WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has told his staff to identify any members of the military who have mocked or condoned the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk so that they can be punished, two defense officials told NBC News.
Several service members have been relieved from their jobs because of such posts, the officials said, adding that Hegseth’s directive also pertains to others associated with the Defense Department. It’s unclear exactly how many people have been disciplined.
Hegseth and other senior Pentagon leaders posted messages on X this week calling on the public to report any posts that could be interpreted as negative about Kirk or unsympathetic about his murder.
“We are tracking all these very closely — and will address, immediately. Completely unacceptable,” Hegseth wrote on X Thursday.
His post was in response to Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell saying on X, “It is unacceptable for military personnel and Department of War civilians to celebrate or mock the assassination of a fellow American.”
“The Department of War has zero tolerance for it,” Parnell added, using the secondary name for the Defense Department.
Many social media users have heeded the call, assisting Hegseth and the Pentagon in finding and flagging posts. Dozens of service members and civilian Pentagon employees have had their posts highlighted and collected under the hashtag #RevolutionariesintheRanks.
Some of the posts in that collection don’t necessarily condone or mock Kirk’s murder but have been viewed as unfavorable — including one that read, “I don’t give a s— about Charlie Kirk.”
Others have been much harsher. “The hatred you spew is enough to get you what you deserve pal,” one post read.
One U.S. military officer said troops know they are not allowed to condone political violence, but being fired for criticizing a person, particularly a civilian who has no ties to the military, is extremely rare.
“We can’t criticize the commander in chief, but I can’t remember anyone ever telling me we can’t say anything critical about a civilian like this. He was not in our chain of command or anything,” the officer said.
Far-right activist Laura Loomer, a close ally of President Donald Trump, has called for the investigation of an Army major general, saying on X that his son had posted online that Kirk was a “racist homophobe misogynist.”
She said the son works for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and called on Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to “fire” him. Loomer also said Hegseth should “review the employment” of his father.
A spokesperson for FEMA said the “employee’s words are revolting and unconscionable” and he “was immediately placed on administrative leave.”
“Celebrating the death of a fellow American is appalling, unacceptable and sickening. Such behavior does not reflect the values of public service, and it will not be tolerated among individuals entrusted to work at FEMA,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
The disciplinary action against the employee was first reported by Fox News.
Asked for comment on the effort to find these social media posts, the Pentagon referred back to Parnell’s statement. “Beyond that, we don’t have anything additional to provide from the Department’s level and we would refer you to the services,” another defense official said.
Kirk, an influential conservative and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was shot dead Wednesday at an event on a college campus in Utah.
Authorities said Friday that Tyler Robinson, 22, of Utah, has been arrested in connection with the killing. He is expected to be charged with aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury and obstruction of justice, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Dareh Gregorian contributed.
