By Atoyebi Nike
The U.S. Department of State has revoked the visas of at least six foreign nationals who posted messages online celebrating or justifying the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
In a statement posted on X Tuesday evening, the Department declared:
“The United States has no obligation to host foreigners who wish death on Americans.”
The announcement included screenshots of posts from individuals in South Africa, Mexico, Brazil, Paraguay, Germany, and Argentina, all of whom have now been barred from entering the U.S. Their comments included insults, mockery, and justifications for Kirk’s killing.
The move follows Kirk’s posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom award by former President Donald Trump, who hailed him as a “martyr for truth.” Kirk, 31, co-founded Turning Point USA and played a key role in mobilising young conservative voters.
His assassination sparked fierce debate online, leading to a wave of disciplinary actions. A New York Times investigation reported that over 145 people in the U.S. were fired, suspended, or resigned over social media posts about his death.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio had earlier warned that visas could be revoked for foreigners celebrating the attack. Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau also encouraged Americans to report such posts for consular review.
The action comes amid a broader tightening of U.S. immigration rules, including mandatory disclosure of social media accounts by visa applicants. Earlier this year, over 6,000 student visas were cancelled, including hundreds linked to alleged terrorism or pro-Hamas activities.
