Charlie Kirk, the conservative icon and Turning Point USA co-founder who was assassinated in 2025, has been the subject of viral jokes, particularly following last week's midterm elections, which saw Democrats score victories over Republicans.
asserted
Democrats → assassinate → Republicans
"I've Had It" co-hosts Jennifer Welch and Angie Sullivan went viral after celebrating Democratic victories and laughing uncontrollably last week at an online post that read, "We're digging up Charlie Kirk and doing it again."
asserted
We → go → it
Several of the podcast's sponsors pulled their support following pressure from Kirk's supporters, prompting Welch and Sullivan to issue a statement apologizing for their conduct and advocating for gun control.
asserted
Several → pull → control
Welch later doubled down in a separate video posted Sunday.
asserted
Welch → double → video
"When we apologize for laughing at a joke on our podcast, that wasn't for you.
asserted
that → apologize → you
That was for us," Welch said in response to comments made by Turning Point USA spokesman Andrew Kolvet, saying it was for someone she knew personally who was killed in an act of gun violence.
asserted
who → say → violence
On Saturday, the two hosts apologized on Instagram.
asserted
hosts → apologize → Instagram
"On Thursday’s show, we laughed at a joke about Charlie Kirk.
asserted
we → laugh → Kirk
It was an insensitive joke, and we should not have laughed.
asserted
we → laugh → ?
We regret it, and we apologize," the statement read.
asserted
statement → regret → it
"Whatever our political differences, there is nothing funny about gun violence.
asserted
differences → be → violence
Meanwhile, a video circulated of comedian Dave Chappelle performing over the weekend at Madison Square Garden, in which he told the crowd, "I feel better," while discussing Kirk's assassination.
asserted
I → circulate → assassination
Notably, Kirk had previously condemned the "armed maniac" who attacked Chappelle onstage in 2022 and called for harsher criminal charges against the attacker.
asserted
who → condemn → attacker
Chappelle and Welch are among several entertainers and commentators who have joked about political violence targeting conservatives or made remarks interpreted as encouraging such violence in recent years.
asserted
who → joke → years
Jokes about assassinating Trump
The promoting of President Donald Trump's assassination began within hours of him being sworn into office in 2017.
asserted
him → assassinate → 2017
At a Woman's March rally held the day after his inauguration in Washington, D.C., music superstar Madonna told the crowd, "I have thought an awful lot about blowing up the White House."
asserted
I → hold → House
In May 2017, liberal comedian Kathy Griffin sparked a national controversy when she posed for a photo shoot holding a prop of Trump's bloodied severed head.
uncertain
she → spark → head
That June, actor Johnny Depp alluded to President Abraham Lincoln's assassination while discussing Trump, saying "When was the last time an actor assassinated a president?
asserted
actor → allude → president
I want to clarify: I’m not an actor.
asserted
I → want → ?
I lie for a living.
asserted
I → lie → living
However, it’s been a while, and maybe it’s time."
asserted
it → ’ → ?
The jokes about Trump continued even after the assassination attempts against him in 2024.
asserted
jokes → continue → 2024
Hours after the Butler shooting that July, Kyle Gass of the band Tenacious D made a birthday wish while blowing out candles at a concert, saying, "Don't miss Trump next time."
asserted
Gass → make → Trump
In April 2026, "Saturday Night Live" cast member Michael Che set up a joke by noting that Trump had attended the opening night performance of "Chicago" at the Kennedy Center during "Weekend Update."
asserted
Trump → set → Update
"I think that's cool that the president is going to the theater.
asserted
president → think → theater
I mean — what's the worst that could happen?" Che said with a grin, referencing Lincoln's assassination.
uncertain
Che → mean → assassination
Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel also drew controversy earlier this year for joking that First Lady Melania Trump had "the glow of an expectant widow" days before the assassination attempt at the White House Correspondents Dinner.
asserted
Trump → draw → Dinner
Kimmel later insisted the joke was referring to the age gap between her and her husband.
asserted
joke → insist → her
Others who've joked about killing Trump include George Lopez and the late Broadway actress Carole Cook.
asserted
who → joke → Lopez
Republican lawmakers have faced similar ire from prominent leftists.
asserted
lawmakers → face → leftists
Some public figures have mocked Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who was assaulted by his neighbor in 2017 following a dispute over yard maintenance.
asserted
who → mock → maintenance
Paul suffered six broken ribs and later underwent surgery.
asserted
Paul → suffer → surgery
Actress Bette Midler made multiple jokes at Paul's expense, writing in 2018, "Where’s Rand Paul’s neighbor when we need him?" as he debated a federal spending bill.
asserted
he → make → bill
In 2019, in response to Paul's comments about Kurdish fighters in Syria, Midler said, "I DO NOT promote violence but...Rand Paul says the Kurds are being 'ingrates' for taking their frustrations out on U.S. Troops.
asserted
Kurds → say → Troops
Which is a good reminder for us all to be more grateful for the neighbor who beat the s--- out of Rand Paul."
asserted
who → beat → Paul
Midler also made a remark about stabbing Trump, writing in another post, "Maybe someone in his camp can gently give him a shiv.
asserted
someone → make → shiv
I mean, shove.
asserted
I → mean → ?
In 2025, progressive commentator Hasan Piker told his audience, "If you cared about Medicare fraud, or Medicaid fraud, you would kill Rick Scott," pointing to the senator's past tenure at a healthcare company that pleaded guilty to fraud.
asserted
that → tell → fraud
Piker later walked back the comment, suggesting Scott should face "MAX PUNISHMENT" instead.
asserted
Scott → walk → PUNISHMENT
Piker also called for the murder of landlords and property owners in a separate livestream.
asserted
Piker → call → livestream
…and 17 more, not listed.
The Aporia
