Illinois Governor JB Pritzker made waves yesterday by connecting former President Donald Trump’s rhetoric to the attempted assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, even as he condemned all forms of political violence. The comments came during a press conference originally scheduled to address state infrastructure projects.
“Political violence has no place in America, period,” Pritzker stated firmly. “But we can’t ignore that Donald Trump’s words often foment this kind of aggression.” The Democratic governor added that “inflammatory language from any leader can have serious consequences.”
The assassination attempt occurred outside Kirk’s Chicago event venue Tuesday evening. According to Chicago Police Department reports, the 27-year-old suspect, Aaron Fitzgerald, fired three shots from a concealed position before being apprehended by security personnel. Kirk sustained non-life-threatening injuries to his right shoulder and is currently recovering at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was in Chicago promoting his latest book on conservative activism. His organization released a statement expressing gratitude for the “swift response from law enforcement” while noting that “disagreements should never escalate to violence.”
Republican lawmakers quickly condemned Pritzker’s comments as inappropriate politicization of a violent attack. House Speaker Mike Johnson called the governor’s remarks “shameful exploitation of a tragedy” during a Capitol Hill press briefing. Senator Ted Cruz echoed this sentiment on X (formerly Twitter): “Before the victim is even out of surgery, Democrats are already playing politics.”
When pressed by reporters about the timing of his comments, Pritzker defended his position. “I unequivocally condemn this attack,” he clarified. “But we can’t have honest conversations about political violence without acknowledging contributing factors.” He cited research from the Brennan Center for Justice showing a 63% increase in threats against public officials since 2020.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre issued a statement that President Biden “strongly condemns all political violence regardless of ideology” and has directed federal resources to assist in the investigation. The FBI has joined local authorities to determine if the attack constitutes domestic terrorism.
Trump responded to Pritzker’s comments during a campaign stop in Michigan. “Disgraceful to blame me when a deranged individual commits a terrible act,” the former president said. “The governor should focus on Chicago’s crime problem instead of pointing fingers.”
Kirk’s organization has maintained a significant presence on college campuses nationwide. Political analyst Jennifer Lawless from the University of Virginia noted that “both sides of the political spectrum need to lower the temperature” in an interview with CNN. “When we characterize political opponents as enemies rather than adversaries, we create dangerous conditions.”
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson struck a more unifying tone during a separate press conference. “Our city rejects violence as a means of political expression,” Johnson stated. “We must recommit to respectful dialogue across political differences.”
The incident comes amid heightened concerns about political violence ahead of November’s election. A recent Pew Research Center poll found that 71% of Americans worry about increased political violence, with majorities in both parties expressing concern.
Capitol Police have reported a 98% increase in threat investigations since 2017, according to Congressional testimony delivered last month. Security experts point to increasingly heated rhetoric across the political landscape as a contributing factor.
As Kirk recovers, his organization announced that scheduled events will continue with modified security protocols. “We won’t be intimidated into silence,” the statement read.
The investigation remains ongoing. Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling confirmed that Fitzgerald had no prior criminal record but had posted concerning content online that investigators are now reviewing.
For now, the incident serves as another troubling reminder of the potential consequences when political discourse turns toxic. As one security analyst told me off the record, “The line between heated rhetoric and incitement gets blurrier every day.”
I’ve covered Washington for nearly two decades, and the normalization of violent language concerns me deeply. Democracy depends on vigorous debate—but also on the shared understanding that words have power, sometimes dangerous power.
