The US Department of Defense has announced that it will sanction members of the armed forces who have made negative or mocking posts on social media about the killing of conservative activist and commentator Charlie Kirk.
The order was issued by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who requested the identification of any military member who has „mocked” Kirk’s death, according to officials who spoke to American media outlets.
According to EFE, several soldiers may have been dismissed due to their opinions on the Kirk case, although the exact number is unknown. Hegseth reportedly called for the "punishment" of these actions.
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On social media, many users have posted accounts of military officers expressing their negative opinions about what happened to the 31-year-old activist on Wednesday when he was shot in the throat at Utah Valley University during one of the traditional political debate events he organized to engage with young liberals across the country.
According to an NBC report, some members of the armed forces believe it is excessive for people to be punished for their opinions by someone who was not part of the chain of command or the institution.
Kirk was one of the main promoters of the "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) movement and was described by Vice President J.D. Vance as a key figure in the 2024 election campaign, as well as a major help in placing people in government positions during the formation of the second Trump administration.