Ilhan Omar Launches Vicious Attack on Slain Pro-Israel Hero Charlie Kirk "No Legacy to Honour"

As the nation grapples with the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk on September 10, 2025, during a speaking event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, "Squad" Rep. Ilhan Omar doubled down on her criticism of the Turning Point USA founder, declaring his life's work worthless and rejecting calls for an apology. In a September 29 interview with former CNN anchor Don Lemon, Omar showed fleeting sympathy for Kirk's family before launching into a scathing denunciation, accusing him of promoting "bigotry, hatred, and white supremacy." Kirk, 31, was fatally shot in the neck by suspect Tyler Robinson, who was arrested days later and charged with murder in a case the FBI described as a "political assassination." The killing, part of a wave of ideological violence including attempts on President Donald Trump and the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, drew widespread condemnation and a $100,000 FBI reward for tips.

Kirk, a staunch pro-Israel advocate and ally of Trump, built Turning Point USA into a powerhouse mobilizing young conservatives on campuses nationwide. His "American Comeback Tour" was meant to rally support against what he called "woke indoctrination," with the Utah event drawing 3,000 attendees before a single gunshot from a rooftop ended his life. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mourned him as a "lion-hearted friend of Israel" who "fought the lies and stood tall for Judeo-Christian civilization." Vigils across the U.S., from Phoenix to Provo, featured American flags and tributes, with Kirk's widow Erika vowing to continue his work: "The movement my husband built will not die." Republican leaders, including Gov. Spencer Cox, who called it a "political assassination," demanded Omar apologize for past attacks on Kirk, whom she once labeled a "white supremacist."

Omar, undeterred, stated, “Well, I have nothing to apologize for. You know, it is a tragedy that Charlie Kirk was killed in that way. I feel for his widow and his children. They will have to live with that for the rest of their lives.” Her compassion evaporated as she condemned his legacy: “But there is no legacy to honour. It was a legacy filled with bigotry, hatred, and white supremacy. And as a Black woman and as a Muslim in this country, I refuse to join the chorus that changes the history of what is on the record from this man.” Omar accused Kirk's supporters of bullying her into silence: “I won’t be bullied into complacency, into dishonoring who I am and what I stand for just to make them feel comfortable.” She pivoted to broader societal issues, saying, “I think to them it is easy to blame someone else. It is hard for them to face the fact that there is something wrong, and that they have to address it. If it is someone like you and I, then they could just be like, ‘Hey Black people, fix your problem.’ They never think about, ‘Okay, there is a problem in this country where we have young white men who are picking up a gun, mass executing people, and we should talk about that.’”

Omar's remarks, amid a surge in political violence, echo her history of controversial statements on Israel, including accusations of Jewish "dual loyalty." Kirk, a vocal defender of Israel against Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack that killed 1,200 and abducted 251, often clashed with "The Squad." His death prompted congressional moments of silence marred by shouting, with Rep. Anna Paulina Luna accusing Democrats of "spreading hateful rhetoric." As investigations continue, Robinson faces trial without bail, Omar's refusal to retract has deepened partisan rifts, with Republicans like Sen. Ted Cruz calling it "despicable" and a sign of "leftist hatred."