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Freedom of SpeechUnited States of America

Charlie Kirk: US revokes 6 visas over social media comments

Saim Dušan Inayatullah with AP, Reuters
October 15, 2025

The US State Department said it has "no obligation to host foreigners who wish death on Americans." The Trump administration has ramped up social media vetting since he took office in January.

Charlie Kirk speaks into microphone at event
The US State Department said it had revoked 6 visas over social media comments on the assassination of Charlie Kirk [pictured]Image: Ross D. Franklin/AP Photo/dpa/picture alliance

The US State Department on Tuesday revoked six visas over social media comments on the assassination of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk.

Kirk was shot dead when speaking at a rally at a Utah university in September. The suspect in the assassination faces the death penalty if convicted.

The announcement comes as President Donald Trump posthumously awarded Kirk with a Presidential Medal of Freedom.

What do we know about the revoked visas?

The State Department said those whose visas were revoked were citizens of Argentina, South Africa, Mexico, Brazil, Germany and Paraguay.

"The United States has no obligation to host foreigners who wish death on Americans," the department said in a post on X.

"Aliens who take advantage of America's hospitality while celebrating the assassination of our citizens will be removed," it added.

The State Department said it was continuing to identify visa holders who it believes celebrated Kirk's assassination.

Trump awarded Kirk with the US' highest civilian honorImage: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP

The Trump administration has cracked down on immigration since he took office in January, increasing social media vetting and revoking thousands of visas.

In August, the Trump administration said that it would include "anti-American activity" and antisemitism in immigration screening.

Kirk 'martyr for truth and freedom' — Trump

Also on Tuesday, Trump described Kirk as a "martyr for truth and freedom" as he posthumously awarded him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

He handed the award to Kirk's widow, Erika Kirk.

"In the wake of Charlie's assassination, our country must have absolutely no tolerance for this radical left violence, extremism and terror," Trump said.

Erika Kirk said her husband 'would probably have run for president' had he not been assassinatedImage: Alex Brandon/AP Photo/dpa/picture alliance

Trump has repeatedly blamed the assassination on the "radical left," leading him to sign an order to classify the Antifa movement as a terrorist group on September 22.

"We're done with the angry mobs, and we're not going to let our cities be unsafe," Trump said at the ceremony.

Among those present at the ceremony were Argentine President Javier Milei and several right-wing media figures.

Edited by: Zac Crellin

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