Who is Matthew Dowd and what did he say about Charlie Kirk?

Political commentator Matthew Dowd was the highest profile a public figure for firing
Due to comments about the death of a conservative political activist Charlie Kirk.

Kirk was shot during a talking engagement at the University of Utah Valley in Orem, Utah, on September 10 and later died at the age of 31 after being rushed to a nearby hospital. The 22 -year -old FBI noted Tyler Robinson as the suspected shooter On September 12, after President Donald Trump He confirmed that someone suspected was in custody.

Just after Kirk’s shooting, Dowd appeared on MSNBC’s live broadcast and was asked by anchor Turtle for “the environment where shootings like this occur.” Dowd referred to Kirk “push (a) a kind of hate speech” as part of his assessment of the irritating political rhetoric leading to Wednesday’s violent event.

Dowd tried to walk back his statement after many obvious Conservatives disagreed, and later insisted through X that “in no way had intended for (his) comments to blame Kirk for this horrific attack.”

Nevertheless, MSNBC dropped dowd As a political analyst, with a network president Rebecca Kutler call his words “Inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable.”

Keep scrolling for more information on the Dowd background and the argument for its firing from MSNBC.

Who is Matthew Dowd?

Dowd was started in politics as staff to democratic officials, including the Congressman Dick Gephardt and a senator Lloyd Bentsen. George W. Bush and lower president Dick CheneyPresidential campaign in 2004.

Dowd – which changed his party connection back to Democrat in 2024 – campaigned short to become the Texas Sub -governor in September 2021, despite leaving the race in December due to early voting.

Dowd has written several books and previously has been a political contributor on ABC’s Good morning AmericaBefore he joined MSNBC as a Senior Political Analyst in 2022.

After working as a consultant on Arnold SchwarzeneggerThe 2006 Gubernatorial Campaign in California, romance rumors later triggered with former woman Schwarzenegger, Maria Shriverin 2011. (He was previously married Tammy L. Edgerly and Nikki Dowd.)

Shriver responded to kill Kirk via Instagram On September 10, write: “This is a violent act of hate that we all have to deny, all of us, no matter what the party is. This is an understandable, horrific violence that affects us all.”

What did Matthew Dowd say about Charlie Kirk’s death?

Dowd was interviewed by MSNBC Katy Tur anchor as part of the channel’s live news broadcast of Kirk’s shooting when asked about the current political climate.

“(Kirk) has been one of the most divisive junior figures, especially split in this, which is always a kind of push this kind of hate speech or a kind of aiming for some groups,” Dowd responded.

Dowd argued that “hateful thoughts lead to hateful words,” which can then “lead to hateful acts.”

“I think that’s the environment we are in,” he added. “You can’t stop with these kind of terrible thoughts you have and then say these terrible words and not expect terrible action to happen. And that’s the unfortunate environment we are in.”

What was MSNBC’s response to Matthew Dowd’s comments?

MSNBC tried to distance himself from a dowd immediately by dropping him as a senior political analyst. MSNBC President Kutler issued a public apology on behalf of the channel on September 10.

“We apologize for Dowd (Dowd), as he is,” said Kutler. “There is no room for violence in America, political or otherwise.”

Comcast – who owns MSNBC – sent Femo to employees on Friday, September 12, to ask them to stay respectfully in covering Kirk’s murder Hollywood reporter.

“Charlie Kirk’s tragic loss, father, husband, and 31 -year -old advocate for an open debate, whose faith was important to him, reminds us of the fragility of life and the urgent need for unity in our nation,” read the Memo Comcast. “Our hearts are heavy, as his passing leaves a bereaved family and a country tackling division. There is no room for violence or hatred in our society.”

“That comment was contrary to fostering civil dialogue and being prepared to listen to the views of those with different views,” his statement continued. “We should be able to disagree, firmly and passionately, but, ultimately, with respect. We need to do better.”

How did Matthew Dowd respond to firing?

Dowd to start deny through x He deliberately suggested that Kirk carried a level of responsibility for the shooting.

“Let me be clear, I had not in any way intended my comments to blame Kirk for this horrific attack. Let us all come together and condemn violence of any kind,” he wrote. “Let us all get together and condemn violence of any kind. My thoughts and prayers are Charlie Kirk’s w/ family and friends. On an earlier appearance on MSNBC I was asked a question on the environment in which we are.

Days after he fired, Dowd wrote through his iStack that the “Right -wing media mob” was responsible for arranging its firing from MSNBC.

“Although the majority in MSNBC know that my words were being misinterpreted, the timing of my words had been forgotten (remember to say this before anyone knew that Kirk was a target), and that I apologized for any stage of communicating on my behalf, I was terminated by the end of the day,” he noted.

The political analyst admitted that he was “overlooking shell shocks the last few days,” although he was looking forward to moving on from the scandal.

“Although I’m down and slightly depressed in this moment, I still have hope and faith in a majority of Americans who want and hunger for the same things I do. We can do this,” he concluded.