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A top US official has warned that the State Department will actively review and potentially revoke the visas of foreign nationals who are found to be praising, rationalizing, or making light of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination on social media.
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau issued the warning in a post on X Thursday morning, calling such responses “disgusting” and directing consular officials to take “appropriate action.” He said, “In light of yesterday’s horrific assassination of a leading political figure, I want to underscore that foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country. I have been disgusted to see some on social media praising, rationalizing, or making light of the event, and have directed our consular officials to undertake appropriate action. Please feel free to bring such comments by foreigners to my attention so that the State Department can protect the American people.”
The warning follows a broader effort by the administration to revoke visas of individuals accused of harboring anti-American sentiments, supporting US-designated terrorist organizations, or participating in activities deemed hostile to US values. According to the State Department, over 6,000 student visas have already been revoked this year (many tied to online support for terrorist organizations like Hamas).
In recent months, the administration has ramped up vetting procedures at embassies and consulates, requiring applicants to unlock private social media profiles and expanding the scope of scrutiny to include any posts perceived as anti-Israel, anti-American, or sympathetic to foreign militant groups. Diplomats have been instructed to flag individuals showing “indications of hostility towards citizens, culture, or founding principles of the United States,” including expressions of dissent. Critics argue this constitutes an escalating crackdown on freedom of speech, especially when applied to foreign nationals whose views may not align with US foreign policy.
This all comes after Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA and a vocal proponent of conservative politics, was assassinated while speaking at Utah Valley University. His death has sent shockwaves across the political landscape. The FBI has since recovered the rifle believed to have been used in the shooting and is offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to the suspect, who remains at large.
President Trump, in an Oval Office address, described Kirk as “a martyr for truth and freedom,” while blaming “radical left political violence” for his death.
