CNN commentator Scott Jennings clashed with panelist Montel Williams on Tuesday after Williams suggested that the suspected assassin of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was motivated by love rather than politics.
During CNN NewsNight, Williams described 22-year-old Tyler Robinson as a “love-torn child” driven by emotion. He claimed Robinson was upset over Kirk’s remarks about transgender people, particularly because of his relationship with his transgender boyfriend. “Why did he wait until the word trans came up, and then he took the shot? I think he was motivated emotionally,” Williams argued.
Jennings pushed back, saying Williams’ claims ignored clear evidence. “The evidence here is overwhelming,” Jennings said. “He said, ‘Charlie Kirk, I can’t stand his hate anymore. I’m gonna take him out.’ His family testified that he had become more left-wing. He etched statements used by the left on bullet casings and even called Kirk a fascist. That’s not a joke.”
Williams dismissed the evidence as Robinson “making a joke,” but Jennings fired back. “It doesn’t sound like a joke to me because someone’s dead and about to be buried,” he said. Jennings accused some in the media of trying to portray Robinson as a conservative when in fact, he argued, Robinson was motivated by left-wing radicalism.
“He murdered our friend,” Jennings continued. “That’s what happened. Left-wing radicalism got this kid, he went up to a roof, and he carried out an assassination.”
Authorities said Robinson texted his transgender boyfriend, Lance Twiggs, after the killing, writing that he “had enough of [Kirk’s] hatred” and confessing he carried out the assassination. He reassured Twiggs, saying, “You are all I worry about, love,” before telling him he planned to surrender.
Robinson’s parents also told investigators that their son had become increasingly political and strongly pro-gay and trans-rights before the attack. He told them Kirk spread “too much hate” and that there was “too much evil.”
Robinson is now charged with aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, obstruction of justice, witness tampering, and committing a violent offense in the presence of a child. Utah County Attorney Jeffrey Gray confirmed Tuesday that Robinson targeted Kirk based on “political expression,” a factor that could lead to harsher penalties.