Republican Lawmakers Call on Musk to Remove Charlie Kirk Assassination Videos from Social Media

Following the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) urged Elon Musk and other social media leaders to remove graphic videos of the incident from their platforms, citing the trauma to Kirk's family and the desensitization of society to violence. Luna's call was supported by Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), who expressed her horror at having seen the footage. The videos, widely circulated on platforms including X, Facebook, and TikTok, show Kirk being shot in the neck and the chaotic aftermath, prompting bipartisan concerns about the impact of such content. While some social media users criticized calls for censorship, Republican lawmakers emphasized the need to value life and protect viewers from reliving tragedies. The FBI is actively investigating the shooting and has requested public assistance in gathering information. This incident has intensified discussions around political violence and the responsibilities of social media companies in moderating graphic content.