Published on, Sept. 20 -- September 20, 2025 1:57 PM

The assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has reignited a fierce debate over the meaning of free speech in the United States, shaking political leaders and advocacy groups across the nation. Kirk, a right-wing commentator, was fatally shot while speaking at an outdoor event in Utah, prompting vigils and renewed arguments over the limits of the First Amendment. As Americans mourned his death, tensions rose when several high-ranking Democrats accused President Donald Trump of weaponizing free speech issues to silence critics and control public discourse.

On Thursday, controversy deepened after Trump applauded ABC's suspension of talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, who accused con...