Fired MSNBC political analyst Matthew Dowd defended his twisted remarks about Charlie Kirk’s assassination, claiming he was axed after the liberal network caved to a “Right Wing media mob.”
Dowd, 64, addressed his ouster Friday, arguing that his ghoulish comments blaming Kirk and the conservative movement he championed for inciting the assassin came before it was confirmed the 31-year-old had been gunned down in a targeted political attack in Utah Wednesday afternoon.
“Keep in mind when the anchor came to me to comment on the ‘national environment’ the only thing known at the time was shots were fired and there was no reporting yet that Kirk was the target or had been shot at,” the left-leaning commentator wrote on his Substack.
“I said in the moment that we needed to get the facts because we have no idea what this could be and that it could easily be someone firing a gun in the air to celebrate the event. Remember Kirk is a diehard advocate of the 2nd amendment.”
Dowd outlandishly suggested on air to anchor Katy Tur that the Turning Point USA founder could have been shot by one of his own supporters “shooting their gun off in celebration.”
He then doubled down on his controversial take as the horrifying news continued to unfold.
“I always go back to hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions,” Dowd said, calling Kirk “one of the most divisive” figures, who pushes “hate speech” at certain groups.
“I think that’s the environment we’re in that people just… You can’t stop with these sort of awful thoughts you have and then saying these awful words and then not expect awful actions to take place. That’s the unfortunate environment we’re in.”
In his Substack defense, Dowd said he made his callous remarks while reflecting on Holocaust survivors’ efforts to warn the public about the years leading up to the mass slaughter — and naively believed no one would disagree with him.
He then accused MSNBC of sacking him to appease the firestorm his “misconstrued” comments sparked.
“The Right Wing media mob ginned up, went after me on a plethora of platforms, and MSNBC reacted to that mob,” Dowd wrote.
“Even though most at MSNBC knew my words were being misconstrued, the timing of my words forgotten (remember I said this before anyone knew Kirk was a target), and that I apologized for any miscommunication on my part, I was terminated by the end of the day.”
MSNBC was forced to apologize and network president Rebecca Kutler called Dowd’s comments “inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable.”
Comcast executives also reminded network staff in a memo to stay respectful on air, regardless of their political differences with the right-wing influencer.
Kirk was ruthlessly shot and killed with a single bullet to the neck at Utah Valley University while addressing thousands during the inaugural stop of his “American Comeback” tour.
Tyler Robinson, 22, is accused of firing the fatal shot and was taken into custody Thursday night after the shocking slaying on the Orem campus prompted a massive manhunt for the MAGA icon’s killer.
The alleged assassin is expected to be charged with aggravated murder and other offenses.
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