The killing of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk in Utah has laid bare growing political violence and social discord in the United States, potentially making it more vulnerable to mainpulation amid deepening polarization and mistrust of institutions.
Foreign powers such as Russia and China, which challenge America and its allies from Europe to the Middle East to Taiwan and the South China Sea, have long been accused of exploiting such divisions through disinformation campaigns that inflame tensions and weaken confidence in American governance.
Kirk’s death highlights the very environment these actors seek to exploit, a point made by Utah’s Republican Governor Spencer Cox, who warned they are actively working to “encourage violence.”
Newsweek has reached out to the Foreign Ministries of China and Russia for comment.
Why It Matters
Kirk, a close political ally of President Donald Trump, was fatally shot while speaking at a public event, sending shockwaves across the nation. The killing has intensified attention on political violence, extremism, and the rapid spread of misinformation. Incidents like this not only deepen partisan divides but also create opportunities for foreign adversaries to manipulate public perception, fuel distrust, and further destabilize an already fractured political landscape.
What To Know
Kirk was shot and killed during a speaking engagement on Wednesday, sending attendees fleeing in panic. Law enforcement quickly secured the campus and launched a search for the suspect, who fled the scene. Kirk died of his injuries shortly afterward. While authorities have not yet determined a motive, speculation and misinformation about the shooter’s identity and affiliations have spread rapidly online, creating a climate of uncertainty.
Highlighting the risks of foreign interference, Cox warned that “we have bots from Russia, China, all over the world, that are trying to instill misinformation and encourage violence,”underscoring how domestic unrest, social media amplification, and foreign exploitation intersect to influence public perception and heighten political tension.
During tonight’s press conference, Utah Gov. Spencer J. Cox stated that “Chinese and Russian bots” are trying to “instill disinformation and encourage violence,” following yesterday’s shooting of Charlie Kirk. “Our adversaries want violence,” with the governor calling for people… pic.twitter.com/yaBqMeayU2
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) September 12, 2025
While the United States remains the world’s biggest economy and is widely regarded as having its most powerful armed forces, it faces a growing strategic challenge from China and Russia. The entry of Russian drones into NATO ally Poland this week highlighted the potential for conflict to spread from its war in Ukraine. China appears increasingly threatening over self-ruling Taiwan, which it says is part of its territory, and more asserstive in the South China Sea. In the Middle East, they are aligned with U.S. adversary Iran.
But they are also competitors everywhere from the Latin America to Africa to the Arctic, meaning the distraction of political turmoil in the United States can help to serve their interests.
China’s Leverage of Social Crises
China has actively leveraged U.S. social crises—including shootings, racial injustice, and political polarization—to push narratives of dysfunction. In the aftermath of the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, Chinese state-linked accounts amplified divisive content, further deepening societal rifts. Researchers identified a network dubbed “Spamouflage,” in which Chinese-linked accounts impersonated U.S. voters, denigrated politicians, and spread divisive messages.
These operations, increasingly using AI-generated content, were designed to weaken public confidence in American institutions.
Russia’s Influence Operations
in 2016, Russia conducted extensive campaigns during the presidential election, employing fake personas, troll farms, and manipulated content to inflame racial, ideological, and cultural divisions.
These efforts included coordinated posts across social media platforms, creation of false grassroots movements, and targeted messaging aimed at both liberal and conservative audiences. Subsequent U.S. intelligence assessments show that similar tactics continued in later elections and high-profile events, demonstrating a persistent pattern of leveraging domestic crises to weaken trust in American institutions and democratic processes.
Technology and Amplification
Modern technology, including artificial intelligence and coordinated activity across social media platforms, allows adversaries to rapidly spread false narratives. Networks on X, Facebook, and Telegram have been observed targeting politically polarized audiences to sow confusion and mistrust.
Kirk’s murder has become another flashpoint in which foreign actors can amplify rumors, deepen polarization, and challenge Americans’ confidence in their institutions.
What People Are Saying
Utah Governor Spencer Cox: “There is a tremendous amount of disinformation…Our adversaries want violence. We have bots from Russia, China, all over the world that are trying to instill disinformation and encourage violence. I would encourage you to ignore those.”
Juliette Kayyem, Harvard Kennedy School professor and former homeland security official, told CNN: “We don’t know who the guy is, we don’t know what his motivation is. There are allegations about various groups and identities and sexual identities that are just not true and that’s where the Chinese and Russians fill the space with confirming these narratives that pit Americans against each other.”
What Happens Next
Law enforcement continues to search for Kirk’s shooter while social media remains flooded with speculation and misinformation. The killing underscores how moments of political violence and societal unrest can be exploited by American adversaries to weaken U.S. cohesion and credibility.
The post Charlie Kirk’s Killing Opens Opportunity for China and Russia appeared first on Newsweek.
