The Pentagon is not backing down from its quest for consequences for those who celebrate Charlie Kirk’s killing, even as Democrats warn the move is ‘un-American’ and violates free speech protections.

The controversy underscores a clash between military discipline and First Amendment rights, with top Pentagon officials arguing that celebrating the killing of an American political figure is unacceptable conduct for service members — while Democrats counter that the crackdown risks punishing constitutionally protected speech.

‘Hunting down and prosecuting service members for their individual political beliefs is dangerous and un-American,’ Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., a former Army Ranger, wrote on X.

‘We must condemn political violence AND allow peaceful speech that doesn’t impact the chain of command.’

War Secretary Pete Hegseth and his team see it differently.

‘We will not tolerate military or civilian personnel who celebrate or mock the assassination of a fellow American,’ Sean Parnell, chief Pentagon spokesperson, told Fox News Digital in a statement.

‘Every service member and civilian at the Department takes an oath to defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Those in our ranks who rejoice at an act of domestic terrorism are unfit to serve the American people at the Department of War.’

Already, Army Col. Scott Stephens was suspended following posts purportedly belonging to him that praised the killing. 

‘The death of Charlie Kirk in Utah was tragic. However, we can take comfort in the fact that Charlie was doing what he loved best — spreading hate, racism, homophobia, misogyny, and transphobia on college campuses,’ one post read.

Another Army Reserves officer was suspended over the weekend.

‘A monster died today,’ one post allegedly belonging to Maj. Bryan Bintliff, who went by ‘Bryan Harlow’ on social media, read. ‘It’s sad Charlie’s kids are traumatized for life, but it’s not a sad thing that he’s dead.’

Kirk was shot and killed on Wednesday in Orem, Utah, while speaking to college students at Utah Valley University.

The Pentagon isn’t the only one rooting out those with distasteful commentary on the killing: the State Department has announced it would be scanning social posts to revoke visas of foreign nationals who do the same.

‘We shouldn’t be bringing people into this country. We should not be giving visas to people who are going to come to the United States and do things like celebrate the murder, the execution, the assassination of a political figure, we should not and if they’re already here, we should be revoking their visa,’ a senior State Department official told Fox News in an exclusive interview.

‘Why would we want to bring people into our country? They’re going to engage in negative and destructive behavior? It makes no sense.’

Secretary of State Marco Rubio early Tuesday said that the U.S. and Qatar were on the verge of finalizing a defense cooperation agreement as he framed the Middle Eastern ally as the ‘only country in the world’ positioned to mediate between Israel and Hamas. 

The secretary’s comments came as he was leaving Jerusalem, where he had met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The meeting took place against the backdrop of Israel’s airstrikes on Hamas leaders in Qatar last week, as well as its intensifying bombardment of Gaza City. 

Rubio, who is now heading to Qatar for a quick visit, acknowledged Doha’s anger over the Israeli airstrikes, telling Fox News during an exclusive interview in Jerusalem: ‘We understand they’re not happy about what happened.’ 

Speaking to reporters, Rubio reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to Qatar as an ally, saying Doha can play a ‘key role’ in ensuring the terrorist group Hamas is ‘disarmed as a threat.’ 

‘We think Qatar can play a very key role in that. So, we’re going there. We have a close partnership with the Qataris,’ Rubio said before adding, ‘In fact, we have an enhanced defense cooperation agreement, which we’ve been working on and we’re on the verge of finalizing.’ 

Rubio said that if any country in the world could mediate an agreement between Israel and Hamas, ‘Qatar is the one.’ 

‘They’re the ones that can do it. Now, I don’t know if they can after what happened, but I think they could. If anyone can, they can. There’s no other country in the world that can play that role. And we hope they can,’ Rubio said. 

The secretary warned that the window for diplomacy with Hamas was narrowing, saying, ‘We don’t have months anymore … We probably have days, maybe a few weeks.’ 

‘So, it’s a key moment – an important moment,’ Rubio said. ‘And again, our preference, our number one choice, is that this ends through a negotiated summit where Hamas says, ‘We’re going to demilitarize. We’re no longer going to pose this threat. We’re going to disband. We’re going to release every single hostage.’’ 

As questions swirl about FBI Director Kash Patel’s leadership of the agency, particularly in the immediate hours after the assassination of Charlie Kirk, Senate Republicans appear ready to back him.

Patel is due before the Senate Judiciary Committee for an annual oversight hearing of the FBI on Tuesday morning, but the timing comes at a crucial moment for him as scrutiny mounts over a wave of firings at the agency and his handling of the investigation into Kirk’s alleged killer.

There is also a new face in FBI management — former Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, who was sworn in on Monday in a power-sharing role with FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino.

But Senate Republicans on the Judiciary Committee intend to look at Patel’s track record as a whole over the last nine months, and they signaled that they still have confidence in him.

Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, told Fox News Digital that he just planned to talk about oversight of the FBI during the hearing.

When asked if he felt there should be increased scrutiny of Patel, Grassley said, ‘Well, that’s why we have an oversight hearing, we do it once a year.’

The top Democrat on the panel, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., however, signaled that he would be going after Patel, particularly in the wake of a lawsuit from three former senior FBI officials last week, who alleged they were fired from the agency for political reasons, and Patel’s firing of former Salt Lake City FBI field office head Mehtab Syed.

Durbin said it was unclear what kind of impact Syed would have had on the investigation, but he noted her lengthy career and specialty in counterterrorism.

‘We do know that the person who pushed her out, Director Patel, quickly took to social media and falsely announced that the suspect was in custody,’ Durbin said on the Senate floor. ‘Remember that? Only to be forced to walk back those claims shortly after.’

Patel has again come under the microscope for a post he made on X in the hours after Kirk was killed where he wrote, ‘The subject for the horrific shooting today that took the life of Charlie Kirk is now in custody.’

However, that individual and another were caught and released before law enforcement nabbed 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, some 33 hours after the shooting.

Patel pushed back on criticism of his performance during an appearance on ‘Fox & Friends’ on Monday, where he argued that his post was made in a push for transparency.

‘I was being transparent with working with the public on our findings as I had them,’ he said. ‘Could I have worded it a little better in the heat of the moment? Sure. But do I regret putting it out? Absolutely not.’

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., a member of the committee, told Fox News Digital that there would be ‘a lot of things to learn’ during the hearing, but appeared to still back Patel as director.

‘You know, my view is, listen, he serves at the pleasure of the president,’ Hawley said. ‘If the president has confidence in him, then I think that, you know, that’s good enough for me.’

To Hawley’s point, President Donald Trump appears to still support his embattled FBI director.

‘I am very proud of the FBI,’ Trump said Saturday. ‘Kash — and everyone else — they have done a great job.’

And Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., and a member of the panel, said that he was sure that ‘a lot of people are going to be looking at the shooting,’ but argued his focus was on the whole of Patel’s tenure at the FBI — one that he supported during his nomination and one he still supports now.

When asked about Patel’s performance during the investigation in Utah, Tillis contended, ‘Those things are fluid.’

‘I’ve seen a lot of armchair quarterbacks in my day, and I saw a lot of armchair quarterbacks, or Monday morning quarterbacks,’ Tillis said. ‘Could they have been tighter? People are demanding updates.’

‘I mean, if the only thing that they’re criticizing you for is talking about the potential suspects or persons of interest too soon, that’s kind of weak. Go after some more foundational things.’

Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., said that he believed it would be a ‘very important hearing tomorrow’ in light of Patel’s social media post and direction of the agency.

‘[It’s] something that even the lowest level comms director knows,’ Booker told Fox News Digital. ‘You don’t push out information that’s wrong in an investigation, you stick to the facts, and it’s very disappointing. I think, indicative of the kind of leader that he is.’

‘I’m also more concerned right now with how many of the FBI officials he’s fired for no cause. He’s politicized this department and weaponized the department in a partisan way that’s disappointing,’ he continued. ‘And then, finally, him actually undermining investigations that are ongoing that keep Americans safe is very troubling.’ 

FBI Director Kash Patel vowed that the bureau would continue on a quest for transparency during his testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee as criticism of his handling of the Charlie Kirk assassination investigation lingers.

In his opening statement to the committee obtained by Fox News Digital, Patel listed a series of accomplishments the agency has achieved since President Donald Trump took office, including tens of thousands of arrests, a realignment of the agency and an emphasis on cracking down on illicit drugs.

Patel acknowledged the growing criticism over his direction of the FBI and challenged lawmakers on the panel to come after him. 

‘I’m not going anywhere,’ he said. ‘If you want to criticize my 16 years of service, please bring it on.’

Patel kicked off his testimony by offering an update on the FBI’s investigation into the ‘appalling assassination of Charlie Kirk.’

‘It’s important that the FBI is as transparent as possible without jeopardizing our investigation,’ Patel said.

The FBI chief listed off numerous findings in the case, including an ‘extensive review’ of suspect Tyler Robinson’s accounts and devices. He said over 100 interviews had been conducted since the shooting, and that the FBI has received over 11,000 submissions through the National Threat Operations Center and over 16,000 submissions through the Digital Media Tipline.

‘We are making a traditionally nontransparent agency the most transparent it has ever been,’ Patel said.

He lauded the public participation in the case, too, and noted that the tens of thousands of tips that poured in helped identify a suspect.

‘Tyler Robinson is in custody today because of this partnership,’ he said.

Patel’s appearance before the committee had been on the books for weeks before Kirk’s death and was initially geared as an annual oversight hearing of the FBI. However, his handling of the investigation, social media misfires and a wave of firings at the agency have generated fresh scrutiny over his leadership.

Patel came under the microscope for a post he made on X in the hours after Kirk was killed, where he wrote, ‘The subject for the horrific shooting today that took the life of Charlie Kirk is now in custody.’

However, that individual and another were caught and released before law enforcement nabbed 22-year-old Robinson, some 33 hours after the shooting.

Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, addressed Kirk briefly in his opening remarks, saying, ‘God Bless you, Charlie Kirk.’

The chair, who has advocated for whistleblowers for decades, then dove into lengthy remarks about government weaponization and praised Patel for compensating what he said were 10 FBI employees who lost their security clearances in recent years.

‘In the short amount of time you’ve been director, you’ve corrected whistleblower retaliation and increased transparency more than any other FBI director I’ve seen, and I’ve been around here more than anyone else on this committee,’ Grassley said.

But the top Democrat on the committee, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., zeroed in on the wide swath of DOJ and FBI personnel who have been fired, sometimes without explanation, a topic expected to crop up repeatedly during Democrats’ questioning.

Durbin criticized Patel’s deference to Trump, saying the director ‘installed MAGA loyalists’ to key positions and initiated internal ‘loyalty tests,’ including polygraph tests. Durbin revealed that some FBI officials failed those tests and needed waivers to continue working at the bureau.

He noted the recent lawsuit brought by three ousted top FBI officials, who have accused Patel of unconstitutionally firing them and wielding the president’s Article II powers to do so.

Durbin also noted that Patel has little experience working in law enforcement, calling his inexperience ‘staggering’ and accusing him of fast-tracking similarly unqualified recruits to fill the FBI’s open jobs.

Patel repeatedly stressed that he has made strides to transform the agency into a more transparent organization and used the ‘Epstein files’ as an example.

Earlier this year a memo from the DOJ and FBI stated that ‘it is the determination of the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation that no further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted,’ after investigating the tens of thousands of documents associated with Jeffrey Epstein.

That triggered a firestorm on Capitol Hill that is still roiling. Prior to becoming director, Patel had promoted the idea that the government was hiding a secret list of sexual predators affiliated with Epstein. Patel during the hearing argued that the ‘original sin’ of the Epstein case began in the early 2000s, where ‘very limited search warrants that didn’t intake as much material into the FBI possession as it should have’ were issued. 

‘If I were FBI director then, I wouldn’t have allowed such a limited search warrant to be issued for these types of atrocious offenses,’ he said.

He argued that under former U.S. Attorney Alex Acosta, Epstein was allowed to enter into a plea deal with non-prosecution agreements, ‘plus the courts issued protective orders and sealed large volumes of material from ever being disclosed.’

‘The non-prosecution barred any future criminal culpability for this entire time period,’ Patel said.  ‘Still, this administration has done more than any of the previous administrations to seek transparency in this case.’

‘[The] DOJ has made motions to the court to unseal grand jury records on multiple occasions, but the courts have denied these motions,’ he continued. ‘Further, it was the first Trump administration that brought the renewed case against Epstein in 2019. Under the direction of this president, we have turned over ALL credible information in conjunction with our partners in Congress.’

The federal trial of Ryan Routh, accused of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump as he played golf in September 2024, resumes Tuesday with more FBI forensic experts scheduled to testify.

On Monday, jurors heard FBI Firearms and Toolmarks Examiner Erich Smith, who alleged the rifle found near the sixth hole of Trump International Golf Club was a Chinese-made Norinco SKS. Smith said the weapon was ‘in working condition’ when recovered, test-fired successfully at the FBI lab, and was configured with a round in the chamber and the safety off — meaning it was ‘prepared to fire.’ 

He also testified the rifle’s serial number had been ‘obliterated in several places’ but could be partially restored.

Smith showed jurors the 7.62×39 mm full metal jacket rounds loaded in the rifle. 

‘Bullets are designed to put holes in things,’ he said. ‘It would have put a hole in something if it had hit the target.’

Routh, representing himself, cross-examined Smith about whether all SKS rifles are semi-automatic, whether test-firings were videotaped and whether the gun could have changed hands at a gun show before he obtained it. 

‘So, we’re just supposed to take your word for it?‘ Routh asked Smith. 

Smith replied: ‘That’s what happened.’ 

Trump-appointed Judge Aileen Cannon sustained prosecution objections when Routh strayed beyond the scope of testimony. 

The court also heard from FBI biologist Curtis Gaul, who testified about collecting potential DNA samples from the rifle grip, a glove, zip ties and other items found. Routh cross-examined briefly, asking where the glove was found and whether Gaul knew who removed the rifle’s scope.

Cannon cut off questioning several times, urging both prosecutors and Routh to keep examinations moving. 

Jurors appeared confused during parts of Gaul’s testimony, as prosecutors referenced exhibit numbers without always displaying them. Meanwhile, Routh was seen leaning forward, taking notes and staring intently when fingerprints reportedly matching his own were displayed on a screen.

When court resumes Tuesday morning, prosecutors are expected to call FBI biologist Kara Gregor, followed by additional FBI specialists in digital forensics and supervisory roles as they continue building their case against Routh.

As the deadline to fund the government and avoid a partial government shutdown approaches, President Donald Trump has pressured Republican lawmakers to pass a continuing resolution.

‘Congressional Republicans, including Leader John Thune and Speaker Mike Johnson, are working on a short term ‘CLEAN’ extension of Government Funding to stop Cryin’ Chuck Schumer from shutting down the Government. In times like these, Republicans have to stick TOGETHER to fight back against the Radical Left Democrat demands, and vote ‘YES!’ on both Votes needed to pass a Clean CR this week out of the House of Representatives,’ Trump declared in a Monday Truth Social post.

‘Democrats want the Government to shut down. Republicans want the Government to OPEN. Democrats love CRIME, Republicans make our Country SAFE — WE HATE CRIME. FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION. Thank you for your attention to this matter!’ the president added.

Given the current partisan composition of the lower chamber, the House GOP could only afford to lose two Republican votes while trying to pass a continuing resolution strictly along party lines — if just three Republicans break ranks and oppose passage, the House GOP would lack the votes needed to ram through a stopgap funding measure without Democratic support.

Some House Republicans have objected to the prospect of a continuing resolution.

‘@SpeakerJohnson wants to pass a Continuing Resolution (CR) until the holidays. This CR would be a copy of the uniparty spending bill under Autopen Biden. I didn’t vote for those spending priorities when Biden was President and I won’t vote for them now,’ Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., said in a Monday afternoon post on X.

Prior to publication of Trump’s Truth Social post on Monday, Republican Rep. Warren Davidson of Ohio noted in part of a post on X, ‘I already hated status quo thinking and approaches (soft incrementalism at best), so I’m out on another CR for the sake of more government. We know we need a smaller, more accountable, more focused America First government. I will tolerate nothing else.’

Also shortly before Trump pressured Republicans in the Monday Truth Social post, GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia declared in a post on X, ‘I can’t wait to see how voting for the CR becomes a Trump loyalty test. When in all actual reality, it’s a disloyalty to him by passing a Biden policy laden omnibus. 

‘Instead of passing a Republican appropriations bill with Trump policies and our spending priorities, in order to make his policies permanent. By continuing to pass CR’s, those that demand it and support it, are making Trump a temporary president with temporary policies. Get ready for the spin with paid influencers, bot accounts, and ‘friendly’media supporting,’ the congresswoman added.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said the continuing resolution ‘will have a few anomalies in it,’ according to The Hill.

An X account belonging to a conservative activist with over 1 million followers has been posting numerous examples of individuals celebrating or downplaying the political assassination of Charlie Kirk, racking up several firings along the way.

‘For years, the left tried to destroy people for simply having conservative values,’ Students for Trump National Chair Ryan Fournier told Fox News Digital. ‘They ruined careers, families, livelihoods. But now, we are fighting back.’

Since Kirk’s death, Fournier has been using his account with 1.2 million followers to post examples of individuals celebrating or mocking the assassination on social media and asking his followers to email examples to tips@ryanfournier.com.

Fournier told Fox News Digital that he has received 51,000 tips, 300 million views on his platforms, 15 million engagements, his Facebook has surpassed 1 million followers, and at least 76 people have been fired over their posts. 

‘The American people are awake,’ Fournier said. ‘And we are not stopping.’

On Saturday, Fournier posted on X about Apple employee Cody Ikerd’s social media post saying, ‘Imagine having died such a horrible person that someone sharing your life’s work is considered ‘insensitive.’’

Fournier also posted Apple’s press contact emails and, days later, told his 1.2 million followers that Ikerd had been fired.

Chance Williams, an employee at Old Navy who used ‘she/they/enby/transfem’ pronouns on social media, responded to Kirk’s death by commenting, ‘Rest in piss, scum.’

‘UPDATE: @OldNavy has confirmed Chance Williams (she/they/enby/transfem) has been fired,’ Fournier posted on X after exposing the employee’s comment.

‘Time to change the pronouns to was/were!’

Fournier’s effort hasn’t just implicated national brands but has reached into local markets as well, including a post on X about an instructor at a fitness studio in Scottsdale, Arizona, who allegedly mocked Kirk on social media following his assassination. 

‘UPDATE: @KarmaScottsdale has fired Jordyn Robinson,’ Fournier posted on X after his initial post.

Educators have also found themselves being called out by Fournier, including an ELD interventionist in Arkansas who was reportedly fired after Fournier posted on X that she had called Kirk’s death ‘divine justice.’

Politicians have not been immune to Fournier’s effort either, as evidenced by the conservative activist’s post calling out Palmetto Bay, Florida, council member Steve Cody, who allegedly posted online, ‘Charlie Kirk is a fitting sacrifice to our Lords: Smith & Wesson. Hallowed be their names.’

Cody is now facing calls to resign, including from two fellow lawmakers who provided statements to Fox News Digital. 

‘Political violence has no place in America. Councilman Steve Cody’s disturbing despicable statements are entirely unbecoming of an elected official & he must resign immediately,’ GOP Rep. Carlos Gimenez said. 

‘In America we have the right to freedom of speech, Steve Cody won’t be arrested for what he said but he certainly has the right to lose his job for it!’

Florida state Rep. Omar Blanco, who represents Palmetto Bay, told Fox News Digital, ‘Hate speech and mocking violence have no home in Palmetto Bay. For the good of our community, Councilman Steve Cody must resign.’ 

Fournier’s push to shine a light on employees who have appeared to condone political violence, which has been echoed by several top conservative influencer accounts, including LibsofTikTok, Robby Starbuck and Corey A. DeAngelis, has faced pushback from many on the left claiming it impedes free speech that conservatives often champion.

‘This is not cancel culture,’ Fournier told Fox News Digital. ‘This is consequence culture. This is not an attack on the First Amendment. You want to praise an assassination? Fine. But don’t cry when your boss, your school board, or your community finds out what kind of sick, soulless person you really are.’