MSNBC terminated political analyst Matthew Dowd following controversial on-air comments he made during the network’s coverage of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s shooting at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025. The firing occurred within hours of his appearance on “Katy Tur Reports,” where Dowd suggested Kirk’s rhetoric contributed to the violent environment that led to his assassination.
During the broadcast, anchor Katy Tur asked Dowd about the environment in which such a shooting occurs. Dowd responded that Kirk had been one of the most divisive younger figures who constantly pushed hate speech aimed at certain groups. He indicated that hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions, describing this as the unfortunate environment America finds itself in.
Dowd also speculated during the segment that the shooting might have involved a supporter firing a gun in celebration, making these remarks before Kirk’s death had been confirmed. The 31-year-old Kirk died Wednesday after being shot in the neck while speaking at the Utah university as part of his fall campus tour.
The comments immediately sparked outrage across social media platforms. MSNBC President Rebecca Kutler quickly issued an apology, condemning Dowd’s remarks as inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable. She emphasized that there is no place for violence in America, political or otherwise, and noted that both the network and Dowd had apologized for the statements.
Dowd issued his own apology on his BlueSky account that evening, stating his thoughts and prayers were with Kirk’s family and friends. He clarified that he in no way intended for his comments to blame Kirk for the attack and called for unity in condemning violence of any kind. Despite the apologies, network sources confirmed to multiple outlets that Dowd was terminated by the end of the day.
The former ABC News veteran, who joined MSNBC in 2022, had previously served as chief strategist for George W. Bush’s 2004 presidential campaign before becoming a Democratic analyst. His firing represents one of the most high-profile dismissals related to commentary about Kirk’s assassination.
On Thursday morning, “Morning Joe” host Joe Scarborough praised MSNBC leadership for condemning Dowd’s remarks. Scarborough described Dowd’s speculation as obviously wrong and extraordinarily hurtful to many people, expressing satisfaction that network president Kutler had condemned the words in the strongest terms.
Following his termination, Dowd defended his position in a Substack article published Friday. He maintained that most people at MSNBC knew his words were being misconstrued and that the timing of his comments was forgotten, noting he made them before anyone knew Kirk was the target. Dowd claimed the network caved to what he called a “right wing media mob” that targeted him across multiple platforms.
In his defense, Dowd explained that he had emphasized the need to gather facts because details were unknown at the time. He said his reference to someone potentially firing a gun in celebration was meant to illustrate the uncertainty surrounding the initial reports. Dowd argued his broader point about the toxic combination of divisiveness and unlimited gun access in America was valid commentary.
President Donald Trump announced Kirk’s death on Truth Social Wednesday afternoon, praising him as someone who understood the hearts of American youth better than anyone. Trump described Kirk as loved and admired by all, especially himself, and extended sympathies to Kirk’s wife Erika and family. The president later addressed the incident in a video statement, calling it a dark moment for America and blaming radical left political violence.
The FBI has identified the shooting suspect as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, who has not been cooperating with authorities according to Utah Governor Spencer Cox. The assassination has prompted discussions about rising political violence in America, with concerns that Kirk’s killing could serve as a catalyst for further division and radicalization across political lines.
In Friday correspondence to all Comcast NBCUniversal employees, MSNBC executives appeared to criticize Dowd further, stating the network had ended its association with a contributor who made unacceptable and insensitive comments about the horrific event. The executives emphasized that disagreements should ultimately be conducted with respect and that improvements were needed.
