Obama talks about a "turning point" in the nation
after the death of activist Kirk and attacks Trump
Former US President Barack Obama considered that the nation was going through a "turning point" after the assassination of Charlie Kirk, as he described the death of the conservative activist as a "tragedy" regardless of his views.
Obama said
in his first public statements about the shooting
during the global summit of the Jefferson
Educational Society:
"Even if you think they are 'on the other side of the debate', this poses a threat to all of us and we must be clear and frank and condemn it." "
The 44th president indicated that
he believes
- the country is facing a sharp escalation in political violence
- accusing President Donald Trump and members of
- his administration of fueling some sharp political divisions.
But I will say this
those extremist views were not in my 'white house' (during his term)
- the Democratic politician explained
- according to the Erie Times-News.
- I couldn't do it. I wasn't putting
the weight of the US government behind her. When we have the weight of the US government behind extremist views, it means we have a problem."
Obama, one of the attendees, replied:
So your original question was: 'Are we at a turning point?
Yes
- for our democracy and we must fight for those values that
- have made this country the envy of the world.
Obama, 64
- argued that his administration and other Republicans who held
- or ran against the presidency - such as former President George Bush
- and Republican presidential candidates John McCain and Mitt Romney
were more focused on uniting the country than Trump.
He continued:
When I hear not only our current president
but also his aides, who have a history of describing political opponents as insects, enemies, who should be 'targeted', this indicates a broader problem we have now and something we will all have to deal with".
Kirk was killed last week at the University of Utah Valley, on a speaking tour where he was discussing with students, when he was shot in the neck, leading to his death.
The alleged killer
Tyler Robinson, was arrested more than 30 hours after the shooting and charged with premeditated murder. According to authorities, the 22-year-old suspect said in text messages to his transgender lover after the shooting that he was "tired of hating him", referring to Kirk.
Obama urged the public to "show sympathy"
for Kirk's family
noting that some people who expressed joy at his death were attacked and criticized, and some even lost their jobs. "I didn't know Charlie Kirk," he said.
I was generally aware of some of his ideas
and I think they were wrong, but that doesn't negate the fact that what happened was a tragedy. I am sad for him and his family. He was a young man with a wife, two young children, and many friends and supporters who cared about him.
Obama's first public statements on
Tuesday came after he tweeted last week in the wake of the killing. He wrote on the X platform a few hours after
the assassination:
"We do not yet know what motivated the person who shot and killed Charlie Kirk, but this type of shameful violence has no place in our democracy".
Michelle and I will be praying for Charlie's family tonight
especially his wife Erika and their two young children.