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Trump will travel to China in the next month to discuss US tariffs
The Supreme Court has overturned Trump's tariffs on imported goods. An official from the White House confirmed the trip Friday, just before the Supreme Court handed Trump a crushing defeat, by overturning'many' of the tariffs that he had used in his global trade war. This included some tariffs against China. Trump's discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping during an extended trip to Beijing were expected to focus on extending a truce in trade that prevented both countries from increasing tariffs. RULING RAISES CONCERNS FOR U.S. - CHINA RELATIONS The Supreme Court's decision has raised new questions about the tense U.S. China relations, which had been stabilized recently after Trump reduced tariffs on Chinese products in exchange for Beijing taking measures, such as cracking down the illicit fentanyl traffic and easing export restrictions for critical minerals. The International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) imposes tariffs of 20% on China's exports to the United States. A court ruled that Trump had exceeded the IEEPA. These tariffs were linked to national emergencies relating to fentanyl and trade imbalances. The other duties on Chinese products, such as those implemented under the legislated trade authority known as Section 301 or Section 232, are still in place. Trump did not reveal how many tariffs he would reinstate, but at a recent press conference he announced that he was going to impose a 10% tariff on all goods for 150 days. Trump's trip to China in 2017 was the last by an American president. Trump told foreign leaders in Washington, DC on Thursday that the China trip was going to be wild. "We must put on the largest display in China's history." The Chinese embassy in Washington has declined to comment about the dates of this trip. This information was first reported by. Beijing has not confirmed this trip. TRUMP SEES TRADE IMBALANCE A NATIONAL EMERGENCY The Trump?administration said that the global tariffs are necessary due to?national emergency related to trade imbalances which have weakened U.S. Manufacturing. Scott Kennedy, an expert in China economics at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington, says that Trump was already "playing defence" in the trade conflict, due to the effectiveness of Beijing’s threat to cut-off rare earths. He said that the tariff defeat "confirms his weakness" in their eyes. Kennedy stated that Chinese officials are "pleased with the direction in which bilateral relations have moved, where the U.S. has been diminished." They also want to prevent a resurgence of tensions. Trump's trip will be their first face-to-face meeting since a South Korea meeting in October, when they reached a trade truce. Xi brought up U.S. weapons sales to Taiwan when the two leaders met this month. China considers democratically-governed Taiwan to be its territory. Taipei rejects this position. Taiwan's main arms supplier, the U.S. is bound by law to give Taiwan the means to defend themselves. It has diplomatic relations with China but also maintains informal ties. Washington approved its largest ever arms sale to Taiwan in December. The weapons included $11.1 billion worth of weapons that were ostensibly used as a defense against a Chinese invasion. Taiwan is expecting more of these?sales. Xi said he would also consider increasing soybean purchases during the call in February, according to Trump. Trump's major constituency is struggling U.S. Farmers, and China is a top soybean consumer. Analysts predicted on Friday that China might be less inclined to make another large purchase of U.S. soybeans. After the Supreme Court decision, soybeans are now available. Trump justified his hawkish policies from Canada to Greenland to Venezuela as necessary in order to defeat China. However, in recent months he has loosened policy toward Beijing on issues such as tariffs, advanced computer chips and drones. Trump's global trade war, which he started after his second term in office as president began in January 2025, has alienated many trading partners and allies. The critics argued that by imposing tariffs across the board, Beijing was protected from the tariff barrage. They also argued it reduced the incentives for supply chains to leave China. Martin Chorzempa is a senior fellow with the Peterson Institute of International Economics. He said that Friday's decision could indirectly increase the pressure on Beijing, if effective tariff rates for other countries, especially in Southeast Asia, drop more than the ones on China. Chorzempa stated that "compared to other countries, China has a much better-established and more durable legal mechanism" for the majority of tariffs. This makes them less affected by these tariffs than other countries. (Reporting Trevor Hunnicutt, Michael Martina, Additional Reporting Katharine Jackson, Editing Andrei Khalip Colleen Jenkins Rod Nickel Patricia Zengerle;
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Azul, a Brazilian airline, has exited Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings
In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Azul said that it had officially ended its bankruptcy proceedings in 'the United States' on Friday. The company has said that it has achieved its main goals with the restructuring process. This includes strengthening its capital structure and increasing liquidity. The carrier said it had cut its debt and lease obligations 'by approximately $2.5 billion' during the restructuring process. This included raising $1.4 billion in debt and $950 millions through equity investments. Azul filed Chapter 11 in May 2025 in the United States to restructure their debt. The airline was part of a wave Latin -American airlines seeking bankruptcy protection after the impact of COVID-19 on the sector. Since the start of 2020, Aeromexico and Colombia's?Avianca, as well as Azul's two biggest rivals, Gol, and?LATAM Airlines have also filed for bankruptcy. (Reporting and editing by Natalia Siniawski, Andre Romani)
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US official will tell Congress that closing El Paso Airport was not an error.
Next week, the U.S. Department of Transportation will brief Congress about the?the?. Sudden shutdown Sean Duffy, Secretary of Transportation, said on Friday that the decision to close Texas' El Paso Airport earlier this month was not a mistake. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) halted all traffic at the airport in February. Initially, the shutdown was to last for 10 days. However, the FAA reversed course and lifted the order within eight hours. Last week,?and others outlets reported that the FAA had closed the airspace due to?concerns about a military anti-drone laser system being tested nearby at Fort?Bliss. Duffy, the FAA's director, stated on social media last week that the shutdown was prompted by an incursion of a Mexican drug cartel using drones. However, a drone sighting near an airport typically leads to a short pause in traffic and not an extended shutdown. Duffy, when asked if the social media post he made about the incident was incorrect, said during a press briefing: "I use all the information I can get." The lawmakers said that the incident was a result of a lack of coordination among government agencies. Duffy rejected this idea and said he had a good working relationship with Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth as well as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. The FAA's sudden closure of the nation's 71st most busy airport overnight stranded passengers and caused medical evacuation flights to be disrupted. Last week, government officials and airline officials informed the FAA that the airspace was closed due to fears the counter-drone systems could cause dangers to air traffic. Sources say that the agencies were supposed to meet on February 20 to discuss the issue, but the Army and Homeland Security Department decided to move forward without FAA approval. This prompted the FAA halting flights.
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Brazil's competitiveness is restored by the US Supreme Court tariff ruling, according to Vice President Alckmin
Geraldo Alckmin, Brazil's Vice President, said on Friday that the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling to overturn President Donald Trump's tariffs was a significant one for the country. It removed levies targeted at Brazil and allowed it to compete in the U.S. Alckmin, Brazil's minister for?development, trade, and industry, spoke at a press event and called on the nation to be cautious in the future if the ruling is upheld. He also said that the country would continue to?negotiate trade and non-trade matters with Washington. Trump imposed tariffs of 40% on certain?Brazilian products in August, citing what he termed a "witch-hunt" against Brazil's ex-right-wing president Jair Bolsonaro. However, he has now removed some items as U.S. prices have risen and after talks with Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva. In this article, Latest such move In November, Trump eliminated additional tariffs on Brazilian food products including beef and coffee. "Brazil has an additional 40% tariff that no other country has." This was the problem. Alckmin, speaking to journalists in Brasilia said that the ruling would strengthen "United States and Brazil ties". Vice-President said that Trump's Friday vow to impose tariffs on imports was a violation of the Constitution. Get 10% off your entire purchase This time, the ban on imports would not affect Brazil's competitiveness as it would apply to all goods.
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Trucks form 39-km line to deliver soybeans to Brazil's Miritituba river terminals
According to traffic data provided by the oilseed lobby Abiove, trucks loaded with soybeans had to wait in a line of 39 kilometers to deliver their?products to grain terminals located at the Amazonian port of?Miritituba?in Para state. Terminals are operated by Cargill, Bunge and Brazilian Amaggi, as well as the logistics company Hidrovias do Brasil. The Miritituba River Terminals are usually busy at this time of year, when they receive soybeans and oilseeds from the Center-West. They then load them onto?barges to be shipped via the ports of the North of Brazil. Abiove estimates that Miritituba, on the 'Tapajos River', handles 12 million tons of grains like soy and corn each year. Daniel Amaral said in an interview with Abiove's director of economy and regulatory affairs on Friday that long truck lines form outside of Miritituba every year. The problem is exacerbated by heavy rains and the fact that the final stretch of road connecting farms in Mato Grosso with the port facilities has not been paved. These problems continue, despite the fact that the port's?access is still not constructed," said?Amaral. Analysts and the Brazilian government claim that soybean farmers will harvest a record-large crop this year, of almost 180 million metric tonnes. Most of the production is shipped to China. The company Via Brasil BR-163, which administers a highway spanning?1,009 km (627 miles), connecting Mato Grosso with the?Miritituba facility, has announced that work is underway to complete the final 5.7 km stretch of road by November this year. (Reporting and editing by Anil D’Silva; Ana Mano)
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Businesses celebrate victory over Trump tariffs but refunds may take some time
The U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn emergency tariffs imposed by the White House was a victory for thousands of businesses, but the process of getting refunds is only just beginning. The court's decision could have a long-lasting impact on the global economy. It ruled that President Donald Trump was not allowed to impose broad tariffs against imports under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The corporate world spent months adapting to Trump's constantly changing trade policy, and his use of tariffs to further his agenda. Not only to address trade issues, but also to attack other governments policies and actions. In a furious news conference after the ruling, Trump vowed to use his additional powers to challenge them. Tariffs to be increased This includes a temporary 10% tax on all imports. Many businesses and industry groups reacted cautiously, hoping for a more predictable trade policy. Penn-Wharton Budget?Model economists stated on Friday that thousands of companies, not only those who sued the administration, will decide whether or not to pursue refunds. This means that more than $175 Billion in U.S. Tariffs collected could now be refunded. Rick Woldenberg is the CEO of Learning Resources, a toymaker, and one of the First Businesses The lawsuit was filed in April last year. "I'm excited. This is something that everyone should feel they have won. It's "a win for all." UNCERTAINTY REMAIN The stocks of the affected companies initially rose on the news, but then fell due to uncertainty over trade policy. In afternoon trading, shares of Tapestry, the parent company of Target and Coach, were slightly up. John Denton, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Commerce, stated that the U.S. Court of International Trade is likely to handle the logistics of refunds, making the claims administratively complex. Since April, more than 1,800 cases relating to tariffs have been filed at the U.S. Court of International Trade (which has jurisdiction in tariffs and customs issues). This compares with fewer than 20 such cases throughout 2024. Many lawyers and business associations that were interviewed before Trump's press conference predicted his Friday pledge to introduce additional tariffs. Many said that Trump's decision and his?subsequent actions - will create more uncertainty in the coming months. "The chances that tariffs will reappear under a revised format remain significant." "The odds that tariffs will reappear in a revised form remain meaningful," Olu Sonola said, Fitch Ratings' head of U.S. Economics. A RANGE OF SECTORS ARE AFFECTED Many sectors are affected, including consumer goods, automotive and manufacturing, as well as apparel, which rely on low-cost production from China, Vietnam and India. Trump's tariffs increase the cost of imported finished goods and parts, which squeezes margins and disrupts finely-tuned global supply chains. The plaintiffs are mainly subsidiaries of Japan's Toyota Group and U.S. large-box retailer Costco. They also include tire manufacturer Goodyear Tire & Rubber as well as aluminum company Alcoa. Kawasaki Motors, a Japanese motorcycle manufacturer, is also a prominent plaintiff. Tariffs increased prices for consumers who were already stung by years of post COVID inflation. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York estimated last week that 90 percent of Trump's tariffs will be paid by American companies and consumers. The White House has argued without much evidence that foreigners are paying the tariffs. According to the Yale Budget Lab, as of November, the U.S. effective tariff rate was 11,7%. This compares with an average 2.7% between 2022-2024. The automotive industry will also continue to be subjected to significant tariffs, which were not imposed under IEEPA. Last year, import tariffs of 25 percent were levied on vehicles coming across the border, from Mexico or Canada. This was based on national security grounds. Attorneys say thousands of auto parts imported into the U.S. by countries that are subject to Trump’s reciprocal tariffs will be?hit, increasing costs for carmakers and parts suppliers. Many lawyers believe that many more companies will join the lawsuits, as they waited for the ruling in order to avoid unwanted attention from White House. The companies will join the queue of other companies that could wait for months or even years to recover billions in import duties. Wade Kawasaki is the CEO of The Wheel Group in California, a manufacturer of automotive wheels. He said that his company had to pay an additional 20% due to the IEEPA tariffs. He plans to do so. To seek refunds will require?his staff to sort through thousands of transactions in order to "figure how much we are owed back to," he stated. Some U.S. firms have sold their rights to recover refunds to investors outside the country. The companies will accept a small upfront payment - about 25-30 cents per dollar - and agree to give the rest to investors if the tariffs are overturned. DHL, a German logistics firm, said it would use its technology to make sure that customers receive refunds "accurately" and "efficiently" if they have been authorized. Bruce Smith, the owner, chairman, and CEO of Voltava in Michigan, said that he supported Trump’s efforts to balance trade. However, he hopes that now the president and elected officials will work towards trade policies that benefit the U.S. as well as its trading partners. He said, "We can be strategic and tough without being unpredictable."
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Hungary blocks 90 billion Euro loan to Ukraine over Russian Oil Row
Hungary's foreign minister announced on Friday that it will not approve a 90 billion-euro (106?billion dollars) EU loan to Ukraine unless the country resumes oil deliveries via?the Druzhba Pipeline. Budapest had previously said that it would use strategic reserves to address a shortage. Hungary and Slovakia have been working to ensure supply of Russian oil since January 27, when flows were stopped following what Ukraine claimed was a Russian drone strike that damaged pipeline infrastructure. Both countries blame Ukraine for the delay in resuming flows due to political reasons. On Thursday, we requested the comments of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry and the State Oil and Gas Company. By blocking oil transit through the Druzhba Pipeline to Hungary, Ukraine is violating the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement and its commitments towards the European Union. Peter Szijjarto, Foreign Minister of Hungary, said on X that we?will never give in to blackmail. DEEP DIPPING INTO OIL RESOURCES In a late-night decree, the Hungarian government announced that it would release 1.8 million barrels from its strategic oil reserves to cover shortfalls. The Croatian JANAF pipeline operator said, however, that Budapest was not required to do this after Hungary's MOL oil company said JANAF had to allow transit of Russian seaborne oil during the Druzhba power outage. JANAF released a statement saying that "at this moment, an important quantity of non Russian crude oil is being shipped via JANAF’s pipeline to MOL Group. Three additional tankers, carrying non Russian oil for MOL, are also on their way towards the Omisalj Terminal." There was no need to tap (their) reserve?as oil is transported via the JANAF pipe towards MOL's refining facilities continuously and without delay." Scrabble for CRUDE Supplies The Hungarian Government decree stated that MOL has priority access to crude oil reserves. It will have access to these reserves until April 15, and must return them no later than August 24. According to the website of the Hungarian Hydrocarbon Stockpiling Association, at?the end January, Hungary's crude oil and petroleum products reserves were enough to last 96 days. MOL, which is a joint venture between the two countries, ordered tankers to deliver oil from Saudi Arabia, Norway, Kazakhstan, Libya and Russia to its Hungarian, Slovak and Slovak refineries. It also halted deliveries of diesel to Ukraine this week. MOL stated that the first shipments are expected to arrive in Croatia's port of Omisalj at the beginning of March. After that, the crude oil will need to travel for another 5-12 days before it reaches its refineries. Slovnaft, Slovakia's refinery owned by MOL, has requested 1.825 millions barrels of crude oil. The Slovak Government has also declared a situation of oil emergency. $1 = 0.8484 euro) (Reporting and editing by Anil D’Silva, Emelia Sithole Matarise and Anita Komuves)
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US sanctions on Serbian NIS Oil Company until March 20, 2019
Energy Minister Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic announced on Friday that the U.S. Treasury Department had 'extended' a sanctions waiver for Serbian-owned NIS until March 20. This gives?the Balkan nation?another?month?to import crude oils. In October, the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control imposed sanctions against NIS as part of wider measures targeting Russia's energy sector in response to Moscow's conflict in Ukraine. Djedovic handanovic, in a press release, said that "NIS is now able to import crude oils... and continue to supply the market with crude oil products." In December last year, the OFAC granted?NIS a deadline of late March for the negotiations to divest the?majority shares held by Russia's Gazprom Neft & Gazprom. MOL, the Hungarian oil company, announced on January 19 that it had entered into a binding agreement to purchase NIS's stake, which runs Serbia's sole oil refinery, located in Pancevo (just outside Belgrade). Djedovic handanovic plans to visit the U.S. in the next week, to find?solutions to sanctions against NIS. "The talks are ongoing between Gazprom?Neft?and?MOL?, which include us. She said that next week, we would have "intensive" talks to improve our situation. MOL stated that the UAE's ADNOC will be a minor stakeholder in NIS. Gazprom and Gazprom Neft own 11.3%?and a 44.9% stake in?NIS. The Serbian Government owns 29.9% of the company, with the rest owned by small shareholders and employees. (Reporting and editing by PhilippaFletcher; AleksandarVasovic)
SPECIAL RELEASE-The Charlie Kirk Purge: How 600 Americans suffered in a pro Trump crackdown
Lauren Vaughn is a kindergarten assistant from South Carolina. When she saw that Charlie Kirk, a right-wing influential, had been shot during an event in Utah. She opened Facebook and typed a quote by Kirk.
Kirk, in 2023, said that gun deaths were "unfortunate" but "worth it," if they protected "the Second Amendment, to protect our God-given Rights." Vaughn then added, "Thoughts, and prayers."
Vaughn is a 37-year old Christian who has made missionary trips in Guatemala. She said that her request for prayer was genuine. She said that she hoped Kirk's words, in context with the shooting, would prompt her friends to pray.
Rethinking their opposition to gun controls
She thought, "Maybe they will now listen."
Vaughn was fired a few days later. Vaughn was among more than 600 Americans who were terminated, suspended, investigated or disciplined for their comments regarding Kirk's assassination on September 10, according to an analysis of court documents, public statements, reports from local media and interviews with 20 people who had been fired or otherwise disciplined.
Some people were fired for celebrating or mocking Kirk’s death. At least 15 people received discipline for invoking "karma," "divine justice," or variations of "Good riddance"; nine other people were disciplined for saying "Good riddance." One poster said, "One down and plenty more to go."
Some, such as Vaughn say that they simply criticised Kirk's political views.
At least one academic in the pro-Kirk group was placed on administrative leave for threatening to "hunt" down those who celebrated the assassination.
The most comprehensive account of the backlash to Kirk's critics to date, this report traces how local Republican legislators and other influencers mobilized in support of Donald Trump's movement. This story outlines the pro-Trump retaliation machinery that is reshaping American politics. It details its size and tactics, from public humiliation to social media shaming.
Pressure
on employers
Threats to defund institutions. Previous reports have documented how
Trump has purge the federal government
Employees he deems to be opponents of his agenda
Law firms are being targeted for a crackdown
People in the crosshairs of the administration need to be defended.
Sometimes, Americans lose their jobs for speaking out during heated political moments. In 2020, 22 academics lost their jobs.
George Floyd is murdered
According to the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (a group that advocates for free speech), a Minneapolis officer has fired more than 160 people, many for making comments that were deemed offensive. According to Palestine Legal, a group that protects civil rights for American supporters of Palestinian cause, in 2024, after the outbreak of the most recent Israel-Gaza conflict, more than 160 individuals were fired because of their pro-Palestinian activism.
It is notable that Trump, JD Vance, and other government officials have publicly backed the backlash against comments made about Kirk's shooting. This is a dramatic change for Republicans who, for years, have criticized the left's "cancel-culture" -- the exclusion or punishment of people whose opinions were deemed unacceptable.
The supporters of the firings claim that freedom of expression does not mean freedom from consequences. Doctors, lawyers and teachers should all have high standards of conduct.
They said that emergency workers in positions of trust by the public are not included.
Abigail Jackson, White House spokesperson, said in a statement: "President Trump, and the entire Administration, will not hesitate to tell the truth. For years, radical leftists slandered political opponents as Nazis or Fascists. This has inspired left-wing violence. It must stop." She continued: "No one understands the dangers associated with political violence better than President Trump", after he survived his two assassination efforts.
Turning Point USA (the youth movement Kirk founded) said in a press release that it supports the right to freedom of speech. "This includes the right of private employers to decide when an employee has crossed a line and deserves to be terminated." The organization cautioned, however, that while celebrating Kirk's death is "evil and unqualified behavior," respectfully disagreeing to his ideas, values, or statements is every American’s right.
Vaughn filed a federal lawsuit on September 18 seeking her reinstatement. She submitted a
Letter
Vaughn filed a lawsuit against the Spartanburg County school district after it received a letter from its superintendent describing her remarks as 'inflammatory, unprofessional and inappropriate.' The district responded by saying Vaughn was unable to prove the allegations.
s post "a
"Pared to endorse Mr. Kirk’s murder or to indicate that it was ‘worth' his losing his life to defend Americans' constitutional rights."
The district has declined to comment further.
Social media campaigns have been used to punish offenders. They circulate screenshots, names, and phone numbers of employers and messages such as "Internet, do what you want." What follows is usually hundreds of angry and threatening messages. In interviews, several people who were targeted claimed that they received a flood of phone calls. One person recalled getting a phone call every minute of the day. At least two people said that the harassment was so severe they were planning to sell their home.
Julie Strebe lost her job as a sheriff deputy in Salem Missouri after she posted comments about the shooting on Facebook, including: "Empathy isn't owed to oppressors." Later, she said that she viewed Kirk, who she described as an oppressor, because he used his platform to rally white conservative Christians around "racists, sexists, and hateful views."
Strebe says she has installed five cameras in her home to monitor her and her family. She also fuels her vehicle only at night, so as not to disturb her neighbors. Salem is a small town, and moving would mean leaving extended families. But she says the city has become too hostile for her to stay. In an interview, she stated: "I don't think I can ever let down my guard." The Dent County Sheriff's Office declined to comment on Strebe's previous employer.
Many Republican officials are in favor of the punitive campaigns. Some have
Proposed extraordinary measures
The U.S. government has banned those who are deemed to have revelled in Kirk's murder from using social media. The U.S.
State Department revoked visas
The agency has said that six foreigners are "
"We celebrated the horrendous murder of Charlie Kirk."
On September 15, Vice-President JD Vance called on his listeners in a special podcast episode of Kirk to punish those who celebrate Kirk's demise.
Vance said, "Call out their employer, hell, even call them." Vance's Office pointed out comments made by the vice president earlier this year, in which he said: "Where I draw the lines is encouraging violence against politicians."
Academics have compared this backlash with the "Red Scare," an anti-Communist purge which peaked in 1950, when government officials, union leaders, and Hollywood stars were accused of Communist connections. In a climate that was characterized by fear, thousands were investigated. This influenced American politics and culture over a period of a decade. Landon Storrs is a history professor at the University of Iowa. He said that there are "very troubling parallels".
The crackdown has caused concern among several prominent Republicans, particularly after the Federal Communications Commission publicly pressured ABC to suspend Jimmy Kimmel's talk show following his monologue where he implied that Kirk Kirk's killer was a member of the political right. The police have not fully revealed the results of their investigation on Tyler Robinson or his motives. Robinson has not entered a guilty plea to the murder charges and other charges brought against him.
Ted Cruz, a Republican senator, warned in his podcast that allowing the government to decide "what speech is acceptable and what is not" creates a dangerous precedent. He said that while it might be nice to silence voices such as Kimmel, "we will regret it when it is used to quiet down every conservative in America." His spokesperson declined any further comments.
'MASSIVE PURGE THESE EVIL PSYCHOS
Kirk's critics were punished almost immediately.
Right-wing influencers mobilized about 30 minutes after Trump announced that Kirk was dead. Chaya Raichik of the popular Libs of TikTok posted "THIS Is War" on X before highlighting a Massachusetts Teacher who wrote: "Just a Reminder, We're Not Offering Sympathy."
By the end of the night, Libs of TikTok published or reposted 37 professional details, often accompanied with commentary like "absolutely vile," Your tax dollars pay her salaries," or "Would he teach your kids?"
The next day, Libs from TikTok wrote: "It is actually frightening how many of these people are teachers and doctors." We need to purge these evil psychos, who are out to kill us all for having different political views.
Libs of TikTok, in the week following the shooting, shared the profiles and names of at least 134 individuals accused of celebrating violence and mocking Kirk’s memory. They frequently tagged Trump administration officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Attorney General Pam Bondi. The influencer has posted information about disciplinary measures taken against government employees.
"BREAKING! This Marine was Fired," Libs of TikTok wrote on September 12th, a day after calling a Marine Corps Captain out. According to a screenshot shared by the influencer, the officer responded to Kirk's passing with an emoji showing clinking beer cups. The captain refused to comment on the post. Libs of TikTok reported similar disciplinary action against an Army Reserve officer, and an Army Colonel who commented on the death via social media.
The Pentagon and Justice Department released
The following are some statements that may be helpful:
They condemned the celebrations surrounding Kirk's death, but didn't address questions regarding their relationship with Libs from TikTok.
Scott Presler, a right-wing influencer, began to post screenshots of Kirk's comments.
On September 10, he instructed his followers to take a screenshot of every single person who was celebrating. He told his followers on September 10: "You can bet that we will make these people infamous." Presler then shared on X posts about 70 people who commented on the murder, writing in one message, "Almost everyone we posted about - who celebrated Charlie Kirk’s assassination - has been fired." Presler did not respond to comments.
The wave of shootings was a catharsis for many right-wingers who were outraged at the celebrations of the left.
Matt Walsh, a right-wing podcaster who discussed the firings, told his listeners that it was good for them to be humiliated. They would have to live with their consequences the rest of the time. Walsh replied by email: "F**k off."
Video blogger and recovery coach on YouTube
JD Delay expresses glee
He read out the names of those people who lost their jobs because of their remarks.
"I'm having a good time!" He shouted and raised his hands, expressing excitement. Delay said that he believed in "accountability" and "consequences", and that "if publicly saying abhorrent words and getting fired from your work, I will laugh at you."
Sometimes the punishment campaign veered from its original course. In at least five instances, people were wrongly blaming for the comments of others. Another case.
A website that created a blacklist
After receiving tens and thousands of dollars worth of cryptocurrency donations, the website "Expose Charlie's Killers" disappeared. The site's creators could not be identified or contacted for comment.
Online influencers claimed to have received tips from people who wanted Kirk's critics fired. Was unable to verify these figures. Presler, Libs on TikTok, and other right-wing personalities have publicly urged tippers to be patient while they work through the large volume of submissions.
Presler, who wrote "Can't stay up with you all" on X September 12, said: Post your submissions and I will go through them as soon as I can.
The post received more than 2,700 responses a day later.
It is possible that the number of people who were punished for criticizing Kirk was undercounted. Many government and private organizations have not publicly announced terminations or suspensions.
The people who were punished represented at least 45 different states, and a wide range of professions, including doctors, nurses, and police officers, as well as soldiers, pilots, and other professionals.
An Office Depot employee in Michigan was fired for refusing to print Kirk's memorial poster. A Starbucks barista in Ohio lost her job when she was accused of writing a message against Kirk on a mint tea cup.
The barista and Office Depot employee's identities were not known. Office Depot and Kroger, the grocery chain that operates the Ohio Starbucks, condemned the anti Kirk incidents and said that the people involved are no longer employees.
The requests to 21 federal agencies, including Homeland Security, Veterans Affairs, and the Defense Department, for the number or suspensions or dismissals related to the Kirk murder were either ignored, or declined. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence's deputy chief of staff responded to the inquiry on social media by accusing the office of trying "to generate sympathy for the ghouls that celebrate his death."
EDUCATORS ARE ONE OF THE MAIN TARGETS
Teachers, university administrators and academics were the most commonly punished for criticizing Kirk. In the days after the assassination more than 350 education workers, including 50 senior university administrators and academics, three high-school principals, two cheerleading coach and a theology teacher, were either fired, suspended, or investigated.
It is possible that educators are at the forefront of the backlash due to a number of factors. Teachers, as the people tasked with molding young minds, have been portrayed by conservatives for years as ideologues whose goal is to push their students to the left. Teachers' status as taxpayer funded employees made any perceived political commentary particularly explosive.
Six teachers have also spoken out in interviews and public statements. They cited their concern about the prevalence of gun violence in schools across the country, and their anger towards those like Kirk who advocated for widespread access to guns.
Vaughn, a South Carolina kindergarten assistant said she was thinking about this when she posted Kirk's 2023 comment on Facebook, dismissing fatal shootings as a price to be paid to protect gun rights. She said that, like other teachers in the United States, she practiced active shooter drills regularly at her elementary school. She saw the fear on her 5-year-olds faces as they learned to hide from a armed gunman.
She told a friend on Facebook that the day Kirk was killed, she had "no satisfaction" with the murder. She said: "Just heartbreak and hope for anyone and everyone affected by gun violence, and that one day enough will be enough." Later, she told a friend that her message was motivated by concern for children.
Right-wing influencers circulated screenshots of the posts. The original posts may have been deleted, or made private. The Virginia teacher has been suspended, and the Texas internship terminated. Both could not be reached for comment.
Some private employers cited a violation of their company values or safety issues as the reason for terminating employees. The corporations that were caught up in this backlash had a number of reasons for their actions. Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian stated in a press release that some employees' statements were "starkly in contrast" with the company's core values and violated the social media policy. United Airlines said it has "zero tolerance" for any form of politically motivated violence.
Some of the Kirk critics, who had taken pains to condemn this shooting, were also fired or suspended after Republican legislators got involved.
Joshua Bregy shared a Facebook post by another user in the wake of Kirk Kirk's death. The post read: "Nobody should be shot down. Not a child, not an influential, not a political figure -- no one. Will I allow others to turn a flawed person whose words have caused significant damage into a martyr? Not a chance."
Clemson Republicans reposted a part of the message in which they called him "ANOTHER LEFTIST PROFESSOR" and demanded his dismissal. Right-wing influencers amplified the post, and Republican state legislators threatened to defund Bregy's public university if he wasn't fired.
Clemson first pledged, in a statement on September 12, to "stand firm on the principles the U.S. Constitution including the protection for free speech."
Clemson fired Bregy after the South Carolina House Speaker and Senate President sent a letter demanding "immediate and appropriate action" from Clemson trustees. Bregy’s Facebook post "was blatantly unprofessional," and "seriously detrimental to the university," Clemson said.
In a letter, Bregy was informed that he had been fired.
Bregy is
Clemson filed a reinstatement petition in federal court in South Carolina. Allen Chaney, his lawyer, said that the academic would still be in the same position "but for the aggressive and coercive tactics used by elected officials in South Carolina."
Clemson's State House Speaker Murrell Smith, and Senate President Thomas Alexander have not responded to requests for comments. Clemson is yet to respond to Bregy’s lawsuit.
At least six times, Republican officials threatened to deny taxpayer funding to universities and schools if Kirk's critics were not fired.
Chaney, the legal director for the South Carolina chapter American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), said that the threats of defunding Clemson, and other universities, crossed a constitutional boundary. He said that the government cannot police speech through third-party pressure. The Supreme Court ruled unanimously last year that government officials could not use their authority to "attempt coerce" third parties to punish or suppress speech they don't like.
Paul McGreal, constitutional law professor and Kirk critic at Creighton University Law School (Nebraska), said that the threats of defunding schools who refuse to fire Kirk's critics are "stunning". Government officials threaten speakers with punishment if they don't agree with their views. They are violating the core First Amendment rights."
KIRK HONORED AS '13TH DELIGIOUS' OF CHRIST
Many Republicans have portrayed Kirk as a saintly champion for free speech since Kirk's murder. Evangelicals have compared him to Saint Stephen who is revered as Christianity’s first martyr. One Republican lawmaker said that Kirk would have been the "13th disciple" if he had lived in Biblical time. When he awarded Kirk the posthumous award, Trump compared him to ancient Greek philosopher Socrates and slain president Abraham Lincoln.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom
Kirk's legacy, however, is complex. Kirk gained notoriety for his debates with college students, as part of Turning Point. Kirk advocated criminalizing expressions - like pornography -- that conflicted with Christian beliefs. Kirk backed Trump when Black footballers began kneeling in protest against police brutality during the National Anthem. Later, the White House said that Trump was making a declaration and not a proposal.
Kirk denigrated minorities repeatedly, calling transgenders an "abomination", warning against "prowling Blacks in cities", accusing wealthy Jews for inciting "hatred towards Whites", and declaring Islam to be incompatible with Western civilisation. He dismissed Pope Francis as being a Marxist.
Kirk's hagiography upset some of those who spoke against him after his death.
Kimberly Hunt said, "I felt compelled in an interview to remind people of who he was, and what he represented." Kimberly Hunt is a human resource worker from Arizona. She posted a video with the caption "Save your tears, not for him."
Hunt, in the video, cited Kirk’s history of using derogatory words about transgenders and Muslims before saying that his children were "better off without him". Hunt was promptly fired. Her employer, a construction company in Arizona, has not responded to requests for comments.
Hunt said she was aware that her words were harsh, but stood by them. She said that they were Kirk's position in a discussion last year, where he stated that if Kirk had a daughter of 10 years old who was impregnated by rape "the baby would have been delivered."
Many voices have been silenced by the retaliation. Many people who made anti-Kirk remarks have now deleted or locked their account. In interviews, others said they were pushing back.
Hunt has raised over $88,000 through a GoFundMe page titled "Doxxed - Fired - But Not Silenced". She plans to use the funds to continue her education, to become a content producer, and to keep calling people like Kirk out.
She said, "It has definitely emboldened me."
State and federal court documents show that at least 19 lawsuits were filed against employers who punished Kirk Critics. At least two plaintiffs were successful, including a South Dakota academic who was able to get his teaching job.
Karen Leader, associate professor at Florida Atlantic University took to social media to protest the narrative that Kirk was "a shining example for youth, and a noncontroversial person who wanted an open and civil dialog," she said. Anyone who works in higher education understands that it is not as simple as that.
She pointed out that Turning Point gained prominence because of its Professor Watchlist. This site encouraged students to report professors for holding "radical-left" views or supporting terrorism.
Kirk described the Watchlist not as a blacklist, but rather a tool for raising awareness. In interviews, on social media and in public forums, those who were listed said that the Watchlist encouraged harassment and intimidation. A Turning Point reporter in 2023 was accused of assaulting a professor from Arizona who was on the Watchlist, after confronting him about his sexuality on camera and pushing him to the floor. The reporter was sentenced to a diversionary program after he admitted to harassing, assaulting and disorderly behavior. Turning Point's cameraman confessed to harassing the reporter in this case.
Leader started posting Kirk's previous statements on X starting September 10. She deleted the post after admitting that she had made an error by accusing Kirk incorrectly of using an ethnic slur. She said that she stood by the rest of her posts, including one in which Kirk claimed that Black Americans had been "better" under Jim Crow.
Leader stated, "I never encouraged violence in any way." "I was sharing the evidence."
Jordan Chamberlain is a former employee of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. She shared screenshots from several posts by Leader and asked her university if they approved the content. Libs from TikTok posted Leader's faculty photo. The president of the university announced that she was placed on administrative leave. The university's president announced that she had been placed on administrative leave.
menacing messages followed
The caller stated in a voicemail that was reviewed by us: "We are coming to get you." Karen Leader, you know where to find us. As soon as we know your address, we'll come to you. Leader hasn't left her apartment in years.
According to a police document, she reported the threats made to Boca Raton Police, who referred the matter to campus police officers. Florida Atlantic University Police said that their report couldn't be released due to an ongoing criminal investigation.
Florida Atlantic University confirmed that Leader was among three academics on leave while investigations were underway. The university declined to comment further. Chamberlain did not return an email asking for comment.
Leader replied, "I don't really know if my career has ended or not." But my life has changed." Additional reporting by Phil Stewart in Washington, Jana Winter and Courtney Rozen, in Los Angeles, and Isaac Vargas, in Washington. Jason Szep, Linda So and Jason Szep edited the story.
(source: Reuters)