‘4th graders had the video’: Congressman Mike Kennedy speaks on Charlie Kirk assassination

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Mike Kennedy, U.S. representative from Utah’s 3rd congressional district, sat down with ABC4 to discuss the assassination of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk.

“This is Utah County where this happened, and I know these people that were pursuing this individual,” Kennedy told ABC4. “And I also say with all due respect to the terrible tragedy that’s happened, the family had a part to do with turning this individual in.”

Kennedy went on to say it’s shocking to learn about the background of the now-apprehended suspect, Tyler Robinson, 22, who is from Washington County — an area Kennedy said is a great place that he knows well. He also mentioned what may have transpired in radicalizing this young individual.

“When the bullet casings came out, the inscriptions on there, it’s a reflection this kid has spent years immersed in what the governor calls the dark web,” Kennedy added. “And I don’t know what those places are, but his brain has been in some very unacceptably violent places.”

And as far as how this happened? Kennedy said it’s important to look at social media and violent internet rhetoric.

“I think part of the answer is social media and the internet and how available violent rhetoric, not just rhetoric, but instructions on how to do these terrible things, how available it is,” Kennedy said. “And how do we make sure that we’re with our children, trying to understand where they’re coming from?”

He went on to say that while he doesn’t want young people immersed in social media, he hopes people won’t be intimidated into disengaging from political discourse and being silenced by fear. Nonetheless, the issue is real, Kennedy told ABC4.

“The fact is that there’s sadly a long string of evil individuals who perpetrate violence on society. And I look to the future, and I’m a realist, and I see those things still coming in the future,” he added.

As a political leader, Kennedy added, “Willingness to debate vigorously, there’s nothing wrong with that. But an unwillingness to demonize or dehumanize the other side, that’s something that we all have to keep working on.”

He said Charlie Kirk never advocated for violence and was constantly willing to take on hard subjects in open settings. And despite the terrible tragedy that occurred, Kennedy said Kirk’s voice will be amplified far beyond what it was before, and will continue to be amplified because of this horrible event.

“He’s the kind of person that his message and voice, he’s a martyr for free speech. He’s a martyr also for the example that he sets as to how we should engage with each other,” Kennedy said.

When asked if he would condemn the sort of divisive speech from colleagues that adds fuel to the fire by casting blame, Kennedy said he can only lead by example.

“I think it’s important for us to first be an example,” Kennedy said. “And I guess next, if I got condemnatory or accusatory language, I’ll pull somebody aside privately and talk to them about what I think about what they said. I don’t think it’s necessarily right for us to all grandstand on a microphone or in front of a camera and accuse and criticize and condemn, reflecting on the fact that none of us are perfect.”

Kennedy added that this is, without a doubt, a time for healing and to do our best to deal with the trauma of the event.

“I was shocked and dismayed to hear a 4th grader had the video of the assassination on his phone and showed his whole fourth grade class, everybody that would look at the phone,” Kennedy said. “Young people being exposed to this utter gory filth is just a terrible thing. My message is that we can work in together, we can unite, we can heal in a granular fashion. And this is one thing that Kennedy family is working on because I have college-age children and I know many of the people that were at this event.”

Kennedy said Kirk’s life is now transcending beyond what he did, as more people have heard about him now than ever before.

“He lived a remarkable life, and we should pay homage to him,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy is an American politician, attorney, and physician serving as the U.S. representative from Utah’s 3rd congressional district since 2025.