Matthew Dowd spoke out on Friday via his Substack, reflecting on his recent firing from MSNBC following controversial remarks made after the shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Kirk, 31, was fatally shot on September 10, 2025, during a speaking event at Utah Valley University.
Appearing on MSNBC Live With Katy Tur as news of the shooting broke, Dowd, 64, was asked about the environment surrounding the incident. Unaware that Kirk was the target, he described Kirk as a “divisive” figure who often pushed “hate speech” aimed at specific groups, adding, “Hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions.”
Dowd noted this reflected the toxic U.S. climate, marked by divisiveness and widespread gun access, unlike other democracies.
The comments sparked swift backlash from conservative media, leading to Dowd’s termination the next day. In his Substack post, Dowd expressed shock at the fallout, clarifying that his remarks were made before Kirk was confirmed as the victim. He referenced the Holocaust survivors’ #ItStartedWithWords campaign to frame his point, believing it uncontroversial. Despite apologizing for any miscommunication and MSNBC’s awareness that his words were misconstrued, Dowd was let go, which he attributed to pressure from the “Right Wing media mob.”