US revokes visas of six foreign nationals over offensive comments on Charlie Kirk’s assassination

The US State Department has revoked the visas of six foreigners after determining they made derisive or celebratory remarks about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk last month. This action reflects the Trump administration’s intensified efforts to enforce immigration laws and protect American citizens from hostile speech.

Kirk was fatally shot while speaking at a Utah college campus on September 10, 2025. The State Department announced the visa revocations on October 14 following a review of social media posts and video clips from individuals based in Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Mexico, Paraguay, and South Africa. The identities of those affected were not disclosed.

President Donald Trump, who posthumously awarded Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom—the nation’s highest civilian honor—called Kirk a “great American hero” and a “martyr for freedom” during the September funeral. The administration and its supporters have pursued disciplinary actions, including firings and other sanctions, against American journalists, teachers, and others accused of making disparaging comments about Kirk, sparking debates about free speech rights.
The State Department emphasized its commitment to “defend our borders, our culture, and our citizens by enforcing our immigration laws” and warned that “aliens who take advantage of America’s hospitality while celebrating the assassination of our citizens will be removed.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other senior officials have encouraged the public to report offensive language about Kirk seen online.

Details of the social media comments leading to visa cancellations included:

• An Argentine national describing Kirk as devoted to “spreading racist, xenophobic, misogynistic rhetoric” and stating he “deserves to burn in hell.”
• A South African individual mocking Americans grieving Kirk, calling him a tool of “white nationalist trailer trash.”
• A Mexican citizen stating Kirk “died being a racist, he died being a misogynist,” and claiming “some people deserve to die.”
• A German national saying, “when fascists die, democrats don’t complain.”
• A Brazilian who wrote Kirk “DIED TOO LATE.”
• A Paraguayan national calling Kirk a “son of a b—- who died by his own rules.

The administration’s actions have drawn criticism from civil liberties groups warning of free speech infringements and raising concerns about the broad powers used to monitor and sanction speech online. Nonetheless, Vice President JD Vance and other officials maintain these measures are necessary to safeguard American values and security.This visa revocation effort coincides with broader government initiatives targeting foreigners allegedly promoting unrest or supporting protests critical of US policies, including actions taken against foreign diplomats and public figures. The State Department continues to monitor visa holders for conduct deemed inconsistent with US laws and national interests.