Researchers warn of a growing “assassination culture,” echoing Charlie Kirk’s own warnings before he was fatally shot in Utah.
A report from the Network Contagion Research Institute and Rutgers University says attacks like Tesla arsons and calls to “kill billionaires” have become a far-left meme aesthetic for political violence.
“Political violence targeting Donald Trump and Elon Musk is becoming increasingly normalized,” researchers warned, citing the attempt on Trump’s life during a campaign rally last year. “Following the July 13, 2024, attempted assassination of President Trump, tolerance — and even advocacy — for political violence appears to have surged, especially among politically left-leaning segments of the population.”
Additionally, federal prosecutors cautioned late last month that accused assassin Luigi Mangione might inspire further political violence, writing in a court memo: “Simply put, the defendant hoped to normalize the use of violence to achieve ideological or political objectives.”
Two weeks later, a sniper killed the Turning Point USA founder while he spoke at Utah Valley University—over 2,000 miles from where Mangione allegedly gunned down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City.
In Manhattan, police found bullet casings marked with references to a book criticizing the health insurance industry, while in Utah, they recovered a Mauser .30-06 with etched bullets. A NCRI-Rutgers study warned that online platforms fuel “radical ideation,” noting survey support for assassinations and key psychological red flags.
“The findings underscore the erosion of democratic norms and the growing acceptability of political violence in American discourse, particularly among ideologically extreme communities online,” researchers wrote.
Published in April, months before Charlie Kirk’s assassination, the NCRI report found over 30% of respondents said killing prominent billionaires could be “somewhat justified,” rising to 50% among those identifying as left of center.
