In the aftermath of conservative activist Charlie Kirk's assassination, a debate about political rhetoric and its impact on recent spates of political violence has taken hold on Capitol Hill and across the country. 

While both Republicans and Democrats have condemned political violence of all kinds, their views vary on how much inflammatory political rhetoric plays a role. Some Republicans have accused the left's rhetoric of fostering an "assassination culture" on the left, while Democrats have accused Republicans of attacks on free speech. 

One member of Congress, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., attempted to steer the conversation towards gun control as opposed to rhetoric as the cause for the increase in political violence.

"This isn't just about what happened to Charlie Kirk. At the same time his tragic killing was happening, three kids were getting shot in school, and that was one or two weeks after another couple of kids were getting shot, in church, at mass, at a Catholic school," Ocasio-Cortez said. 

But GOP firebrand Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., did not mince words about those who continue to foment hatred for conservatives with inflammatory rhetoric.

"We need to shame these people out of polite society, shame them out of existence. They need to be fired from their jobs. They are putting lives in danger," Mace said. "They are denying that they're celebrating the political assassination and murder of Charlie Kirk, but they're liars. They're lying through their teeth."

Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have called on others to "turn down the heat" in the wake of Kirk's assassination.

As security preparations intensify for Charlie Kirk’s memorial service in Arizona, a former NYPD detective and security consultant warns mourners to remain alert.

"Pull your face out of your phone, put it in your pocket. Pay attention," Pat Brosnan urged. 

The memorial, set for this weekend at State Farm Stadium, is expected to draw an enormous crowd. Officials estimate that more than 100,000 people may gather in and around the venue, including attendees inside the 63,000-seat stadium and overflow areas outside.

"From the moment you arrive… have your eyes wide open… who's to your right, who's to your left, who's behind you? What are they doing?" Brosnan told Fox News Digital. "Eyes in the backs and the sides of your head."

According to a law enforcement bulletin obtained by ABC News, authorities are "tracking several threats of unknown credibility."

"Violent extremists and unaffiliated lone offenders may view the memorial service or related events as attractive attack targets due to the attendance of these individuals, other senior U.S. government officials, state and local government officials, and political activists and due to major international media attention," the memo reportedly says.

The Department of Homeland Security has designated Kirk’s memorial service a Level 1 Special Event, the highest possible rating, matching Super Bowl-level security planning. 

Media personality Van Jones speaks onstage during during Day 2 of the 2024 Invest Fest at Georgia World Congress Center on Aug. 24, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

CNN commentator Van Jones revealed that Charlie Kirk invited him to come onto his show the day before he was assassinated at Utah Valley University. 

The outreach came as both Jones and Kirk gave differing opinions in reaction to the killing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, who was fatally stabbed in the neck on a light rail train in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Aug. 22. The suspect was identified as Decarlos Brown.

“Hey, Van, I mean it, I’d love to have you on my show to have a respectful conversation about crime and race. I would be a gentleman as I know you would be as well. We can disagree about the issues agreeably,” Jones said Kirk wrote to him in a private message on X. 

Jones said before he could respond, Kirk was assassinated. 

Attendees listen to speakers as hundreds gathered to honor Charlie Kirk at the Parkview Assembly of God church in Newark, Del., on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (William Bretzger-Delaware News Journal/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Thousands are showing up coast to coast for memorials and vigils honoring the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk. 

An estimated 1,500 to 2,000 people attended a candlelight vigil on Thursday at Soldiers Field in Rochester, New York, according to the Rochester Post Bulletin. 

“We’re here to honor Charlie Kirk and all victims taken by cowardly acts of violence, regardless of who they are, what they believe and what they stand for,” Brad Trahan, a Rochester resident and organizer of the event, told the newspaper. “We come together to dedicate ourselves to peace. Charlie’s life symbolized dialogue, peace, faith and that goodwill will always supersede evil.” 

The day before, around 200 people gathered for an event on the campus of California State University, Fresno, to pay tribute to Kirk, KFSN reported. 

Images also captured mourners attending vigils in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, and Newark, Delaware, among other events. 

The video board shows a tribute to Charlie Kirk prior to a game between the Carolina Panthers and the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on Sept. 14, 2025, in Glendale, Arizona. (Chris Coduto/Getty Images)

An Arizona-based chapter of the progressive group Indivisible is asking its members to stay home Sunday when Charlie Kirk’s memorial service takes place in Glendale. 

“We believe strongly in the right to protest and speak out, but we also know there are moments where restraint protects both our community and our democracy,” Brent Peak, co-chair of Northwest Valley Indivisible, said in a statement. “This is one of those moments.” 

“We urge our members and the broader community to choose safety and solidarity over confrontation at this event,” Peak added. “Our commitment to democracy and free speech remains strong, but we will not allow ourselves to be used as props in someone else’s attempt to stir violence.” 

On its website, Indivisible describes itself as a “movement of thousands of group leaders and more than a million members taking regular, iterative, and increasingly complex actions to resist the GOPs agenda, elect local champions, and fight for progressive policies.” 

Conservative leaders and commentators are reflecting on the life, legacy, and enduring impact of Charlie Kirk, remembering how the Turning Point USA founder shaped a generation of young conservatives and left a lasting mark on the movement.

Turning Point USA is an organization started by Kirk in 2012 with the mission to "identify, educate, train, and organize students to promote the principles of fiscal responsibility, free markets, and limited government," according to the group's website. 

Fox News Digital spoke with conservative voices Rob Smith, Arynne Wexler, Lily Kate and Amir Odom about the impact of Kirk on their lives and on America. 

"I owe kind of basically my entire career in the conservative movement and conservative media to Charlie Kirk," said Smith, a political commentator.  

"Real Time" host Bill Maher expressed empathy for fellow late-night host Jimmy Kimmel as a former ABC star who also landed himself in hot water by making questionable remarks in the wake of a tragedy.

"It was 24 years to the day that I made comments on ABC that got me canceled from that network, and Jimmy Kimmel took my slot," Maher said during his opening monologue, adding "Oh yes, I got canceled before cancel even had a culture."

Before his decades-long stint at HBO, Maher previously hosted "Politically Incorrect" on ABC, which the network canceled in 2002 after Maher faced backlash for arguing that the 9/11 hijackers weren't "cowardly" just days after the 2001 terrorist attacks. 

"ABC, they are steady. ABC stands for ‘Always Be Caving," Maher later called out his ex-employer. "So Jimmy, pal, I am with you. I support you. And on the bright side, you don't have to pretend anymore that you like Disneyland."

Kimmel's show "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" was taken off the air on Wednesday following comments he made in his Monday monologue about Charlie Kirk and his alleged assassin.