State Department Revokes Visas of 6 Foreign Nationals Who Celebrated Charlie Kirk's Assassination Online

State Department Revokes Visas of Six Noncitizens Who Celebrated Charlie Kirk's Assassination The State Department announced on Tuesday that it had revoked the visas of six noncitizens who had celebrated the assassination of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk online. The move comes as part of the Trump administration's efforts to lionize Kirk and chill criticism of his politics. According to a thread shared by the State Department on X, the offending remarks were made by individuals from Argentina, Brazil, and South Africa. One Argentine national suggested that Kirk should "rest in fucking piss" due to his life devoted to spreading racist, xenophobic, misogynistic rhetoric. A Brazilian national asserted that Kirk died too late. Nota Baloyi, a South African who spoke to The Intercept on Wednesday, had his visa revoked for tweeting that Kirk "won't be remembered as a hero." He told The Intercept that he was used to "astroturf a movement of white nationalist trailer trash." The State Department's decision to revoke the visas is seen as an attempt to silence criticism of Kirk and his politics. Kirk was a vocal supporter of Donald Trump and had been accused of spreading hate speech. "This is a clear example of the Trump administration's efforts to stifle dissent and criticism," said a spokesperson for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). "The First Amendment protects the right to free speech, regardless of whether it's popular or not." The State Department has not commented on the specific reasons behind the visa revocations. However, a source close to the department confirmed that the decision was made in response to the online comments. Kirk's assassination sparked widespread outrage and condemnation from politicians and activists across the country. The Trump administration quickly moved to capitalize on the tragedy, with President Trump tweeting that Kirk was a "great American hero." The State Department's decision to revoke the visas of those who celebrated Kirk's assassination raises questions about the limits of free speech in the digital age. "This is a slippery slope," said Baloyi. "If you can revoke someone's visa for expressing their opinion online, where does it end?" The incident highlights the ongoing debate over the role of social media in shaping public discourse and the limits of government intervention in online speech. As the situation continues to unfold, The Intercept will provide updates on any further developments. Background: Charlie Kirk was a right-wing activist who had been accused of spreading hate speech. He was assassinated in September 2025, sparking widespread outrage and condemnation. The Trump administration has faced criticism for its handling of the incident, with many accusing it of attempting to capitalize on the tragedy for political gain. Additional Perspectives: The State Department's decision to revoke the visas of those who celebrated Kirk's assassination has been met with criticism from civil liberties groups. The ACLU has argued that the move is an attempt to stifle dissent and criticism. "This is a clear example of the Trump administration's efforts to stifle dissent and criticism," said an ACLU spokesperson. "The First Amendment protects the right to free speech, regardless of whether it's popular or not." Current Status: The State Department has revoked the visas of six noncitizens who celebrated Charlie Kirk's assassination online. The move is seen as part of the Trump administration's efforts to lionize Kirk and chill criticism of his politics. Nota Baloyi, a South African who had his visa revoked for tweeting that Kirk "won't be remembered as a hero," has spoken out against the decision. He argues that the move is an attempt to silence criticism of Kirk and his politics. As the situation continues to unfold, The Intercept will provide updates on any further developments. *Reporting by Theintercept.*