MSNBC has fired analyst Matthew Dowd after he made “insensitive” remarks during the coverage of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk’s assassination Wednesday.
Dowd appeared to blame Kirk for the violent action against him.
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“He’s been one of the most divisive, especially divisive younger figures in this, who is constantly sort of pushing this sort of hate speech or sort of aimed at certain groups. And I always go back to, hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions. And I think that is the environment we are in,” he said.
“You can’t stop with these sort of awful thoughts you have and then saying these awful words and not expect awful actions to take place. And that’s the unfortunate environment we are in,” he added.
Kirk was shot and killed by a gunman at a Utah university while speaking to students. The suspect in the shooting is still at large.
Matthew Dowd on MSNBC suggests it's CHARLIE KIRK'S FAULT HE WAS SHOT:
— Bill D'Agostino (@Banned_Bill) September 10, 2025
“[He is] constantly sort of pushing this sort of hate speech, aimed at certain groups. And I always go back to, hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which often then to hateful actions.” pic.twitter.com/Bbl2aicMGn
Dowd’s statement resulted in a swift outcry.
“There is a special place in hell for scumbags like Matthew Dowd,” former Turning Point USA employee Thomas Hern posted on X. “MSNBC should issue an apology and ban Dowd from their network permanently. We have to be better than this.”
The network called Dowd’s comments “unacceptable” in a public statement.
“During our breaking news coverage of the shooting of Charlie Kirk, Matthew Dowd made comments that were inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable. We apologize for his statements, as has he. There is no place for violence in America, political or otherwise,” MSNBC President Rebecca Kutler said.
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Dowd was fired later that evening.
Dowd is a former chief strategist for former President George W. Bush’s 2004 campaign. He worked at ABC News before running to be lieutenant governor of Texas in 2021 as a Democrat.