Joe Rogan blasts 'progressives' for celebrating Charlie Kirk's death: 'Never expected it'

Joe Rogan acknowledged that while some of Charlie Kirk’s statements were controversial, celebrating his death was unconscionable
PUBLISHED OCT 1, 2025
Weeks after learning on-air about Charlie Kirk’s killing, Joe Rogan said he is still shaken by how many self-proclaimed progressives celebrated his death (@PowerfulJRE/YouTube, Getty Images)
Weeks after learning on-air about Charlie Kirk’s killing, Joe Rogan said he is still shaken by how many self-proclaimed progressives celebrated his death (@PowerfulJRE/YouTube, Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC: Weeks after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot dead, podcaster Joe Rogan revealed he is still shaken by the way many online commentators and self-identified progressive left appeared to celebrate the killing.

“The Charlie Kirk thing f*****d opened up my eyes,” Rogan said on Tuesday’s episode of ‘The Joe Rogan Experience’, where he was joined by country rock band ‘The Red Clay Strays’. “I never expected so many people would celebrate that man’s murder,” he said. 

(At 45:30, Joe Rogan discussed the alleged Charlie Kirk murder and public reactions to the case) 

Brandon Coleman agrees with Joe Rogan

Red Clay Strays vocalist Brandon Coleman quickly agreed. “That is evil,” he said. “I don’t want to see anybody die.”

“He’s not a bad guy,” Rogan replied, noting that Kirk was still young at the time of his death and was best known for traveling to college campuses to hold debates. “But it infuriated people because they felt like this guy is going against the progress that was being made in society.”

Joe Rogan on Tuesday’s, Sep 30, episode of ‘The Joe Rogan Experience’, where he was joined by country rock band ‘The Red Clay Strays’. (PowerfulJRE/Youtube)
Joe Rogan on Tuesday, Sept 30, episode of ‘The Joe Rogan Experience’, where he was joined by country rock band ‘The Red Clay Strays’ (PowerfulJRE/Youtube)

Joe Rogan shocked by ‘normal people’ cheering violence

Rogan said what shocked him most was that it was “normal people” who were cheering Kirk's death and opined that they should have known better.

“One of the most frightening aspects about the entire incident was the fact that perfectly normal people celebrated the murder of a young man because they did not like what he had to say,” Rogan observed.

“I don’t think some of the things he said he should have said,” Rogan continued. “But the fact that people were cheering when he died…normal people, housewives, moms, like f*****g people working at banks, people working at various industries celebrating a man getting shot in front of his kids in front of the whole world. Like what the f**k is wrong with us?”

Charlie Kirk speaks at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025 in Orem, Utah. Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was speaking at his
Charlie Kirk speaks at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025 in Orem, Utah. Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was speaking at his 'American Comeback Tour' when he was shot in the neck and killed (Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune/Getty Images)

 

Rogan said such reactions would inevitably trigger pushback across society. “And that’s why, like, when this Charlie Kirk thing happens, there’s a giant blowback,” he explained.

“And most people recognize like, ‘As a collective, as a society, this is not right.’ Regardless of whoever that person is, whether that person’s on the left or the right, they just got shot in front of the whole world. It’s not a thing to celebrate ever.”

OREM, UTAH - SEPTEMBER 10: Charlie Kirk appears at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025 in Orem, Utah. Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was speaking at his
Charlie Kirk appears at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025 in Orem, Utah. Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was speaking at his 'American Comeback Tour' when he was shot in the neck and killed (Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune/Getty Images)

Joe Rogan calls out ‘hypocrisy of the left’ on Charlie Kirk's killing

The podcaster slammed what he called hypocrisy from the left, which applauded the killing while claiming to stand for compassion and inclusion.

“It’s disturbing that people on the left who claim to be progressive, compassionate and inclusive were openly celebrating gun violence and public executions,” Rogan said.

“They are celebrating gun violence, public assasination. That's insane…. That hypocrisy is a symptom where we find ourselves. So many of us are confused,” he added. 

Erika Kirk to continue Charlie Kirk's mission 

Charlie Kirk was the founder of Turning Point USA, a conservative student organization that quickly grew into a powerful force on college campuses. Kirk was killed on September 10 during a speaking event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. He was 31. 

After his death, his wife Erika Kirk took charge of Turning Point USA and announced that she would continue his mission. Regarding the campus tours of her husband, Erika said that he always wanted to reach out to the young generation and help them get a direction in life. 

Erika Kirk speaks during the memorial service for her husband, political activist Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium on September 21, 2025 in Glendale, Arizona. Kirk, the CEO and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed on September 10th while speaking at an event during his
Erika Kirk speaks during the memorial service for her husband, political activist Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium on September 21, 2025 in Glendale, Arizona. Kirk, the CEO and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed on September 10th while speaking at an event during his 'American Comeback Tour' at Utah Valley University (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

“Charlie passionately wanted to reach and save the lost boys of the West. The young men who feel like they have no direction, no purpose, no faith, and no reason to live,” she said.

“The men wasting their lives on distractions and the men consume with resentment, anger and hate. Charlie wanted to help them. He wanted them to have a home with Turning Point USA," she added. 

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