President Donald Trump is facing heavy backlash after delivering glowing tributes to slain right-wing activist Charlie Kirk one day, then appearing upbeat at a public just the next day.
The jarring contrast has left critics questioning whether Trump’s grief is genuine — with some suggesting he looked more relieved than heartbroken.
On Wednesday, Trump hailed Kirk, 31, as “Great, and even Legendary” and “a GIANT of his generation” following his assassination during a speech at Utah Valley University, in Orem, Utah.
“Charlie was loved and admired by ALL, especially me,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social, offering condolences to Kirk’s widow, Erika, and family.
But by Thursday night, Trump was spotted at Yankee Stadium in New York, where he swayed and sang along to seemingly one of his favorite songs the “YMCA” during a game against the Detroit Tigers.
Video from the ballpark showed Trump having a jolly time clapping, raising his arms, and mouthing lyrics, even as fans around him booed when his image flashed on the big screen. While some cheers could be heard, the crowd’s response was largely negative. The Yankees had observed a moment of silence before the game in Kirk’s honor, but the sight of Trump dancing the following inning struck many as tone-deaf.
The atmosphere was further heightened by unusual security measures. Bulletproof glass panels were installed in front of Trump’s suite, and snipers were positioned throughout the stadium. The extra protection came amid heightened concerns following Kirk’s killing and only amplified the surreal tone of the night.
Social media erupted with mockery.
“Charlie Kirk dies, Trump shows up at the Yankees game. Only in America does politics mix grief, baseball, and bulletproof glass in one inning,” one user wrote.
One user gave Trump the benefit of the doubt, “To be fair that is his jam 😭”
“Do you think Donald Trump cares at all about Charlie Kirk?” another asked, as critics accused the president of prioritizing optics over mourning.
Someone answered, “He went to a ball game in the Bronx last night.” To which the poster responded, “and did his stupid dance.”
“He can’t thank Charlie enough for literally taking a bullet for him to divert the pressure for release of the Epstein files,” another commenter posted, referencing Kirk’s vocal calls for the government to publish the DOJ’s Jeffrey Epstein investigation documents without redactions.
Another added, “Nope, he’s probably relieved this happened. Immediately after requesting all right-wing influencers to stop pushing for the Epstein files, Charlie Kirk did otherwise and called for them to be released and completely unredacted.”
Kirk had been outspoken about the Epstein files in the weeks leading up to his death, telling audiences at one of his many outdoor engagements with college-aged fans, “We as the American people deserve to have every Epstein file released with no redaction whatsoever. We deserve to see the entire client list, every document the government has regarding the Epstein files.”
The timing of his death, coupled with the White House’s recent denials about Trump’s past ties to Epstein, has fueled speculation that Kirk’s death relieved pressure on the administration.
Critics also seized on Trump’s shifting tone. The day after the Yankees game, when asked by reporters how he was holding up, Trump replied, “I think very good,” before veering off into boasting about the construction of a new White House ballroom. To detractors, the comment underscored a lack of genuine grief.
Another kept their conspiracy simple for Trump’s action, “celebrating his successful hit”
Others zeroed in on Trump’s demeanor. “Holy SHT the way Kirk’s wife thanked Trump with tears in her eyes, calling him a good friend, saying Kirk knew Trump cared about him,” one viral post read. “Meanwhile, Trump is giving zero f**s and not having a single thought about him lol.”
Kirk’s wife gave a tearful speech Friday evening during a livestream on the YouTube page of Turning Point USA, the activist group her husband founded. Speaking to her husband’s killer, she said, “The evil-doers for my husband’s assassination have no idea what they have done. You have no idea the fire that you have ignited within this wife.”
