Political commentator Matthew Dowd was the highest-profile public determine to be fired
resulting from feedback in regards to the taking pictures dying of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk.
Kirk was shot throughout a talking engagement at Utah Valley College in Orem, Utah, on September 10 and later died at age 31 after being rushed to a close-by hospital. The FBI recognized 22-year-old Tyler Robinson because the suspected shooter on September 12, after President Donald Trump confirmed a suspect was in custody.
Within the speedy aftermath of Kirk's taking pictures, Dowd appeared on MSNBC's reside protection and was requested by anchor Katy Tur about “the atmosphere during which a taking pictures like this occurs.” Dowd referenced Kirk “pushing [a] form of hate speech” as a part of his evaluation of the infected political rhetoric main as much as Wednesday's violent incident.
Dowd tried to stroll again his assertion after many distinguished conservatives took subject, later insisting through X that he “under no circumstances meant for [his] feedback accountable Kirk for this horrendous assault.”
However, MSNBC dropped Dowd as a political analyst, with community president Rebecca Kutler calling his words “inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable.”
Hold scrolling for extra data on Dowd's background and the controversy over his firing from MSNBC.
Who Is Matthew Dowd?
Dowd bought his begin in politics as a staffer for Democratic officers, together with congressman Dick Gephardt and Senator Lloyd Bentsen, earlier than switching his get together affiliation to turn out to be a Republican in 1999. He rose up the ranks inside the GOP as a senior adviser to the Republican Nationwide Committee for the 2002 midterm election and later grew to become the chief strategist for President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney's 2004 presidential marketing campaign.
Dowd — who switched his get together affiliation again to Democrat in 2024 — briefly campaigned to turn out to be Lieutenant Governor of Texas in September 2021, although he dropped out of the race in December resulting from low early polling.
Dowd has written a number of books and beforehand served as a political contributor on ABC's Good Morning America, earlier than he joined MSNBC as a senior political analyst in 2022.
Matthew Dowd Heidi Gutman/Disney Common Leisure Content material through Getty Photographs
Having labored as a marketing consultant on Arnold Schwarzenegger's 2006 gubernatorial marketing campaign in California, he later sparked romance rumors with Schwarzenegger's ex-wife, Maria Shriver, in 2011. (He was beforehand married to Tammy L. Edgerly and Nikki Dowd.)
Shriver reacted to Kirk's killing through Instagram on September 10, writing: “It is a violent act of hate that we should all denounce, all of us, no matter get together. That is reprehensible, horrendous violence that impacts every one in every of us.”
What Did Matthew Dowd Say About Charlie Kirk's Demise?
Dowd was being interviewed by MSNBC anchor Katy Tur as a part of the channel's reside information protection of Kirk's taking pictures when he was requested in regards to the present political local weather.
“[Kirk has] been probably the most divisive, particularly divisive youthful figures on this, who is consistently form of pushing this form of hate speech or form of aimed toward sure teams,” Dowd responded.
Charlie Kirk‘s cohosts returned to their podcast days after the 31-year-old's dying. Throughout the Friday, September 12, episode of “The Charlie Kirk Present” podcast, which is cohosted by Jack Posobiec, James O'Keefe and Kash Patel, an empty chair was proven as a method to honor Kirk. “Charlie would've wished us to be right here,” mentioned one […]
Dowd argued that “hateful ideas result in hateful phrases,” which may then “result in hateful actions.”
“I believe that's the atmosphere we're in,” he added. “You possibly can't cease with these form of terrible ideas you've got after which saying these terrible phrases and never count on terrible actions to happen. And that's the unlucky atmosphere we're in.”
What Was MSNBC's Response to Matthew Dowd's Feedback?
MSNBC instantly sought to distance itself from Dowd by dropping him as a senior political analyst. MSNBC president Kutler issued a public apology on behalf of the channel on September 10.
“We apologize for [Dowd's] statements, as has he,” Kutler mentioned. “There isn't any place for violence in America, political or in any other case.”
Comcast — which owns MSNBC — despatched a memo to staff on Friday, September 12, to request that they continue to be respectful whereas overlaying Kirk's assassination, in response to The Hollywood Reporter.
“The tragic lack of Charlie Kirk, a 31-year-old father, husband, and advocate for open debate, whose religion was essential to him, reminds us of the fragility of life and the pressing want for unity in our nation,” the Comcast memo learn. “Our hearts are heavy, as his passing leaves a grieving household and a rustic grappling with division. There isn't any place for violence or hate in our society.”
Matthew Dowd in September 2015. Andrew Toth/Getty Photographs for AWXII
“That protection was at odds with fostering civil dialogue and being keen to take heed to the factors of view of those that have differing opinions,” its assertion continued. “We should always be capable to disagree, robustly and passionately, however, in the end, with respect. We have to do higher.”
How Did Matthew Dowd Reply to Firing?
Dowd initially denied via X that he'd deliberately instructed Kirk carried a stage of duty for the taking pictures.
“Let me be clear, I under no circumstances meant for my feedback accountable Kirk for this horrendous assault. Allow us to all come collectively and condemn violence of any form,” he wrote. “Allow us to all come collectively and condemn violence of any form. My ideas & prayers are w/ the household and pals of Charlie Kirk. On an earlier look on MSNBC I used to be requested a query on the atmosphere we're in. I apologize for my tone and phrases.”
Days after his firing, Dowd wrote through his Substack that the “right-wing media mob” was responsible for orchestrating his firing from MSNBC.
The New York Yankees held a second of silence for Charlie Kirk within the wake of his sudden dying. The controversial political commentator was fatally shot on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, whereas talking at Utah Valley College in Orem, Utah. He was 31. The baseball workforce honored Kirk forward of its Wednesday sport towards the […]
“Despite the fact that most at MSNBC knew my phrases had been being misconstrued, the timing of my phrases forgotten (keep in mind I mentioned this earlier than anybody knew Kirk was a goal), and that I apologized for any miscommunication on my half, I used to be terminated by the top of the day,” he identified.
The political analyst admitted he was “getting over the shell shock of the previous few days,” although he regarded ahead to shifting on from the scandal.
“Despite the fact that I'm down and a bit disheartened on this second, I nonetheless have hope and religion in a majority of Individuals who need and starvation for a similar issues I do. We are able to do that,” he concluded.
