroyed.
Doug Mills/Pool through Getty Photos
Whereas internet hosting Kirk’s podcast on Monday, Vance said that the “far left” is statistically extra more likely to help political violence, showing to quote a YouGov ballot. (Precise information exhibits right-wing political violence is much more prevalent than left-wing violence.) He pivoted to criticize on-line posts that celebrated Kirk’s dying and articles that famous what Kirk really mentioned in life. He particularly took intention at an article within the left-wing journal The Nation that castigated Kirk’s political rhetoric.
“Did you know the George Soros Open Society Foundation and the Ford Foundation, the groups that funded that disgusting article justifying Charlie’s death, do you know they benefit from generous tax treatment? They are literally subsidized by you and me — the American taxpayer,” Vance mentioned, implying that the administration would goal the tax-exempt standing of liberal nonprofits. “And how do they reward us? By setting fire to the house built by the American family over 250 years.”
He went on to say that the nation can solely have “unity” after “we work to dismantle the institutions that promote violence and terrorism in our own country.”
“They’re already under investigation. They’re already under major investigation,” President Donald Trump instructed reporters Sunday about what liberal organizations would face following Kirk’s dying. Nowhere did Trump say who “they” are.
Robinson’s motives and political opinions are, in the intervening time, unknown. What seems clear is that he acted alone and when he confessed to his household, they pressured him to show himself in.
Nonetheless, this blanket insinuation {that a} nebulous “they” killed or tried to kill conservative political figures has grow to be a tic on the suitable after tragic occasions.
Simply as Mace did this week, again in 2024 conservatives blamed the 2 assassination makes an attempt on President Donald Trump on an amorphous “they” to insinuate that the entire Democratic Celebration, liberals and the left have been in charge.
“They want to do everything that they can to silence Donald Trump, and they send that signal with every action that they take,” Vance mentioned in 2024. “Well, if you’re trying to silence Donald Trump and you’re sending the message we have to do everything that we can to silence Donald Trump, a crazy person is eventually going to take that message to heart.”
“They tried to smear us. They came after us. They impeached him twice, and then, guys, they tried to kill him. They tried to kill him, and it’s because of the Democratic Party. They can’t do anything right,” Eric Trump, the president’s son, mentioned at a 2024 rally on the website of the primary assassination try in opposition to his father.
Matthew Chattle through Getty Photos
Thomas Michael Crooks, the perpetrator of the primary assassination try in opposition to Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, was a registered Republican who was discovered to haven’t any ideological motive for his actions. A social media account believed to belong to Crooks posted feedback that “appear to reflect antisemitic and anti-immigration themes” and “espouse political violence,” then-FBI deputy director Paul Abbatte instructed Congress in 2024.
The second would-be murderer, Ryan Wesley Routh, said a powerful dislike of Trump, however was a registered unbiased who voiced help for varied Democratic and Republican candidates. Maybe extra notable is Routh’s lengthy prison file of eight arrests and greater than 100 prison costs filed in opposition to him. He additionally tried to volunteer to combat for Ukraine in opposition to the Russian invasion, however was seen by volunteer fighters as “delusional” and “disconnected from reality.”
Their political opinions apart, these have been all lone wolf actors. There was no community or political get together equipment supporting them. These shooters, or would-be shooters, didn’t have connections to politics, besides that they learn or watched the information like most different People.
As an alternative of grappling with underlying issues for radicalizing violence, like the straightforward entry to firearms, nihilistic on-line dying cults or psychological well being points, the suitable search to forged all tragedies that befall them as perpetrated by their political opponents. Blaming a said “they” allows the suitable to make use of this tragedy as a method to attain what they have been already working towards: crushing their political opposition and forcing “unity” on the nation on their phrases alone.
There is no such thing as a “they” lurking within the shadows right here. Simply the phantoms that animate the suitable’s dream of retribution.
