Former US President Barack Obama has denounced political violence in the wake of the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, describing the country as being “at an inflection point”
Speaking at the Jefferson Educational Society in Erie, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday, Obama said that while political violence was “not new” in American history, it remained “anathema to what it means to be a democratic country”.
Addressing the killings of Mr Kirk and Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman earlier this year, Obama called both incidents “a tragedy” and criticised President Donald Trump for deepening national divisions rather than seeking unity.
“There are no ifs, ands or buts about it,” Obama said. “The central premise of our democratic system is that we have to be able to disagree and have sometimes really contentious debates without resorting to violence.”
The former president warned that the political fallout from Mr Kirk’s assassination, which has sparked debate over free speech and incitement, risked exacerbating cultural and ideological rifts.
“There’s been some confusion, I think, around this lately,” he said, “and frankly, coming from the White House and some of the other positions of authority that suggest, even before we had determined who the perpetrator of this evil act was, that somehow we’re going to identify an enemy.”
Figures on the political right, including Trump, have blamed the “radical left” for fostering a hostile climate. Many on the left argue such claims are being used to justify authoritarian measures against dissent.
Obama, who has largely maintained a low profile since leaving office, responded to questions about Trump’s rhetoric and recent executive actions, including the deployment of National Guard troops in Washington and federal ID checks in Los Angeles.
He cautioned against the erosion of democratic norms, stating: “What you’re seeing, I think, is the sense that through executive power, many of the guardrails and norms that I thought I had to abide by as president of the United States, that George Bush thought he had to abide by as president of the United States, that suddenly those no longer apply. And that makes this a dangerous moment.”
Reflecting on his own presidency, Obama cited his response to the 2015 Charleston church shooting and Bush’s leadership following the 11 September attacks, saying the role of a president in times of crisis is “to constantly remind us of the ties that bind us together”.
He also criticised the language used by Trump and his aides in the aftermath of Mr Kirk’s death, noting that referring to political opponents as “vermin” and “enemies” pointed to a broader issue.
Mr Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA and a close ally of Trump, was a prominent figure in conservative circles. His assassination has prompted calls from across the political spectrum to reject violence and restore civility in public discourse.
In response to Obama’s remarks, the White House issued a statement accusing him of being “the architect of modern political division in America”. Spokesperson Abigail Jackson said: “Obama used every opportunity to sow division and pit Americans against each other, and following his presidency more Americans felt Obama divided the country than felt he united it.”
Despite the criticism, Mr Obama sought to strike a conciliatory tone, praising Utah Governor Spencer Cox for demonstrating that political disagreement can coexist with respectful debate.
While reiterating his opposition to Mr Kirk’s views, Obama said: “That doesn’t negate the fact that what happened was a tragedy and that I mourn for him and his family.” He added that condemning violence should not preclude robust discussion of the ideas Mr Kirk espoused.
“We have to be able to discuss [these topics] honestly and forthrightly,” he said, “while we still insist that in that process of debate, we respect other people’s right to say things that we profoundly disagree with.”
