The Trump administration announced Tuesday that it has revoked the visas of six foreign nationals who officials say mocked or made light of the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk last month.
The State Department said the individuals—citizens of Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Mexico, Paraguay, and South Africa—were identified through a review of social media posts and online content that U.S. officials determined “celebrated or trivialized” Kirk’s death. All six have since had their visas revoked under existing immigration authority.
Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA and one of the most prominent conservative figures in the country, was killed during a speaking engagement at a Utah college campus on Sept. 10. President Donald Trump posthumously awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Tuesday, calling him “a great American hero” and “a martyr for freedom.”
In a statement, the State Department said the decision reflects the administration’s broader effort to uphold U.S. law and defend the nation’s values. “Aliens who take advantage of America’s hospitality while celebrating the assassination of our citizens will be removed,” the department said. “President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio will defend our borders, our culture, and our citizens by enforcing our immigration laws.”
Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau previously called the online responses “disgusting” and asked social media users to flag any foreign nationals glorifying Kirk’s death. “I have directed our consular officials to undertake appropriate action,” Landau wrote in a September post, adding that the government would not ignore foreigners “who use their presence in this country to degrade or demean the lives of Americans.”
Vice President JD Vance and other senior officials have echoed that message, encouraging the public to call out offensive or celebratory comments made about Kirk’s killing. The administration has framed the move as part of a broader policy shift ensuring that noncitizens residing in the U.S. abide by laws prohibiting the incitement or endorsement of violence.
The visa revocations follow a growing wave of actions targeting foreign nationals accused of promoting unrest or anti-American rhetoric online. The administration has recently expelled South Africa’s ambassador to the U.S. for remarks critical of President Trump, revoked the visa of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to attend the U.N. General Assembly, and denied entry to several foreign musicians who had publicly disparaged U.S. policy.
The White House said the actions reaffirm its stance that free speech protections do not extend to foreign nationals using their platforms to glorify violence against Americans. “This administration will not tolerate foreigners who celebrate the murder of an American citizen,” a senior administration official said. “Respect for our nation and its people is the price of entry.”
