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Kirk Assassination Suspect Faces Death Penalty

The Five

Wed Sep 17 2025

The Five 09-17-2025

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Five

Episode: Kirk Assassination Suspect Faces Death Penalty
Date: September 17, 2025
Host & Panelists: Kayleigh McEnany, Brian Kilmeade, Kennedy, Harold Ford Jr., Greg Gutfeld
Podcast: FOX News Podcasts

Episode Overview

This episode focuses intensely on the recent formal charging of a suspect in the assassination of conservative figure Charlie Kirk. The panel debates the coverage of the case in mainstream media, the motivations behind the murder, political rhetoric, and broader issues of polarization, violence, and radicalization in American society. Key topics also include former President Obama's response to the tragedy, President Trump's state visit to the UK, the prospects for Joe Biden post-office, and even a lighthearted debate on the resurrection of the "beard trend."

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Charlie Kirk Assassination: Media Coverage, Motive, and Political Narrative

Main Story: The suspect is charged in Utah with aggravated murder and other counts, with prosecutors highlighting disturbing texts sent to his roommate/lover. The episode critiques mainstream media’s framing of the story.
Media Critique: The panel sharply criticizes ABC and its reporter Matt Gutman, as well as Montel Williams, for spinning the shooting as a tragic love story rather than a politicized attack.
- Kayleigh McEnany notes, "[Prosecutors] lay out the mountain of evidence that shows that the suspect was overtaken by left wing ideology. They were explicit about that. CNN is still confused about the motive." (01:15)
Text Message Evidence: The suspect’s own words ("I had enough of his hatred. Some hatred cannot be negotiated out. He hated Charlie Kirk and what he stood for.") are highlighted as clear evidence of a political motive. (02:03)

Notable Moments & Quotes

Greg Gutfeld mocks media narrative:
“I just see love struck non binary Romeo and Juliet. ... I'm waiting for the American crime story to be released. And of course, they're gonna make them the heroes, and they're gonna make Charlie ... the bad guy. Because that's what Hollywood does. The anti hero always trumps the hero.” (02:23)
Media Narrative Dangers:
Greg ties this reframing to historical media distortions (Charlottesville, “very fine people” hoax), warning:
“The blood doesn't even have to dry before they rewrite the narrative.” (03:04)
Brian Kilmeade challenges denial of motive:
"How could [Montel Williams] sit there and try to rationalize, well, this is a love story gone wrong, misconstrued." (04:59)

2. Political Radicalization & Responsibility

Left vs Right Motivations:
Harold Ford Jr. acknowledges leftist radicalization but contextualizes it within broader factors like trauma and online exposure:
“There's no doubt the leftist ideology played a role ... but there are a lot of people who are exposed to leftist ideology who don't kill people. There are a lot of people who are exposed to neo Nazism who don't kill people.” (10:14)
Greg Gutfeld differentiates mechanisms of radicalization:
He claims media, academia, and politicians normalize extreme rhetoric on the left, making this case distinct.
“These are news anchors. These are politicians. These are college professors that are actually legitimizing this ... This is why this is different.” (11:07)
Kennedy decries rhetorical normalization of violence:
“They are normalizing the way they've normalized the terms fascist and Hitler and authoritarian and Nazi. They're doing the same thing with murder.” (13:07)
Harold calls for broader understanding:
“If everyone like the five of us people, could have their views ... we wouldn't have violence gripping us. We have a problem in our society ... if we think we can brush it away ... by saying, ‘oh, it's just because these leftists did this and this leftist did that,’ there's no brushing.” (14:03)

3. Political Rhetoric: Obama, Trump, and Division

Obama’s Statement:
Former President Obama enters the discussion, condemning Kirk’s assassination but also faulting Trump’s divisive language.
- Brian Kilmeade critiques: “Obama is the architect of the modern political division in America ... we were never as divided as we were when he was president.” (17:16)
Panel Divides:
Harold Ford Jr. contextualizes: “I think every president is an answer to the previous president...so you can kind of see the continuum.” (18:50)
J.K. Rowling Reference on Words vs Action:
“Words are not violence. When you pretend that views that oppose your own are violence, you're justifying the use of actual violence towards the speaker.” (Harold, quoting Rowling, 19:09)
Kayleigh’s Critique:
Paints Biden and Obama as failing the call to unite: "Spare me the pull the country together language until you talk to your former vice president because he ripped us apart for four years straight." (21:21)
Gutfeld’s Rule:
“When they say it’s both sides, it’s their fault.” (22:42)

4. Statecraft and Image: Trump in the UK

President Trump’s State Visit:
- The panel provides a lighthearted take on Trump’s regal reception in the UK and discusses U.S.-UK relations, international trade, and British admiration for Trump.
- “No president's ever gotten a second state visit. ... America is back as the world's hegemonic power...” (Harold & Kayleigh, 27:27 & 29:12)
Greg’s Disdain:
“It’s very hard to, like, actually absorb anything Obama’s saying ... try to speed it up a bit.” (22:42)

5. Biden’s Financial Prospects and Legacy

WSJ: Biden Unpopular as a Paid Speaker:
The panel riffs on reports that Biden isn’t receiving lucrative offers, linking it to his single-term presidency and lower public enthusiasm compared to Obama and Trump’s expected windfalls. (31:37)
Greg’s Satire:
“...for Joe [Biden] ... market it differently. Like it's a Cadbury creme egg. It's only available for a limited time. ... Or do it as a novelty thing where ... he shows up at your birthday and he cuts the cake.” (32:58)
Presidential Post-Office Ethics:
Harold expresses concern about presidents monetizing their office: “I've said for a long time we should take care of them and not force them to write books and give speeches ... compromise themselves. Potentially compromise America and national security.” (34:36)

6. 'Beard Boom': Political, Cultural, and Baseball Beards

NYT on Beard Trends:
The panel jokingly discusses the resurgence of beards in politics and sports, referencing historic beard booms and figures from Cory Booker to Ted Cruz to Yankees’ anti-beard policies. (36:31)
- Kennedy: “Baseball beards are not acceptable for the New York Yankees and I will die on that hill.” (37:50)
- Greg: “Short people cannot pull off a beard because we look like leprechauns.” (38:17)

Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

Greg Gutfeld on the media’s narrative: (02:23)
“I just see love struck non binary Romeo and Juliet. ... I'm waiting for the American crime story to be released. ... they're gonna make Charlie ... the bad guy.”
Kennedy on normalizing murder vs rhetoric: (13:07)
“They're doing the same thing with murder. And they're trying to equate someone's anger ... with someone picking up a bolt action rifle ... and killing him in front of people ... It is not the same thing.”
Harold Ford Jr. on radicalization: (10:14)
“There's no doubt the leftist ideology played a role ... but there are a lot of people who are exposed to leftist ideology who don't kill people.”
Greg Gutfeld on both sides-ism: (22:42)
“When they say it's both sides, it's their fault. Because when it's your fault, they just say, it's your fault.”
Greg Gutfeld on leftist radicalization: (24:22)
“It's the migration of leftist extremism into the mainstream. That is the problem that I think you have to deal with as a moderate, as the sole remaining voice of the Democratic Party.”
Kayleigh McEnany on Biden & Obama’s rhetoric: (21:21)
“Spare me the pull the country together language until you talk to your former vice president because he ripped us apart for four years straight.”

Segment Timestamps

Charlie Kirk assassination and media analysis: 00:05 – 15:05
Obama, Trump, and U.S. division: 15:23 – 25:58
Trump’s UK state visit: 26:39 – 30:26
Biden’s value as a post-presidency speaker: 31:37 – 35:39
Beard trend commentary: 36:31 – 38:34
One More Thing (quick, lighter stories): 39:24 – 41:56

Recap for New Listeners

This episode delivers a heated, deeply skeptical take on media framing and left-wing ideology in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, blending serious inquiry with trademark banter and biting humor. The most impassioned exchanges center around why political violence happens, how media and political rhetoric shape public perception, and what responsibility leaders bear in times of tragedy. While the show veers into lighter segments—including British pageantry, financial jokes at Biden's expense, and beards—the central message is clear: the panel sees the Kirk case as a flashpoint illuminating deeper problems of polarization, radicalization, and narrative manipulation in American life.

Loading summary...

Transcript

Brian Kilmeade (0:04)

Hello everyone.

Kayleigh McEnany (0:05)

I'm Kayleigh McEnany along with Kennedy, Harold Ford Jr. Brian Kilmeade and Greg Gutfeld. It's five o' clock in New York City and this is the five. The suspected killer of Charlie Kirk facing the death penalty after getting formally charged with aggravated murder and a slew of other counts. There were seven in total. Prosecutors in Utah describing some of the disturbing text messages the alleged assassin sent to his roommate slash lover. And now how did the liberal media cover it? Well, instead of being horrified, ABC's Matt Gutman and Montel Williams spun it like a twisted love story.

Greg Gutfeld (0:46)

It was very touching in a way that I think many of us didn't expect. This duality of someone who the attorney said not only jeopardized the life of Charlie Kirk and the crowd, but was doing it in front of children, which is one of the aggravating circumstances of this case. And on the other he was, you know, speaking so lovingly about his partner, text messages that are a so fulsome.

Harold Ford Jr. (1:04)

So robust relationship and somebody was disparaging the person that he loved. I don't believe he was motivated politically. I think this was motivated emotionally.

Kayleigh McEnany (1:15)

ABC's Gutman later apologizing and posting, quote, I deeply regret that my words did not make that clear. But let there be zero doubt here, I unequivocally condemn this horrific crime. And as prosecutors lay out the mountain of evidence that shows that the suspect was overtaken by left wing ideology. They were explicit about that. CNN is still confused about the motive. We don't have a motive yet. We don't know yet. We're waiting. Obviously we've heard what the governors had to say with the.

Harold Ford Jr. (1:42)

Come on. We don't have a motive yet. We know we don't have a motive yet.

Kayleigh McEnany (1:45)

What's happening with.

Harold Ford Jr. (1:46)

Really? That's CNN's position, Mr. Lawrence. He just happened to fire the gun in celebration.

Kayleigh McEnany (1:50)

I'm not arguing with you politically. I'm saying that law enforcement has not put a specific motive, you know, that there's a difference of what they're putting.

Kennedy (1:56)

In a legal argument.

Kayleigh McEnany (1:58)

Brian Kilmeade (5:21)

Matt Gutman's been doing this for 20 plus years and I think he does a really good job. Obviously a network anchor, Kaitlan Collins, who I know, you know everybody. I do. But guys, I don't want to make it personal. I think the one thing is missing is when people talk about why is Israel acting like this in Gaza, when people say why? Why the people on the five, why is Fox News getting so upset about Shelly Kirk? We know him. And you haven't seen the video. You didn't watch the 107 video of what happened to the Israelis that led to the Gaza incursion and the war. And I hate to say it, but you didn't know Charlie Kirk. That's bad on you. Maybe not your fault, but you didn't see how he died. If you saw how he died, you wouldn't be saying, it just seems like a guy that didn't know his gender and was separated from his family. Let's try to make sense of this. And to your point, there are people, very smart people that will say to you, well, we know the laptop wasn't real. We know the laptop was fake. And I go, what are you talking about? They don't watch us. They don't make any effort to go past the network news or cnn, msnbc. There are people that really think that Vladimir Putin put Donald Trump in the office the first time. They didn't see the unwinding in the Mueller report. So these are not uneducated people. They have just no idea. And when Jimmy Kimmel came out last night or the night before and what did he say in that 12 second soundbite? Jimmy Kimmel came out and said these MAGA guys wanted to pretend that this guy wasn't one of them. So you might go, of course he's not. Of course he's not maga. He hates Donald Trump. He hates Charlie Kirk. All you have to do is see that. So you think, what's the big deal? He doesn't get much ratings and he's just going to hate Trump. But there's people that only get their news from him, ABC the rest of the. And they don't know that he is not maga, that this is an assassination of Kirk, that he did hate him, it was intended for him. He horrifically took someone out in the prime of his life. And the only way you could sit there and try to rationalize is this a relationship or did he see Star cross, Did he have a hard time dealing with his gayness? Was if you didn't see the reality of how Charlie died.

Harold Ford Jr. (8:03)

Well, good to be back with everybody. I think that I don't. These excesses on both sides, don't, don't really, I don't get too caught up in them. I think that people can arrive at different decisions about a set of events and it's not for me to judge them or not judge them. I reach my own conclusions. I think what happened to Charlie Kirk was a total assault on our country. I didn't agree with Charlie on most things he said publicly. I didn't know him well enough to know some of his private feelings. But the public things I didn't agree with. But what I admired most about him was he believed in dissent and believed in open debate and believed in honest debate. And he certainly didn't deserve what happened. Two, I listened to President Trump when he talked about this young man's child, the suspected assassin's family. He said that it seemed like it was a good family. Maybe the President was saying it because they were supporters of him, but he said it seemed like a good family. It seems like somewhere along the line, along the line, he got radicalized. Something happened to this kid. And I think about how we, how we kind of solve these things. He may have been radicalized by left ideology and probably was, was. But Katie, I'm sorry, Kayleigh, you may Be right. I heard what, what Montel said and I had never considered what he said. He's likely wrong, but I never considered that maybe. Let's just give me one sec. Brad. We're all human and that's the opinion he reached. I don't necessarily agree with him, but here's what I do know. You look over the last several years and you see the number of killings like this. They generally have a couple things in common, at least the experts say there's either or one of all things. There's either some trauma, childhood trauma involved with these people. They have some sort of personal grievance about something. Three, there's some script or manifesto they've concocted in their head that justifies what they've done. And four, they have access to a gun. And fifth, we're seeing increasingly they're young white guys who are being radicalized or have some sort of massive exposure to something online. That's what I want to figure out how we get at. And in this case, there's no doubt. Kaylie, hold on one sec. There's no doubt the leftist ideology played a role.

Harold Ford Jr. (19:10)

J.K. rowling. Bob, let me replace every president's a response to the previous president. My friend Greg Constant is right to quote J.K. rowling. And I agree a lot with what she, she said something I thought was so, so important. She said, words are not violence. When you pretend that views that oppose your own are violence, you're justifying the use of actual violence towards the speaker. President Trump. I mean, President Obama, I thought, was trying to say that in the first part of that, of that sit down he had and then he said the things he said about President Trump. And I think two things can be right at once. I think timing is important. I think as we find ourselves at this moment, I wish that President Obama had said all of this right after and said to Democrats, Democrats, Republicans, particularly Democrats, this is horrible. This is, this is an affront to our country and to what we stand for. He is still the biggest, if not the biggest, one of the two biggest voices in our party. I'm glad he finally, I'm glad he finally said some words there as we sit here today. I do in my lifetime and you've worked for President Kayleigh, I've not, I don't remember a time when the president, right after a tragedy, didn't say something really trying to envelop him to bring the country together. Now, President Trump, I give him the benefit of the doubt because Charlie was a great pal of his. He considered him another son of the way that it's been described. So the personal pain had to be, had to be so gripping. But as time went on, the president, I thought President Trump has gotten better in terms of his language and bringing us together. The person that brought us together the most was this governor out there in Utah who right away said, look, we didn't riot out here. We didn't burn anything out here. People out here were upset. We are angry and we want to do everything we possibly can to bring justice to this situation. That's what we need national voices doing. And I hope that more Democrats, particularly Democrats, are doing that over the next several days.

Greg Gutfeld (22:42)

You know, I'm not that worried about it because, man, is he boring. Like, it's very hard to, like, actually absorb anything Obama's saying. You're just going like, come on, dude. You could drive a truck through those spaces between words. It's just like, we get it. You're important, historic. But try to speed it up a bit. He is really the most boring person on the planet, and that says something. I have a rule of thumb, though. When they say it's both sides, it's their fault. Because when it's your fault, they just say, it's your fault. You follow me? So every time you hear both sides do it, you know they're culpable. Because when it's our fault, they never say that. They just go, it's your fault. So remember that. Also, I want to go back to what I said before. You know, if you hear a performance artist say that men could get pregnant, you go, what the hell? It's a performance artist. You don't expect that from a Supreme Court justice. That's what I'm talking about. It's the migration of. Of leftist extremism into the mainstream. That is the problem that I think you have to deal with as a moderate, as the sole remaining voice of the Democratic Party. Now, let's just. I'm going to buy into this idea that both sides use derogatory language. I think it's true. I think the Democrats are more demonizing. They say you're a threat to democracy. Republicans call you a socialist. But let's just say for the sake of fun, it's equal. There's one thing you have to understand. Republicans are as square as their front lawns. There is research that shows that the right is concerned with law. The left sees law as oppressive. This is why we don't believe in a weak border. This is why we don't believe in getting rid of bail. This is why we think, if you steal $900 from, I don't know, TJ Maxx, you should go to jail. That's just in our DNA. So when you think, okay, I'm going to say Brian Kilmeade's a jerk, doesn't mean that I want people to attack him. Because that's not how Republicans and conservatives think. Because we rely on law and order to solve our problems. But for some reason, the left has been able to push this idea that violence is how you speak to power. And when you see somebody like Charlie, you realize that's power. Perhaps the most powerful conservative voice in a generation. And they go, violence is acceptable to speak to power. We don't do that. That's why when people say both sides, it's like, I'll give you that, even though I disagree. But you gotta understand, ours is cauterized. We don't move forward. We don't use our. We don't just go, like, I heard Brian say this. I'm gonna go beat up the cameraman. That's not how it works with us.