WASHINGTON—MSNBC has fired Matthew Dowd as an analyst following comments he made following the Sept. 10 shooting death of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, a network source told The Epoch Times.
Appearing on the network during live coverage of the incident on Wednesday, Dowd suggested that Kirk had it coming.
“He’s been one of the most divisive, especially divisive, younger, figures in this who has constantly sort of pushing this sort of hate speech or sort of aimed at certain groups. And I always go back to hateful thoughts lead to hateful words which then lead to hateful actions. And I think that’s the environment that we’re in,” he said.
“You can’t stop with these sort of awful thoughts you have and then saying these awful words and then not expect awful actions to take place. And that’s the unfortunate environment we’re in.”
Dowd also said, “We don’t know if this was a supporter shooting their gun off in celebration.”
MSNBC anchor Katy Tur said that Turning Point USA, which Kirk founded, confirmed that he was shot.
MSNBC President Rebecca Kutler criticized Dowd’s remarks.
“During our breaking news coverage of the shooting of Charlie Kirk, Matthew Dowd made comments that were inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable,” she said in a statement. “We apologize for his statements, as has he. There is no place for violence in America, political or otherwise.”
Statement from MSNBC president Rebecca Kutler: “During our breaking news coverage of the shooting of Charlie Kirk, Matthew Dowd made comments that were inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable. We apologize for his statements, as has he. There is no place for violence in…
— MSNBC Public Relations (@MSNBCPR) September 10, 2025
Dowd joined MSNBC in 2022 following a stint at ABC News.
In a post on BlueSky, Dowd apologized for his words.
“My thoughts & prayers are w/ the family and friends of Charlie Kirk,” he wrote. “On an earlier appearance on MSNBC I was asked a question on the environment we are in. I apologize for my tone and words. Let me be clear, I in no way intended for my comments to blame Kirk for this horrendous attack. Let us all come together and condemn violence of any kind.”
Kirk died at the age of 31 after he was shot in the neck about 20 minutes into an appearance at Utah Valley University as part of his “American Comeback” tour of college campuses and engaging students on a range of issues. The manhunt for the shooter is ongoing.
President Donald Trump announced Kirk’s death.
“The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead,” he posted on Truth Social. “No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!”
Melanie Sun contributed to this report.
