President Donald Trump has come under heavy criticism after saying he "couldn't care less" in response to a question about his close ally, conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
In an interview on Fox & Friends last Friday morning (September 12), Trump was asked about the country’s healing process following the shooting of Kirk at Utah Valley University on September 10.
Instead of calling for unity, the 79-year-old president pointed the finger solely at the radical left.
“I tell you something that is going to get me in trouble, but I couldn’t care less," he responded.
Trump went on to say that the “radicals on the right are radical because they don’t want to see crime,” but it was the “vicious and horrible” left that posed the true problem.
“They are politically savvy,” he said, accusing them of pushing progressive agendas on issues like transgender rights and open borders.
The comments have sparked widespread backlash, as many expected a more unifying response from a sitting president, especially after such a violent and tragic event.
"A president that cannot UNITE the country of the UNITED STATES. How sad," one user responded. "He incites hate, violence, and division," another added.
"Inciting a civil war? Impeachable offense," a third chimed in, while a fourth added: "Wow. So he obviously doesn’t care about more than half the people in this country."
The assassination of Kirk, 31, took place while he was speaking to a crowd of around 3,000 at a Turning Point USA event at UVU.
The shooting occurred shortly after the right-wing influencer made comments about gun violence in response to a question about mass shootings.
In stark contrast to the words of past US presidents who have used their platform to foster unity in times of national tragedy, Trump’s comments highlighted his hyper-partisan stance.
For example, Abraham Lincoln’s second inaugural address famously sought to “bind up the nation’s wounds,” while Joe Biden, just days after the January 6 insurrection, called for unity and emphasized that without it, “there is no peace, only bitterness and fury”.
Instead, Trump’s rhetoric has remained focused on what he sees as the threats posed by left-wing ideologies. He followed his comments on the Kirk shooting with threats of investigations targeting philanthropist George Soros, accusing him of funding “professional agitators” and fueling “riots on the streets.”
The two-time president also made remarks about taking action against organizations that fund political violence, laying blame squarely on the “radical left".
Tyler Robinson, 22, was arrested shortly after the shooting, reportedly turning himself in with the help of a family member.
According to FBI Director Kash Patel, Robinson had sent a chilling message before the bloody incident, saying he had the “opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and he was going to do that.”
Robinson also allegedly told investigators: “Some hatred cannot be negotiated with,” providing a glimpse into his motive.
The investigation into Robinson’s background continues, with the FBI seizing multiple electronic devices from his home, including computers, gaming systems, and cell phones.
Prosecutors are expected to file charges soon, and the death penalty is reportedly being considered, as Utah allows capital punishment by firing squad.