House Republicans have urged a select committee to investigate what they call ’the radical left’s assault on America.’
President Donald Trump said that people aligned with the political left are already facing investigations in the wake of the assassination of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk.
The 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA was shot and killed while speaking at Utah Valley State University on Sept. 10.
Authorities arrested suspect Tyler Robinson, 22, on multiple charges, including aggravated murder. It is alleged that Robinson fatally shot Kirk from a rooftop on the campus.
Trump’s remarks came as Republicans in Congress pressed for a formal probe into left-leaning groups.
Trump, speaking to reporters before leaving Bedminster, New Jersey, for Washington on Sept. 14, said the country had lost “a great person” in Kirk.
“It’s a very sad weekend in the sense that we lost a great person,” Trump said.
When asked by a reporter whether any groups were under scrutiny, Trump said investigations were already underway.
“Well, the problem is on the left,” Trump said.
“If you look at the agitators, you look at the scum that speaks so badly of our country, the American flag burnings all over the place, that’s the left. That’s not the right. We’ll see. We’ll be announcing. They’re already under investigation. You know, they’re already under major investigation. A lot of the people that you would traditionally say are on the left [are] already under investigation.”
When asked whether his administration has revoked any visas of foreigners celebrating Kirk’s death, Trump said no, but added that his administration has begun “looking at names” of such individuals.
“We don’t like that, that’s not right,” Trump said.
“We wouldn’t celebrate if something happened on their side, and we don’t. These are sick people. These are really deranged people.”
Regarding the investigation of those “on the left,” Trump did not elaborate on which groups or individuals he was referring to. However, his comments echoed a vow he made shortly after Kirk’s death to track down “each and every one of those who contributed” to the assassination and to other acts of political violence.
By Tom Ozimek
