Obama condemns Charlie Kirk's killing, calls political violence 'a threat to all of us'

Former President Barack Obama on Tuesday condemned the assassination of Charlie Kirk and the spate of political violence that has gripped the country while rebuking President Donald Trump and his allies' for politicizing the shooting and not doing more to unite the country

Former President Barack Obama on Tuesday condemned the assassination of Charlie Kirk and the spate of political violence that has gripped the country while rebuking President Donald Trump and his allies' for politicizing the shooting and not doing more to unite the country.

Speaking in Erie, Pennsylvania, at the Jefferson Educational Society, a nonprofit think tank, with moderator Steve Scully, Obama said that Kirk's murder was "horrific and a tragedy," adding that the nation's democratic system is grounded in the principle that people can disagree without resorting to violence.

"And when it happens to some, but even if you think they’re, quote, unquote, on the other side of the argument, that’s a threat to all of us," he said. "And we have to be clear and forthright in condemning them."

Obama added that he was generally aware of Kirk's ideas, and while he believed they were wrong, the conservative activist's death was a tragedy and he mourns for his family.

Still, that doesn't mean people can't debate ideas promoted by victims of political violence, Obama said. He criticized the Trump White House for immediately accusing the far-left of being responsible for the shooting even before details emerged about the perpetrator.