JD Vance lies about Charlie Kirk’s murder: ‘It feels like something Trump already planned’

Read time: 5 mins

In brief…

• JD Vance and Stephen Miller, out for “revenge” after the murder of Charlie Kirk, have made “chilling” comments about attacks by the left-wing.
• The News Agents say Trump, and key administration members, are ignoring what little evidence there is about the killer and simply presenting a pre-prepared narrative about the killer’s politics.
• US politics is now so toxic and fractured, they add, that the conversation about Kirk’s killing is only about blame, and no mentions of America’s devastating gun culture.

What’s the story?

JD Vance is a liar.

Hosting an episode of The Charlie Kirk Show, less than a week after the far-right podcaster was murdered in Utah, he claimed left-wing activists were to blame for the majority of political violence in America.

"While our side of the aisle certainly has its crazies, it is a statistical fact that most of the lunatics in American politics today are proud members of the far-Left," the vice president said on the podcast.

This is simply not true – although left-wing violence does appear to be on the rise.

There have been high-profile incidents, such as the murder of health insurance CEO Brian Thompson by Luigi Mangione, who was celebrated for his good looks and vigilante actions due to his personal experiences with the US healthcare system.

But these are dwarfed by the number of violent attacks carried out by activists on the right-wing.

Data from the Cato Institute, a non-profit public policy research organisation, shows that between 2015 and 2025 there were 37 politically motivated murders by left-wing activists, compared with 107 by a right-wing killer in the same period.

But as we know, Donald Trump and his administration doesn't like stats that don't support their skewed view of what’s happening in America.

In August this year, Trump sacked the head of the US Bureau of Labour Statistics, an independent body which carries out research on employment and income in the US. Trump claimed she rigged its findings when they didn't support his claims that everything in America was on the rise under his presidency.

‘One of the most chilling things I’ve ever heard a politician say’

Vance and Kirk were close friends, having both worked on Trump’s election campaigns, and sharing ideology.

But The News Agents say Vance’s podcast appearance suggests he is now looking for “revenge” for his friend.

“The trouble is, when you're the vice president, you're not just screaming into the void – your words have consequences,” says Emily Maitlis.

“He essentially said he would dismantle institutions on the left he claims promote violence and terrorism.

“He is going after whatever he decrees to be a radical left group.”

Lewis Goodall says this echoes the words of Trump after Kirk's death exactly, when he delivered a video message from the Oval Office also blaming the “radical left” for Kirk’s death.

Stephen Miller, Trump’s chief of staff joined Vance on the podcast episode, and spoke about directing “focused, righteous anger” to shut down the left-wing in order to “make America safe again”.

Lewis Goodall describes Miller’s comments as “one of the most chilling” ways a politician has ever spoken.

Emily says his comments highlight a “massive lack of understanding” of what Charlie Kirk’s murder means for America.

“Some of the remarks that came from President Trump – before there was any known identity of the killing – felt more like a justification for something they already had up their sleeve and already had planned,” Emily says.

Did Trump and his team have this messaging planned before Kirk’s death?

Little is known about Charlie Kirk’s killer, Tyler Robinson, but it has been confirmed he grew up in a gun-friendly, Mormon Republican family.

This information hasn’t affected how Trump, Vance, Miller and other key members of the administration have laid blame squarely at the feet of the “far-left”.

Emily says the more that is revealed about Robinson, the more confusing things become – and the more it seems Trump and his administration are just telling the story they want to tell.

Notably, she adds, are the messages engraved on the bullet casing used to kill Kirk.

These referenced furries, video games and niche memes shared in online forums.

“What you start to understand is this is not remotely about right or left – this is about gaming memes,” says Emily.

“This is about nihilistic denial of self, motivation or sense of purpose. You have to be well-versed in a lot of deep internet gaming to understand even a quarter of the messaging he was trying to spread.

“If those bullet casings tell us a story about motive, it doesn't break down into left or right. It suggests that he came from a very heavy, deep rabbit-hole existence which was majorly online.”

Lewis Goodall says one thing is clear – Robinson had been radicalised. The big question is by who, and what.

What’s The News Agents’ take?

Previous US administrations, Republican and Democrats, may have used the death of a prominent political figure to make positive change in America.

This is not the case for Trump’s MAGA America.

“A rational person looking at this might think and try to analyse and reflect on the tenor of politics overall, and what may have led to this moment,” says Lewis.

“We are constantly told by these people that the end of Western civilization is just around the corner as a result of liberalism and progressive politics.

“They constantly say that liberals, liberalism, progressives, and whatever is destroying our cities, that cities are a dystopian hell hole.”

The biggest change in America, Emily adds, is that with this killing, not one person is even talking about the place of weapons in American society.

“When we were covering shootings in America 10 years ago, we were trying to work out which would be the one that brings changes,” she says.

“Would it be Sandy Hook, would it be the Parkland shooting, would it be the Pulse nightclub in Orlando?

“We haven't even bothered to start that conversation this time around. We've completely given up on ever expecting America to do anything about its gun culture.”

Listen to the latest episode of The News Agents.