President Donald Trump said Monday that he is open to invoking the Insurrection Act to federalize National Guard units in certain states if violence continues to escalate but noted that, so far, doing so has not been necessary.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, the president said the option remains on the table to ensure public safety amid rising clashes between protesters and federal immigration authorities in several cities.
“So far, it hasn’t been necessary, but we have an Insurrection Act for a reason. If I had to enact it, I’d do that,” President Trump said when asked under what conditions he would use the 19th-century law.
“If people were being killed and courts were holding us up or governors or mayors were holding us up, sure, I’d do that,” he continued.
“I mean, I want to make sure that people aren’t killed. We have to make sure that our cities are safe.”
Trump on invoking the insurrection act: If people were being killed, and courts were holding us up or mayors or governors were holding us up, I’d do that pic.twitter.com/g6VUEftqyE
The Insurrection Act, passed in 1807, allows the president to deploy U.S. military forces domestically to restore order during times of civil unrest or insurrection.
The statute has been invoked 30 times in U.S. history, most recently in 1992, when President George H.W. Bush authorized troops to respond to the Los Angeles riots.
President Trump’s comments follow his recent authorization to deploy National Guard units to Chicago, Illinois, and Portland, Oregon — two cities that have seen ongoing conflicts between left-wing protesters and immigration enforcement officers.
However, the administration’s attempts to expand those deployments have been slowed by multiple court orders and lawsuits from state officials.
On Sunday, a federal judge issued a temporary injunction blocking the deployment of National Guard units to Portland for a second time.
The most recent order affected units from California and Texas, while an earlier ruling had already barred the use of the Oregon National Guard in the city.
In addition to Oregon, the states of California and Illinois have also filed lawsuits against the Trump administration, challenging the legality of federalizing their National Guard members without state approval.
In Illinois, a federal judge gave the administration until Wednesday at midnight to respond to the state’s complaint and scheduled a court hearing for Thursday.
Despite the ongoing legal disputes, President Trump reaffirmed his commitment to improving safety in cities experiencing high levels of violent crime and political unrest.
He cited Washington, D.C., as an example of how coordinated National Guard efforts can restore order and reduce crime.
“We have no choice but to do this,” Trump said, referencing his broader national public safety strategy.
“Portland has been on fire for years.”
The president added that he views ongoing unrest and resistance to federal authority in certain cities as a form of organized lawlessness.
“I think that’s all insurrection. I really think that’s really criminal insurrection,” he said.
Trump on sending troops to Chicago, Portland, and Memphis: “We have no choice but to do this…I think that’s all insurrection. I really think that’s really criminal insurrection.” pic.twitter.com/To3tDeCt0v
The White House has identified three cities — Portland, Chicago, and Memphis, Tennessee — as top priorities in its current federal safety initiative.
The plan includes increasing cooperation between federal law enforcement and local agencies to address violent crime and to safeguard federal personnel and property.
President Trump’s remarks come amid heightened tensions between federal officials and Democratic governors who have accused the administration of overreach.
Legal experts expect the current lawsuits to determine how far the federal government can go in asserting control over National Guard deployments within individual states.
As legal proceedings continue, the president has maintained that his administration’s actions are aimed solely at ensuring the safety of American citizens.
“We have to protect people,” he said.
“We can’t allow lawlessness to continue unchecked in our cities.”
President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of 400 Texas National Guard troops to Illinois, Oregon, and other states as federal agents face ongoing clashes with anti-ICE protesters, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker said Sunday night.
Pritzker, a Democrat, criticized the move and referred to it as “Trump’s invasion,” following an earlier mobilization of 300 California National Guard members to Portland, Oregon.
That city has seen more than 100 consecutive days of unrest outside an immigration detention center, a situation similar to protests that have gripped Chicago since early September.
The Illinois governor said his administration was not consulted before the announcement and denounced the deployment as overreach.
“We must now start calling this what it is: Trump’s Invasion,” Pritzker said in a post on X.
We must now start calling this what it is: Trump’s Invasion. It started with federal agents, it will soon include deploying federalized members of the Illinois National Guard against our wishes, and it will now involve sending in another state’s military troops.
He urged “every American to speak up and help stop this madness.”
The brave men and women who serve in our national guards must not be used as political props. This is a moment where every American must speak up and help stop this madness.
Pritzker said the plan disregards state sovereignty and claimed that federal officials had failed to coordinate with Illinois leadership.
“It started with federal agents, it will soon include deploying federalized members of the Illinois National Guard against our wishes, and it will not involve sending in another state’s military troops,” he wrote.
“I call on [Texas] Governor Abbott to immediately withdraw any support for this decision and refuse to coordinate.”
The governor accused President Trump of using the National Guard for political purposes and condemned the idea of sending troops into what he described as a “sovereign state” without approval.
I fully authorized the President to call up 400 members of the Texas National Guard to ensure safety for federal officials.
You can either fully enforce protection for federal employees or get out of the way and let Texas Guard do it.
The decision follows weeks of unrest tied to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s “Operation Midway Blitz,” an ongoing enforcement initiative launched last month targeting criminal illegal aliens in the Chicago area.
Federal officials have said the operation focuses on identifying and arresting individuals who relocated to Illinois to take advantage of the state’s sanctuary policies.
Local leaders, including Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, have publicly opposed the enforcement effort.
Despite their objections, protests have grown more violent, with demonstrators using vehicles to ram federal agents and block ICE operations.
The Department of Homeland Security reported that two such vehicular attacks occurred earlier in the week in the Chicago area.
On Saturday, U.S. Border Patrol agents patrolling Chicago’s South Side shot and wounded a woman who was armed during what officials described as a coordinated mob attack.
The confrontation took place approximately 15 miles from an ICE processing facility in Broadview, Illinois — an area that has become a focal point for anti-ICE demonstrations.
Since Friday, more than a dozen protesters have been arrested near the Broadview facility, according to reports from Fox News.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, who traveled to Illinois on Friday to assess the situation, said the violence has reached a crisis point.
“Chicago has become a war zone,” she told “Fox & Friends Weekend” on Sunday.
Noem also alleged that local officials have obstructed federal agents by restricting their access to public facilities.
She recounted being denied entry to a government building in Broadview on Friday after requesting to use the restroom.
“They wouldn’t even let me in the building,” she said during the interview.
My team and I were just blocked from accessing the Village of Broadview Municipal Building in Illinois. We were stopping for a quick bathroom break. This is a public building. The Village of Broadview receives at least $1 million in federal funding every year.
Federal authorities have not specified how long the Texas National Guard will remain deployed in Illinois or Oregon.
Officials have confirmed, however, that the mission’s immediate goal is to reinforce federal agents facing organized resistance to immigration enforcement operations in multiple states.
As of Sunday evening, coordination efforts were ongoing between the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense, with further briefings expected in the coming days.
Hamas announced on Friday that it had agreed in principle to release all remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza, including both the living and the dead, and expressed readiness to enter negotiations aimed at ending the conflict.
The announcement followed what the group described as “extensive consultations” and came just days after President Donald Trump introduced a detailed peace proposal alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The militant group issued a statement saying it was prepared to immediately begin negotiations with the involvement of mediators to finalize the details of an arrangement.
According to Israeli and international reports, approximately 48 hostages remain in Gaza, with about 20 believed to still be alive.
The development comes amid heightened pressure from the United States.
President Trump set a firm deadline of 6 p.m. Sunday for Hamas to accept his peace initiative, warning that “all hell” would break loose if the group refused.
His remarks followed the release of a 20-point peace plan earlier in the week, which Israel formally accepted.
President Donald J. Trump’s Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict:
1. Gaza will be a deradicalized terror-free zone that does not pose a threat to its neighbors.
2. Gaza will be redeveloped for the benefit of the people of Gaza, who have suffered more than enough.
1. Gaza will be a deradicalized terror-free zone that does not pose a threat to its neighbors.
2. Gaza will be redeveloped for the benefit of the people of Gaza, who have suffered more than enough.
3. If both sides agree to this proposal, the war will immediately end. Israeli forces will withdraw to the agreed upon line to prepare for a hostage release. During this time, all military operations, including aerial and artillery bombardment, will be suspended, and battle lines will remain frozen until conditions are met for the complete staged withdrawal.
4. Within 72 hours of Israel publicly accepting this agreement, all hostages, alive and deceased, will be returned.
5. Once all hostages are released, Israel will release 250 life sentence prisoners plus 1700 Gazans who were detained after October 7th 2023, including all women and children detained in that context. For every Israeli hostage whose remains are released, Israel will release the remains of 15 deceased Gazans.
6. Once all hostages are returned, Hamas members who commit to peaceful co-existence and to decommission their weapons will be given amnesty. Members of Hamas who wish to leave Gaza will be provided safe passage to receiving countries.
7. Upon acceptance of this agreement, full aid will be immediately sent into the Gaza Strip. At a minimum, aid quantities will be consistent with what was included in the January 19, 2025, agreement regarding humanitarian aid, including rehabilitation of infrastructure (water, electricity, sewage), rehabilitation of hospitals and bakeries, and entry of necessary equipment to remove rubble and open roads.
8. Entry of distribution and aid in the Gaza Strip will proceed without interference from the two parties through the United Nations and its agencies, and the Red Crescent, in addition to other international institutions not associated in any manner with either party. Opening the Rafah crossing in both directions will be subject to the same mechanism implemented under the January 19, 2025 agreement.
9. Gaza will be governed under the temporary transitional governance of a technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee, responsible for delivering the day-to-day running of public services and municipalities for the people in Gaza. This committee will be made up of qualified Palestinians and international experts, with oversight and supervision by a new international transitional body, the “Board of Peace,” which will be headed and chaired by President Donald J. Trump, with other members and heads of State to be announced, including Former Prime Minister Tony Blair. This body will set the framework and handle the funding for the redevelopment of Gaza until such time as the Palestinian Authority has completed its reform program, as outlined in various proposals, including President Trump’s peace plan in 2020 and the Saudi-French proposal, and can securely and effectively take back control of Gaza. This body will call on best international standards to create modern and efficient governance that serves the people of Gaza and is conducive to attracting investment.
10. A Trump economic development plan to rebuild and energize Gaza will be created by convening a panel of experts who have helped birth some of the thriving modern miracle cities in the Middle East. Many thoughtful investment proposals and exciting development ideas have been crafted by well-meaning international groups, and will be considered to synthesize the security and governance frameworks to attract and facilitate these investments that will create jobs, opportunity, and hope for future Gaza.
11. A special economic zone will be established with preferred tariff and access rates to be negotiated with participating countries.
12. No one will be forced to leave Gaza, and those who wish to leave will be free to do so and free to return. We will encourage people to stay and offer them the opportunity to build a better Gaza.
13. Hamas and other factions agree to not have any role in the governance of Gaza, directly, indirectly, or in any form. All military, terror, and offensive infrastructure, including tunnels and weapon production facilities, will be destroyed and not rebuilt. There will be a process of demilitarization of Gaza under the supervision of independent monitors, which will include placing weapons permanently beyond use through an agreed process of decommissioning, and supported by an internationally funded buy back and reintegration program all verified by the independent monitors. New Gaza will be fully committed to building a prosperous economy and to peaceful coexistence with their neighbors.
14. A guarantee will be provided by regional partners to ensure that Hamas, and the factions, comply with their obligations and that New Gaza poses no threat to its neighbors or its people.
15. The United States will work with Arab and international partners to develop a temporary International Stabilization Force (ISF) to immediately deploy in Gaza. The ISF will train and provide support to vetted Palestinian police forces in Gaza, and will consult with Jordan and Egypt who have extensive experience in this field. This force will be the long-term internal security solution. The ISF will work with Israel and Egypt to help secure border areas, along with newly trained Palestinian police forces. It is critical to prevent munitions from entering Gaza and to facilitate the rapid and secure flow of goods to rebuild and revitalize Gaza. A deconfliction mechanism will be agreed upon by the parties.
16. Israel will not occupy or annex Gaza. As the ISF establishes control and stability, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will withdraw based on standards, milestones, and timeframes linked to demilitarization that will be agreed upon between the IDF, ISF, the guarantors, and the Unites States, with the objective of a secure Gaza that no longer poses a threat to Israel, Egypt, or its citizens. Practically, the IDF will progressively hand over the Gaza territory it occupies to the ISF according to an agreement they will make with the transitional authority until they are withdrawn completely from Gaza, save for a security perimeter presence that will remain until Gaza is properly secure from any resurgent terror threat.
17. In the event Hamas delays or rejects this proposal, the above, including the scaled-up aid operation, will proceed in the terror-free areas handed over from the IDF to the ISF.
18. An interfaith dialogue process will be established based on the values of tolerance and peaceful co-existence to try and change mindsets and narratives of Palestinians and Israelis by emphasizing the benefits that can be derived from peace.
19. While Gaza re-development advances and when the PA reform program is faithfully carried out, the conditions may finally be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood, which we recognize as the aspiration of the Palestinian people.
20. The United States will establish a dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians to agree on a political horizon for peaceful and prosperous co-existence.
Trump and Netanyahu presented the proposal as the most viable path to ending the war that began with Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.
Israeli forces launched a large-scale ground operation in Gaza in response to that assault, which killed and injured thousands and led to the abduction of hostages into Gaza.
Since then, Israel’s military campaign has targeted remaining Hamas strongholds, with operations continuing even as hostage negotiations moved forward intermittently.
For weeks, international mediators, including officials from Qatar and Egypt, attempted to broker agreements for partial hostage releases, but progress stalled repeatedly.
The announcement from Hamas represents the first time the group has publicly signaled willingness to release all hostages and enter comprehensive negotiations under an American-led framework.
Families of the hostages have urged both governments and international actors to secure their loved ones’ release as quickly as possible, citing deteriorating conditions and uncertainty about their fate.
President Trump has framed the situation as a critical test for Hamas, telling reporters earlier this week that his administration was prepared to escalate consequences if the deadline was ignored.
“All hell will break loose if they don’t agree,” he said, driving home his administration’s position that further delays would not be tolerated.
The conflict, which has stretched nearly a year, has drawn international responses ranging from calls for ceasefire to diplomatic recognition of Palestinian statehood by some European governments.
The announcement from Hamas introduces a possible turning point, though questions remain over whether the group will follow through.
As the deadline approaches, attention remains on whether Hamas will act on its statement and whether the mediated talks will move forward.
For the families of those still in captivity, the possibility of resolution offers a measure of hope, but uncertainty remains as Israel and its allies weigh the next steps in the conflict.
Netflix is under renewed criticism following the resurfacing of a controversial scene from its animated children’s series Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous, as reported by The Gateway Pundit.
The scene, which depicts two teenage characters sharing a kiss, sparked outrage after a screenshot went viral on X, gaining more than seven million views.
SEND A MESSAGE TO NETFLIX THAT SEX-THEMED SHOWS FOR KIDS IS NOT OKAY! CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION!!!
The moment appears in the ninth episode of the show’s fifth season and has triggered subscription cancellations, according to users who shared the image online.
One post read, “This is from a children’s cartoon on Netflix called *Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous. Since when has something like this been considered appropriate for children?!”
Netflix is at it again indoctrinating little kids into the LGBTQ agenda
Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous is an animated show for kids on Netflix where girls fall in love with other girls and passionately kiss
The controversy is not new. In 2022, Hungary’s National Media and Communications Authority (NMHH) investigated Netflix over the series.
The Hungarian government, which passed a 2021 law prohibiting LGBT-themed material directed toward children, reviewed the show after complaints that the kiss scene could violate that law.
The Hungarian newspaper Magyar Nemzet noted at the time that the series is marketed to children as young as seven.
The uproar has resurfaced as Netflix faces ongoing backlash over its children’s programming. Another show, Dead End: Paranormal Park, also came under fire last year for its use of transgender themes in a series also aimed at children.
Elon Musk announced he canceled his Netflix subscription after that show, criticizing the platform’s programming choices.
The show’s creator, Hamish Steele, faced additional criticism after a profanity-laced social media post attacking Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, who was recently assassinated.
Musk posted earlier this week, “Cancel Netflix for the health of your kids.”
As the criticism grows, Netflix has not yet issued a public statement in response to the renewed focus on Camp Cretaceous. The controversy has coincided with a dip in the company’s stock price.
According to market data, Netflix stock opened at approximately $1,175.49 on October 1, closed at $1,170.90, then dropped to $1,162.53 on October 2, and was trading at $1,158.84 by midday October 3. That represents a decline of about 1.4 percent.
The renewed outrage adds to a growing pattern of backlash over Netflix’s children’s programming, raising questions about how the company will address subscriber concerns.
Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) confirmed this week that Democrats were willing to allow a government shutdown in order to secure taxpayer-funded health care coverage that includes illegal immigrants, as reported by The New York Post.
Waters, 87, was pressed outside the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday by reporter Alison Steinberg of LindellTV about whether her party’s stance against a Republican-backed stopgap funding bill was tied to health care demands. The measure would have kept the government funded until November 21.
Coral Springs, FL, USA July 20, 2024 Congresswoman Maxine Waters speaks at public Democratic Party convention in Coral Springs, Florida.
“Democrats are demanding health care for everybody,” Waters said when asked if her party was pushing coverage for illegal aliens. “We want to save lives. We want to make sure that health care is available to those who would die not having the help of their government.”
When Steinberg followed up, asking if Waters supported a government shutdown to prioritize non-citizens, the congresswoman pushed back.
“That’s what you’re pushing on. You’re standing here, and you’re trying to make me say that somehow we’re going to put non-citizens over Americans. Quit it! Stop it!” Waters said.
WATCH: Maxine Waters Snaps When Asked About Healthcare for Illegal Aliens
When confronted outside the Capitol, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) was asked if Democrats are willing to shut down the U.S. government to prioritize healthcare for illegal immigrants.
Despite support from House Republicans, the “clean” continuing resolution failed in the Senate after Democratic leaders whipped their members to oppose it.
Only Sens. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), independent Sen. Angus King (I-Maine), and Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) sided with Republicans to keep the government open.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) argued that the GOP bill did not adequately protect Affordable Care Act subsidies scheduled to expire at the end of 2025.
The Trump administration and Republican leaders highlighted that Democrats’ counterproposal included provisions expanding access to taxpayer-funded health care for non-citizens.
“Maxine Waters admitted that she is demanding Healthcare for Illegal Aliens, and it’s going to be Top of the Line, taking American Taxpayers’ Healthcare away from them!” President Trump wrote on Truth Social.
JUST POSTED
President Donald Trump calls out Maxine Waters for prioritizing illegal aliens over Americans. pic.twitter.com/e25hM6c8PK
Vice President JD Vance also weighed in during a White House briefing.
“The Chuck Schumer, [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez] wing of the Democratic Party shut down the government because they said to us ‘We will open the government but only if you give billions of dollars of funding for health care for illegal aliens,’” Vance said.
Democrats have publicly disputed the characterization. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) told Fox Business Network that the portion of federal health care funding benefiting undocumented immigrants was “such a small portion of the Medicaid cuts or the ACA, if at all.”
Jeffries also denied the charge in a CNN interview, calling it “a lie” that Democrats are prioritizing illegal immigrants in negotiations.
CNN’s Jake Tapper pressed Jeffries further, noting that Democrats’ plan would restore funding for emergency Medicaid to hospitals, which in practice provides coverage for undocumented immigrants.
The Congressional Budget Office reported that between 2017 and 2023, federal and state governments spent $27 billion on emergency Medicaid services for individuals ineligible for full Medicaid due to immigration status.
Provisions in President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act are set to eliminate non-citizens’ access to these services beginning next year.
The Senate is expected to take another vote on the clean funding resolution Friday. At least five additional Democrats would need to break with party leadership to pass the measure.
President Donald Trump sharply criticized ABC on Tuesday night for allowing late-night host Jimmy Kimmel to return to television following his suspension.
Posting on Truth Social, Trump accused the network of reviving a failing program and providing a platform for partisan messaging, as reported by TMZ.
“I can’t believe Jimmy’s suspension was lifted,” Trump wrote. He speculated that “something happened between then and now because his audience is GONE, and his ‘talent’ was never there.”
Donald J. Trump Truth Social Post 10:35 PM EST 09/23/25
I can’t believe ABC Fake News gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back. The White House was told by ABC that his Show was cancelled! Something happened between then and now because his audience is GONE, and his “talent” was never…
— Commentary Donald J. Trump Posts From Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) September 24, 2025
Trump questioned ABC’s decision to put Kimmel back on air, saying the host “does so poorly, who’s not funny, and who puts the Network in jeopardy by playing 99% positive Democrat GARBAGE.”
He went further, calling Kimmel “another arm” of the Democratic National Committee and suggested that such conduct should be illegal.
The President also warned that legal action may be forthcoming. He concluded his remarks by calling ABC “a true bunch of losers.”
Kimmel, whose program Jimmy Kimmel Live! resumed taping on Tuesday, took the opportunity to respond on-air.
He accused Trump of being unable to take criticism, telling viewers, “We have to speak out against this bully. He’s not stopping. And it’s not just comedy. He’s gunning for our journalists, too. He’s suing them, he’s bullying them.”
Jimmy Kimmel at Lionel Richie Hand And Footprint Ceremony held at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, USA on March 7, 2018.
Kimmel also addressed the controversy that led to his suspension, which stemmed from comments he made about conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination. He clarified his earlier remarks and offered what he described as a message of solidarity.
While ABC has put Kimmel back on air, some affiliates are continuing to block his program. Both Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcast Group announced they will not air Jimmy Kimmel Live! for the time being, opting instead to preempt the show.
Trump’s remarks highlight the continuing divide between the President and major media outlets, with late-night programming frequently drawing his criticism for being overly partisan. The legal threats he raised in his Truth Social post suggest further escalation could be on the horizon.
An ABC News correspondent is under fire after offering an unusual interpretation of text messages between accused Charlie Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson and his transgender partner.
The messages, revealed Tuesday during a press conference in Utah, were presented by ABC’s Matt Gutman as “intimate,” “fulsome,” and “very touching,” sparking backlash from lawmakers, commentators, and the public.
Gutman delivered his remarks during a live report from the press conference addressing the Sept. 10 killing of Kirk.
He described the texts Robinson allegedly sent just hours after the assassination as a striking mix of incriminating and emotional content.
“But, also, it was very touching in a way that many of us didn’t expect,” Gutman said.
The reporter continued, “A very intimate portrait into this relationship between the suspect’s roommate and the suspect himself, with him repeatedly calling his roommate, who is transitioning, calling him ‘my love.’ And ‘I want to protect you, my love.’”
DISGUSTING: ABC’s Matt Gutman says he’s not sure “if we have seen an alleged murder with such specific text messages” that were “very touching, in a way, that I think many of us didn’t expect — a very intimate portrait into this relationship between the suspect’s roommate and the… pic.twitter.com/ulPcxoOwM3
Gutman added that prosecutors argued Robinson endangered not only Kirk and attendees but also children present at the event, labeling it an aggravating circumstance in the case.
Still, he framed the personal messages between Robinson and his partner as a “riveting” aspect of the press conference.
“And then, on the other hand, he was, you know, speaking so lovingly about his partner. So a very interesting, riveting press conference,” Gutman concluded.
Following the press conference, Gutman reiterated his observations on ABC’s livestream platform, doubling down on the characterization of the messages as both incriminating and emotionally moving.
“I don’t think I ever experienced a press conference in which we’ve read text messages that are A – so fulsome, so robust, so apparently allegedly self-incriminating and yet, on the other hand, so touching, right?” he said.
Gutman highlighted language in the texts in which Robinson referred to his partner as “my love” and justified his actions as an attempt to provide protection.
He also noted that Robinson allegedly urged his partner to delete the messages and avoid cooperating with law enforcement. “So, there’s this heartbreaking duality that we’re seeing very tragically playing out,” Gutman added.
ABC’s Matt Gutman doubled down, ten minutes later after this on ABC News Live: “It’s heartbreaking on so many levels, Kyra. Obviously, Charlie Kirk was murdered brutally in front of a crowd of thousands…[O]n the other hand, there is this duality of a very a portrait of a very… pic.twitter.com/0ykDhsg1Ko
The coverage quickly drew widespread criticism across social media, with many viewers accusing Gutman of adopting a sympathetic tone toward the accused assassin.
Karol Markowicz, columnist for the New York Post, responded on X with a blunt “Wtaf.” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis commented, “Legacy media in all its glory.”
Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., wrote, “Wait, what???” while Fox News host Will Cain described the broadcast as “Fundamentally, irredeemably, broken.”
Meghan McCain also joined the criticism, posting, “Is everyone @ABC out of their minds?!”
Several users on X called for ABC News to terminate Gutman over the remarks.
Multiple posts demanding his dismissal received thousands of likes, reflecting mounting pressure on the network.
The incident added another layer of controversy to the high-profile case surrounding Robinson, who has been charged in connection with Kirk’s killing.
While prosecutors outlined the serious nature of the crime and its impact on victims, ABC News is now facing questions about how its coverage framed the suspect’s alleged communications.
ABC wasn’t alone in their framing of the Charlie Kirk Assassination as ‘love story.’
Kamala’s former lover, Montel Williams, also pushed a similar narrative.
Montel Williams seriously called the 24-year-old assassin a “love-torn child” in “his first real relationship.”
Maybe his case should be transferred to juvenile court?
Whoopi Goldberg criticized fellow Democrats during a broadcast of “The View” on Wednesday, saying the party should have handled concerns over Joe Biden’s decline privately rather than making them public during the 2024 election cycle.
Goldberg’s comments came during a discussion of Kamala Harris’ newly released book.
“If the Democrats had kept their mouths shut and looked like, hold on, hear what I’m saying, if they had kept their mouths shut and took care of this in-house, as opposed to making it a public spectacle, I think people would have had a better feel about it,” Goldberg said.
Her remarks suggested that Democrats might have fared better in the 2024 election had questions about Biden’s age and capacity been addressed differently.
Biden, who was in office at the time, faced growing concerns about his ability to serve another term.
Goldberg’s statement drew responses from her co-hosts, who offered differing perspectives on the matter.
Joy Behar argued that sexism played a role in the outcome, saying the country would “never elect a woman.”
Alyssa Farah Griffin disagreed with Goldberg, countering that voters needed to be able to express concerns during the process.
“I don’t believe the political parties should have a say in who is a nominee and who is elected,” Griffin said.
“There’s no primary when there is a sitting president. And 75% of voters said they thought that Biden may be fine when in office, but was too old for another term. That’s voters’ only way to say ‘I have an issue.’”
Sunny Hostin took a different stance, aligning more closely with Harris’ argument from her book that the stakes were too high regarding Biden’s decision to seek reelection.
The exchange highlighted divisions among Democrats and their allies over the handling of Biden’s candidacy in 2024.
HARRIS CALLS BIDEN’S DECISION TO RUN AGAIN “RECKLESS”: ‘The View’ co-hosts react to the first excerpts of ‘107 Days,’ the new book former Vice Pres. Kamala Harris wrote about her presidential campaign. pic.twitter.com/hkHQQY59uf
Biden faced internal and external pressure during the election as questions over his age and performance became central issues.
Harris’ new book has added to the ongoing debate within the party, as leaders and commentators continue to evaluate the decisions leading up to the 2024 loss.
The book’s release comes amid a series of public reflections by top Democratic figures about what went wrong during the election and how the party should move forward.
The conversation on “The View” is part of a broader trend of post-election assessments that have taken place across political media since November.
Multiple Democratic officials and commentators have spoken publicly about their views on the campaign’s challenges, disagreements within the party, and the public’s perception of its leading candidates.
The differing opinions from Goldberg, Behar, Griffin, and Hostin underscore the ongoing debate inside the Democratic Party about messaging, leadership, and how to address voter concerns heading into the next election cycle.
As Democrats continue their internal discussions, the role of Biden’s decision to run again, Harris’ candidacy, and the broader challenges faced by the party remain central to conversations in Washington and beyond.
The debate is expected to remain a recurring topic as the party begins positioning itself for the 2028 election.
Comedy Central removed a controversial episode of South Park from its cable rotation Wednesday night, hours after Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was assassinated during a speech at Utah Valley University.
The episode, titled “Got a Nut,” originally aired on August 6 as part of Season 27. In the installment, Eric Cartman mimicked Kirk’s appearance and mannerisms while hosting a mock college debate podcast. The storyline culminated in Cartman receiving a fictional award called the “Charlie Kirk Award for Young Masterdebaters.”
On Wednesday night, Comedy Central was scheduled to rerun the episode but instead aired Episode 1 of the same season.
The network did not issue a public statement but confirmed to industry outlets that the episode was “temporarily pulled” from its lineup.
The show remains available for streaming on Paramount+.
The move followed immediate backlash from conservative activists and Turning Point USA staff, who accused the creators of fueling hostility toward Kirk.
“Comedy has consequences,” one TPUSA staffer posted on Telegram.
“Charlie was targeted in the culture before he was targeted in real life.”
Kirk himself had publicly addressed the parody before his death.
On August 7, the day after the episode aired, he posted a TikTok video describing the mockery as “hilarious” and called it a “badge of honor.”
He even changed his X profile photo to an image of Cartman dressed in his signature black T-shirt.
Kirk told Fox News at the time that he had grown up watching South Park and accepted the parody as part of being a public figure.
Since his assassination, however, reaction to the episode has shifted.
Prominent conservative accounts accused the show’s creators, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, of disrespecting Kirk’s Christian faith and using satire to demean his work.
One viral post read: “They mocked him on TV, then they killed him in real life.”
The episode also included depictions of other political figures, such as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and a storyline involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids.
Over nearly three decades on the air, South Park has frequently lampooned politicians, celebrities, and cultural figures across the spectrum, but this episode has drawn particular scrutiny due to the timing.
Kirk, 31, was shot once in the neck on September 10 while addressing roughly 3,000 attendees at an “America Comeback Tour” rally at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.
According to police, six officers and private security personnel were present at the event.
“You try to get your bases covered, and unfortunately, today, we didn’t,” UVU police chief Jeff Long said.
The suspect remains at large, and authorities have not released a description.
President Donald Trump confirmed Kirk’s death on Truth Social, writing, “The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson described the assassination as “an attack on all of us.”
The killing has intensified concerns within the conservative movement, already heightened following the 2024 assassination attempt on President Trump in Pennsylvania.
Public anger quickly extended to Comedy Central.
A petition demanding the network apologize for airing the episode drew more than 100,000 signatures within its first day online.
Conservative radio host Jesse Kelly told his audience, “’South Park’ thought it was funny to turn Charlie into a cartoon joke. Now his wife is planning a funeral.”
Neither Parker nor Stone has made a public comment since Kirk’s death.
Funeral arrangements for Kirk have not yet been announced. Turning Point USA said it plans to host a memorial rally in Phoenix to honor his life and work.
The next episode of South Park is scheduled to air on September 17.
Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk criticized corporate media outlets Tuesday for their handling of the murder of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, arguing that the selective coverage of violent crime has exposed contradictions in the prevailing racial narrative.
During an appearance on Fox News’ The Will Cain Show, Kirk said the stabbing death of Zarutska in Charlotte, North Carolina, initially received little coverage from major networks until public backlash forced a response.
He said this pattern revealed how race-centered reporting has distorted public perception of crime.
“We’re the least racist country ever to exist in the history of the world,” Kirk said.
“In fact, if you want to actually talk about race-focused activity, why is it that you then ignore all the race-focused activity of black on white crime? Will, I want to live in a race-neutral country. I don’t like talking about race all the time, but when I see it, and I see the left ignore it, and we try to make them live up to their own standard of rules that they force fed us during the chaos of 2020, it really goes to show the destruction that this can lead to the entire nation.”
Kirk accused left-leaning media outlets of emphasizing narratives of white-on-black violence while minimizing or ignoring black-on-white crimes.
“The media doesn’t care about this, and we should start asking why,” Kirk said.
“It doesn’t fit a narrative. This is my most charitable reading. The narrative that they have pushed forward in the last 10 years is that there is a relentless assault against black people on behalf of white people, and the data does not show that.”
Kirk went on to say that the post-2020 emphasis on systemic racism has reshaped public institutions and corporate practices without aligning with statistical realities.
“White individuals are actually more likely to be attacked, especially even per capita, by black individuals in this country,” Kirk said.
“The narrative that they have tried to force feed this nation post 2020 is that we are a systemically racist country to our core. We started to say the word racist more. We started to redesign our corporations. We started to teach things in our classrooms that were from the 1619 project, and all of this has now been met with an appropriate backlash where people said we’re actually not nearly as racist as you say we are.”
Kirk added that the issue is not confined to rhetoric, but affects real-world decisions.
He pointed to policing policies and government payouts as examples of policies influenced by what he described as an unchallenged media-driven narrative.
“The final thing I’ll say is this is more than just a semantic argument. This is more than just whether or not it’s a race thing or not,” Kirk said.
“Bad policing practices, consent decrees, opening up the prisons. As you say, $3.3 million is an outgrowth of a media narrative lie. So it’s not just an innocent media narrative lie. Real policies get put into place when you don’t challenge this nonsense in the public schools.”
The discussion followed the release of footage showing bystanders rushing to assist Zarutska after she was stabbed on a Charlotte train in August. The video circulated widely online, drawing attention to the attack.
Axios published a report on Monday claiming that “MAGA influencers” were exploiting the incident to promote concerns about violent crime.
The piece drew criticism on social media, with opponents accusing the outlet of minimizing the lack of coverage from national outlets.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk also shared multiple posts about the incident on X, highlighting what he described as a double standard in how media outlets cover crimes depending on the race of those involved.
Why is “white” always in lowercase, but Black is uppercase, @nytimes?
The NY Times is deliberate, precise and comprehensive in its anti-White racism. https://t.co/4edUTAWsjU
Critics of the muted response compared it to the extensive coverage of Jordan Neely’s death in 2023 after he was restrained by Marine veteran Daniel Penny on a New York subway.
The contrast, they argued, further demonstrated inconsistencies in how violent incidents are presented to the public depending on the narrative being advanced.
CHARLIE KIRK FIRES BACK AT VAN JONES
“The attacker said, quote, ‘I got that white girl.’ The moment we make them live up to their own standard, they start to cry foul.” — @charliekirk11pic.twitter.com/mAN4CCI1lH
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