US to deport foreigners celebrating Donald Trump ally Charlie Kirk’s murder, visas to be revoked

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced that visas of foreign nationals who “celebrated” the assassination of right-wing commentator Charlie Kirk will be revoked, declaring that such people are “not welcome” in the country.

Kirk, a prominent Republican voice and close ally of President Donald Trump, was shot dead on Wednesday, September 10, while attending an event at Utah Valley University.

He was interacting with the crowd inside a tent when a 22-year-old Utah resident, Tyler Robinson, opened fire. Robinson, who later confessed to someone close to him, was arrested soon after the killing.

In the wake of the assassination, social media was flooded with disturbing posts mocking or celebrating Kirk’s death. Rubio reacted sharply, saying: “America will not host foreigners who celebrate the death of our fellow citizens. Visa revocations are under way. If you are here on a visa and cheering on the public assassination of a political figure, prepare to be deported. You are not welcome in this country.” He confirmed that visa cancellations have already begun and that more reviews are under way.

He also shared a video on X in which he was heard saying that the United States is “not in the business of inviting people to visit our country who are going to be involved in negative and destructive behaviour”.

Rubio stressed that anyone entering America as a student, tourist or otherwise must be held to a high standard. “We shouldn’t be bringing people into this country, we shouldn’t be giving visas to people who are gonna come to the United States and do things like celebrate the murder, the execution, the assassination of a political figure. And if they are already here, we should be revoking them,” he said.

Speaking to Fox News earlier, Rubio had underlined that the United States must not allow people who justify or celebrate such killings to enter or remain in the country.

His warning was echoed by senior officials across the administration. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau wrote on X that he had been “disgusted” to see foreigners praising Kirk’s assassination.

“I have been disgusted to see some on social media praising, rationalising, or making light of the event, and have directed our consular officials to undertake appropriate action. Please feel free to bring such comments by foreigners to my attention so that the @StateDept can protect the American people,” he said.

“Foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome.”

Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin also called for visa cancellations targeting those who glorify the killings of Americans.

The State Department has previously revoked more than 6,000 student visas after reviewing social media accounts of foreign-born students for posts expressing sympathy for Hamas or other terror groups. Rubio suggested that the same level of scrutiny would now be applied in the wake of Kirk’s assassination.

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