Pentagon Says Mocking Charlie Kirk’s Killing Is ‘Rejoicing In Terrorism’, Suspends 2 Soldiers

US President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as well as other members of the Trump administration said there will be consequences for those who celebrate Charlie Kirk’s killing. (IMAGE: AP PHOTO)

The Pentagon said it will not tolerate mocking of Americans after suspending two officers for publishing social media posts seen as celebrating the death of right-wing activist and conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.

The headquarters of the US Department of War (formerly known as Department of Defence) earlier suspended US Army soldiers Colonel Scott Stephens and Major Bryan Bintliff for making posts deemed to be “mocking” Charlie Kirk’s death.

“We will not tolerate military or civilian personnel who celebrate or mock the assassination of a fellow American,” Sean Parnell, chief Pentagon spokesperson, was quoted as saying by US broadcaster Fox News.

“Every service member and civilian at the Department takes an oath to defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Those in our ranks who rejoice at an act of domestic terrorism are unfit to serve the American people at the Department of War,” Parnell said while speaking to the broadcaster’s digital arm.

War Secretary Pete Hegseth joins many others in Donald Trump’s administration who have warned of consequences regarding messages deemed celebrating Charlie Kirk’s death.

US Army colonel Scott Stephens was suspended following posts purportedly belonging to him that praised the killing. “The death of Charlie Kirk in Utah was tragic. However, we can take comfort in the fact that Charlie was doing what he loved best — spreading hate, racism, homophobia, misogyny, and transphobia on college campuses,” one post read.

Army Reserves officer Bryan Bintliff was suspended over the weekend. “A monster died today,” the post allegedly belonging to Major Bintliff, who went by “Bryan Harlow” on social media, read. “It’s sad Charlie’s kids are traumatized for life, but it’s not a sad thing that he’s dead.”

The US State Department will scan social media posts and revoke visas of foreign nationals celebrating the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Monday.

“We shouldn’t be bringing people into this country. We should not be giving visas to people who are going to come to the United States and celebrate the assassination of a political figure. If they’re already here, we should be revoking their visas,” Rubio told Fox News in an interview.

Visa revocations are already “under way,” Rubio added in a post on X while sharing the clip of his interview.