2025 lookback: Matthew Dowd fired by MSNBC

An unusual media saga unfolded in 2025 when MSNBC fired political analyst Matthew Dowd in September for suggesting that Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk’s “hateful” rhetoric led to his own assassination.

Kirk, a prominent conservative activist and key ally of President Donald Trump, died at the age of 31 after being shot while hosting an event on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. In a stunning moment, Dowd suggested that Kirk’s assassination was caused by a chain reaction resulting from his “hateful words” against various groups.

Dowd said Kirk was “one of the most controversial figures, especially younger ones, who are constantly pushing this kind of hate speech or targeting certain groups. And I always come back to it, hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions.”

MSNBC Fires ANALYST MATTHEW DOWD FOR “UNACCEPTABLE” COMMENTS ON CHARLIE KIRK

MSNBC fired political analyst Matthew Dowd for suggesting that Charlie Kirk’s “hateful” rhetoric led to his own assassination. (Lorenzo Bevilaqua/ABC via Getty Images)

“I think that’s the environment that we live in, that people can’t stop with those kinds of horrible thoughts, and then say those horrible words, without expecting horrible actions to happen. And that’s the unfortunate environment that we live in,” he added.

Before the news of Kirk’s death, Dowd also told host Katy Tur, “We don’t know all the details of that yet. We don’t know if it was a fan firing his gun in celebration.”

MSNBC, which has since been renamed MS NOW, publicly condemned Dowd’s comments before his official firing.

“During our breaking news coverage of the Charlie Kirk shooting, Matthew Dowd made comments that were inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable,” MS NOW President Rebecca Kutler said in a statement. “We apologize for his statements, as does he. There is no place for violence in America, political or otherwise.”

Dowd’s comments were widely condemned in the wake of the tragic shooting, with many figures calling for his firing. White House staffers were even furious at Dowd’s comments.

“They are bastards. They need to look within and realize that they are harming this nation with their horrible rhetoric,” a senior Trump administration official told Fox News Digital in reaction to the MSNBC segment.

CHARLIE KIRK ROSE TO BECOME A CENTRAL CONSERVATIVE AND TRANSFORMATIVE FIGURE ON THE CAMPUS

Matthew Dowd appears on MSNBC on July 26, 2024. (Screenshot/MSNBC)

Dowd, who joined MSNBC in 2022 after a long stint at ABC News, attempted to backtrack on the liberal social media platform Bluesky.

“During a previous appearance on MSNBC, I was asked a question about the environment we find ourselves in. I apologize for my tone and words. Let me be clear, in no way did I intend in my comments to blame Kirk for this horrific attack. Let’s come together and condemn all forms of violence,” Dowd wrote.

Dowd, a Democrat who was once a Republican strategist and independent, is one of the most vehemently anti-GOP voices in cable news. He made a failed bid for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor of Texas in 2021. Since ABC News showed him the door, Dowd has since launched a Substack and defended his comments.

“On MSNBC, I have made nearly 1,000 appearances, speaking on a wide range of topics and have always condemned gun violence and political violence of any kind, no matter where it comes from. Last Wednesday, I was asked to come speak on a variety of topics, and as I was about to go on air, breaking news came in regarding shots fired at a Kirk, Utah event,” wrote Dowd in a Substack article.

COMCAST EXECUTIVES CHALLENGE STAFF FOR ‘DOING BETTER’ OVER MSNBC COVERAGE OF CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSINATION

Charlie Kirk was a conservative activist who led Turning Point USA. (Alex Brandon/Associated Press)

“Keep in mind, when the anchor came to me to comment on ‘the national environment,’ the only thing known at the time was that shots had been fired and there was no information yet that Kirk was the target or that he had been shot at,” he continued. “I said just now that we need to get the facts because we have no idea what this could be and it could easily be someone shooting a gun in the air in celebration. Remember, Kirk is a strong supporter of the 2nd Amendment.”

Dowd added: “I said my now legendary phrase ‘hateful thoughts lead to hateful words which ultimately lead to hateful actions.’ I wondered how could anyone disagree with that. I guess I was naive…the right-wing media mob went wild, attacked me on a plethora of platforms, and MSNBC responded to that mob. »

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