By Jack Phillips
Contributing Writer
The Pentagon has “zero tolerance” for any civilian or military personnel who mocks Charlie Kirk’s assassination, a spokesman said on Thursday.
“It is unacceptable for military personnel and Department of War civilians to celebrate or mock the assassination of a fellow American,” Sean Parnell, the chief Pentagon spokesman and senior adviser, wrote in a post on X. “The Department of War has zero tolerance for it.”
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth shared Parnell’s post on the social media platform.
“We are tracking all these very closely — and will address, immediately. Completely unacceptable,” the Pentagon head wrote in response.
The statement came just a day before officials in Utah and the FBI announced an arrest had been made over Kirk’s assassination.
Aside from the Pentagon, the Department of State indicated that it would deport or block U.S. visa holders or applicants, respectively, if they make light of or celebrate Kirk’s assassination.
“In light of yesterday’s horrific assassination of a leading political figure, I want to underscore that foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country,” Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said in a post on X.
“I have been disgusted to see some on social media praising, rationalizing, or making light of the event, and have directed our consular officials to undertake appropriate action.”
In the thread, Landau said that users should inform him of any such comments through the X platform or respond to his post.
Elsewhere in the X thread, he told users he would instruct officials to monitor comments under his post.
“Please repost them here. I will direct consular officials to monitor the comments to this post,” he wrote in the thread.
Earlier this year, Landau announced that he had revoked visas for British musical group Bob Vylan after they led crowds in chanting “death” to the Israeli military.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
