Staff Reports
Former President Barack Obama has once again chosen to make a national tragedy about himself and his political agenda, this time in the wake of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination. Instead of focusing on the loss of life and condemning the vile political violence that claimed Kirk’s, Obama seized the opportunity to deliver thinly veiled attacks on President Trump. In doing so, he downplayed the role of left-wing extremism in the murder, turning what should have been a moment of solemn unity into another round of partisan blame-shifting.
This is not a new performance for Obama, who has a long history of inserting his own narratives into tragic events. From his infamous “if I had a son” remark during the Trayvon Martin case to his repeated habit of framing national crises as morality tales centered around himself, Obama has perfected the art of hijacking tragedies for political gain. His commentary on Kirk’s murder fit the pattern—sidestepping the real danger of radicalized leftist violence to point the finger at Trump and conservatives more broadly.
Meanwhile, President Trump’s direct response to the assassination showed leadership that many believe comes naturally to him, given his daily security briefings and close access to intelligence not yet available to the public. While Obama spent his remarks cautioning people not to applaud and criticizing Kirk’s ideas, Trump acknowledged the severity of the attack and cut straight to the heart of what Americans most needthe —truth about the violence and accountability for those behind it. Instead of rising to that same standard, Obama chose to belittle and politicize.
At the same time, the media predictably joined Obama’s act by avoiding in-depth coverage of the shooter’s radical left-wing ideology. The assassin, Robinson, had embraced extreme progressive views and expressed hostility toward conservative leaders like Kirk. Yet major outlets preferred to skirt these uncomfortable truths, projecting the spotlight back on Trump’s response rather than the disturbing rise of violence among leftist radicals. This approach leaves Americans with a lopsided narrative that protects the left from the scrutiny it deserves.
If America is serious about healing political divisions and reducing the threat of violence, then it cannot ignore the dangerous rise of extremism on the left. By glossing over the assassin’s ideology and exploiting a tragedy to attack their political opponents, figures like Obama only deepen distrust and division. What this country needs is accountability, honesty, and recognition of where the real threats lie. But for too many on the left, the political circus act always comes first, no matter how high the human cost.
