Whoopi Goldberg and ‘The View’ Hosts Call Charlie Kirk Shooting Death a ‘Horror’ That’s ‘Beyond Devastating’: ‘This Is Antithetical to Who We Are as Americans’
Whoopi Goldberg opened the September 11th episode of The View by saying that the shooting death of Charlie Kirk was “beyond devastating.” Kirk, a conservative activist, strong supporter of Donald Trump, and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was shot in the neck on September 10 while speaking at a college event in Utah. He was only 31 years old.
Goldberg expressed sympathy for Kirk’s family and pointed out that leaders from both political parties condemned the violence. She said they were right to call on Americans to unite instead of tearing each other apart.
She asked an important question: isn’t one of the most basic parts of being American that we can share our opinions without fearing violence? She noted that, sadly, more and more people are being attacked simply because of their beliefs.
Her co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin added that no matter where someone stands politically, people must learn to see those they disagree with not as enemies, but as fellow Americans. She described Kirk as a major voice for young conservatives and said his death would deeply affect them. Many young Republicans, she explained, felt encouraged by Kirk to speak up on campuses where they were often the minority voice.
Sunny Hostin said she couldn’t believe someone would kill another person just for expressing an opinion. She reminded viewers that the First Amendment exists to protect freedom of speech and that Americans should always be able to share their views without fear.
Goldberg ended the segment with a serious warning. She mentioned the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, the attack on Paul Pelosi, and other violent incidents, saying this is not how Americans should act. She stressed that everyone has a voice, regardless of political beliefs, and no one should ever be afraid to use it. She also noted that the person who killed Kirk had not yet been caught.
The tragedy also drew reactions from well-known figures in Hollywood, including some who had strongly opposed Trump in the past. Jimmy Kimmel posted on Instagram, urging people to stop the finger-pointing and simply recognize how terrible it is when someone is shot. He sent his love to Kirk’s family and to all the families affected by senseless gun violence.
Stephen Colbert also shared a heartfelt message before his September 10 episode of The Late Show. He said his condolences went to Kirk’s family and loved ones. Colbert, recalling the violent political times of the 1960s, warned that violence only brings more violence and never solves disagreements. He said he prayed that this tragedy was the isolated act of one disturbed individual and not the beginning of a darker trend in America.
