Conservative broadcaster Megyn Kelly became embroiled in a heated exchange with a student during a debate at a US university, after he suggested Donald Trump’s rhetoric had fuelled political violence. Kelly, who has begun speaking at colleges under the Turning Point USA banner following the recent assassination of the organisation’s founder Charlie Kirk, rejected the claim as “a blatant lie”.
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The student argued that Trump’s open admission that he “hates” his political opponents was an example of him inflaming tensions nationwide. He added that the majority of political violence was committed by Republicans, citing Department of Justice data. Kelly countered by branding the suggestion “defamatory” and “inappropriate”, insisting that Trump’s words had no connection to Kirk’s killing on 10 September, for which 22-year-old Tyler Robinson has been charged.
As the exchange escalated, the student pressed Kelly on whether a sitting president should ever incite hostility against his opponents. She insisted Trump had not done so, instead portraying his remarks at a memorial for Kirk as light-hearted and self-deprecating. Kelly argued that Trump had every right to “loathe his enemies”, while the student responded by calling the former president “a criminal”. He then thanked her and walked away from the microphone.
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The discussion comes as political divisions in the US intensify. Prominent Republicans, including Trump, have sought to blame “the radical left” for Kirk’s murder, though federal investigators have found no evidence linking the suspect to any political ideology. At the same time, debates over the acceptability of political violence are growing: a recent YouGov poll found that one in five Americans aged 18 to 29 believe it can sometimes be justified, compared with just 3 per cent of over-65s. Academics suggest frustration over the climate crisis, rising living costs and the impact of social media are driving this generational shift.
