Since conservative activist Charlie Kirk was gunned down at Utah Valley University nine days ago, the United States has plunged into a disturbing new chapter of political hostility, with online threats of violence erupting across social media like wildfire. What started as scattered taunts celebrating Kirk’s death has morphed into chilling calls for assassinations targeting high-profile figures like Elon Musk, Donald Trump, and Ben Shapiro. Experts warn this escalating rhetoric is pushing the country toward a breaking point, threatening the very fabric of democratic discourse if left unchecked. As federal agencies race to monitor the flood of vitriol, the question hangs heavy: Has political violence become the new norm?

​

Kirk’s assassination on September 10, during a Q&A at his "American Comeback Tour," sparked immediate outrage, but the digital fallout was swift and brutal. Within hours, platforms like Bluesky—popular among progressive users—turned into hotbeds of hostility. Screenshots shared widely revealed users not only mocking Kirk’s demise but openly plotting against others, with posts like "Maybe Elon should be next?" and "Go get Trump next—LET'S HOPE!" paired with a viral collage featuring Musk and Trump. That image, timestamped September 12 at 6:37 p.m. PDT, captured a disturbing trend, with handles like @twilightznz.bsky.soc... praying for Musk’s fall and @theothersense.bsky.soc... pleading "Trump next please."

view [here]

and [here]

​

Bluesky, with its growing user base, saw a wave of such threats, extending beyond political giants to cultural figures like J.K. Rowling and Matt Walsh. One user, @babybeginner, shared a thread of screenshots on September 11, highlighting a community compiling "kill lists," a post that racked up thousands of views. (Check the full thread and images here.) Bluesky’s CEO Jay Graber responded firmly, declaring on September 11 that "glorifying violence violates our guidelines" and has no place in public debate. Dozens of accounts, including former DC Comics writer Gretchen Felker-Martin—who quipped about Kirk "filling my timeline"—were suspended by week’s end.

​

Steve Bonnell, known online as Destiny, a prominent Twitch streamer, broadcast a video in which he suggested that additional conservatives should be targeted for violence. Following widespread backlash, his account was banned from the platform. The idea that anyone, irrespective of their political stance, could espouse such extreme views is deeply troubling and underscores the dangerous escalation of rhetoric in the wake of recent events.

view the stream [here]

​

The venom wasn’t confined to Bluesky and Twitch. On X, posts echoed the same fervor, with @ResisttheMS citing a spring 2025 poll where a significant chunk of liberals justified violence against Musk and Trump, a statistic that now feels eerily prophetic.

view [here]

​

Musk himself underscored the gravity of the situation, tweeting on September 10, "If they refuse to leave us in peace, then our only choice is to fight or die," a message that resonated with many while also sparking debate over its implications.

view [here]
and [here]

​

The scale of the problem is alarming. Researchers have tracked a noticeable uptick in harassment and threats against officials since early 2025, with incidents of political violence—including Kirk’s death—leaving a trail of tension across the nation. Experts like Jon Lewis from George Washington University’s Program on Extremism describe it as a "vicious spiral," where hyperpartisanship and distrust in institutions fuel the fire. Northeastern criminologist James Alan Fox points to platforms like TikTok and X, where videos of Kirk’s shooting amassed millions of views—some with celebratory captions—creating echo chambers that harden violent impulses. A recent poll underscored the divide, showing both parties viewing each other with unprecedented negativity, a sentiment experts link to this rising tide of aggression.

​

High-profile reactions have only deepened the rift. Vice President JD Vance called for reporting "celebrators" to their employers, leading to firings like that of Washington Post columnist Karen Attiah over her Bluesky posts. Trump blamed "radical left rhetoric," while Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez warned of "political chaos unleashed." Even abroad, Reform UK’s Nigel Farage reported threats against his members, including calls for his own shooting.

​

Yet, amid the chaos, voices of reason are emerging. Princeton’s Bridging Divides Initiative urges leaders to reject retribution and champion non-violence, while platforms like Meta and YouTube have stepped up content removals. Experts like Arie Perliger from UMass Lowell stress the need for consistent, peaceful rhetoric from politicians. As Michael Jensen of the University of Maryland cautions, the warning signs of civil unrest are unmistakable.

​

Kirk’s assassination, part of a troubling wave of politically motivated attacks this year, may be a wake-up call. Without swift action—stricter moderation, cultural shifts toward tolerance—the nation risks a darker future, as some analysts warn. The trend of threats must stop; democracy thrives on debate, not death.

​