Political commentator Megyn Kelly sparred with a young liberal activist on Wednesday who insisted that President Donald Trump is amplifying political divisions that led to Turning Point USA (TPUSA) founder Charlie Kirk’s assassination earlier this month.
While co-headlining a TPUSA campus tour event alongside Gov. Glenn Youngkin, R-Va., at Virginia Tech, Kelly dismantled the student's point that Trump’s statements have contributed to the atmosphere in which a gunman murdered Kirk.
"Contributing to the atmosphere? Let's just make clear. This guy was motivated by leftist ideology. We know it from the bullet casings, from his own mother," Kelly told the young man.
FBI INVESTIGATING LEFTIST GROUPS FOR POSSIBLE TIES TO CHARLIE KIRK’S ASSASSINATION: SOURCE
A viral clip depicted conservative commentator Megyn Kelly sparring with a young liberal during a Turning Point USA event at Virginia Tech this week over President Trump's political rhetoric. (Gary Gershoff / Getty)
During the Q&A portion of the TPUSA event, the liberal came forward and asked Kelly, "Why do you support a president who contributes to the rhetoric that got your friend Charlie killed? We saw his rally earlier. He said, 'I hate my enemies.’"
The guest was referencing Trump’s speech at Charlie Kirk’s memorial on Sunday, Sept. 21, during which the president joked that the difference between him and the late conservative activist is that Charlie didn’t "hate" his political opponents.
"He did not hate his opponents. He wanted the best for them. That’s where I disagreed with Charlie. I hate my opponent, and I don’t want the best for them. I’m sorry," Trump said.
Kelly cut down the liberal’s question, declaring, "Assumes facts not in evidence. What you said is not true."
Left: Attendees at a Turning Point USA tour stop. Right: Virginia Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin. (Steve Helber/AP Photo and Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
The young man pushed back, claiming that "70% of political violence is committed by Republicans." As boos rang out throughout the venue, he yelled, "Look it up! DOJ just pulled it! The DOJ just pulled it from their website."
Kelly acknowledged the data and replied, "Once you pull the crazies out of there, it is overwhelmingly left-wing violence."
She then slammed his first point about Trump’s rhetoric getting Kirk killed.
"That's a blatant lie. It's a defamatory blaspheme, and it's inappropriate in this setting."
The questioner corrected her, saying he meant that Trump "contributed to the political atmosphere –– the tension."
"Well then you have no point. Then your point is utterly empty," she replied, noting the alleged assassin was driven by leftist ideology.
Days after Kirk's murder, Gov. Spencer Cox, R-Utah, told NBC's "Meet The Press" that the suspected assassin had developed a "leftist ideology" in recent years, and had become increasingly radicalized.
President Donald Trump embraces Erika Kirk during the memorial service for late husband, Charlie Kirk. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
The attendee then asked if it was fine for Trump to "incite violence against liberals."
Kelly responded: "The president of the United States made a joke at the Charlie Kirk Memorial, which was funny and self-deprecating. It was on the heels of Erika Kirk saying she, in an extraordinary moment, forgave her husband’s killer."
After stressing that Trump was joking, Kelly said that Trump has the right to despise his political enemies.
"And by the way, Trump has every right to loathe his enemies. They tried to put him in jail for the rest of his life. Tried to bankrupt him. Tried to put his family in jail. And they tried to kill him."
Kelly offered the young man a chance to respond, but he walked off.