Pence: ‘We need to resist putting America on trial’ in wake of Kirk killing

Former Vice President Mike Pence urged the country to “resist putting America on trial” in the aftermath of the assassination of Charlie Kirk, adding that democracy depends on a “heavy dose of civility.”

Pence, speaking on CNBC on Thursday morning, said the person suspected of killing Kirk should be “brought to justice,” and acknowledged that Americans can improve the way they engage in political discourse. But he asserted that First Amendment rights should be defended in the wake of Kirk’s legacy.

“I think democracy depends on heavy doses of civility,” he said in the interview. “But Charlie Kirk was a champion of the First Amendment, a champion of free and open debate. He ultimately died defending it. And I think on that principle, we should stand and ensure that it’s part of his legacy.”

Handfuls of individuals have been targeted online for their comments on Kirk’s death, sparking firings across media and education. In recent days, the Pentagon has cracked down on employees accused of mocking Kirk’s death online, leading to firings and suspensions surrounding their posts.

Pence noted that the First Amendment does not protect “entertainers” from being fired, after Disney moved to pull Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show from its programming Wednesday, saying the comedian “crossed a line, and he answered for it.”

“That’s how a private marketplace works,” he said.

Kimmel came under fire from the right this week after saying on his show that conservatives were “desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and with everything they can to score political points from it.”

In the interview, Pence pointed to the Black Lives Matter protests in Minnesota in 2020 as a moment of political turmoil, when he said individuals were delivering supplies like bricks and crowbars to vandalize the windows of local store owners — reports that the Anti-Defamation League has claimed are disproven.

“If there are organizations, interests or resources that are supporting anarchy in this country, I think they need to answer for that,” he said.

Pence continued, saying he believes America doesn’t have a “political” problem, but instead a “moral” one.

“We should follow the facts, and I think we need to resist putting America on trial every time evil claims the heart of someone and they do violence against one of our countrymen,” he said.