Representative Byron Donalds (R-FL) condemned those who celebrated the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in a recent appearance on Fox Business's Varney & Co., calling such words "absolutely disgusting."
During the interview, he expressed that "it demonstrates an issue we have in America right now where there is a disdain and dehumanization of people on the right simply because they have strong disagreements with the radical left."
"And so what has become clear is that on the radical left, they now view violence as okay," he continued, adding, "they laugh at it or smirk at it. That is just flat-out disgusting. It is wrong." "In our nation, you have to be able to speak freely. And that is not just the government stopping you from speaking freely, it is about fellow Americans allowing public debate and not thinking that now violence or rage is the answer when they do not get their way."
Host Stuart Varney questioned if Donalds personally feared for his own safety in the wake of Kirk's murder, to which he responded, "Of course."
"We cannot be a more perfect union if elected officials and other prominent people in our society now feel threatened," the Florida Congressman continued. "And now they have to hire up these massive security apparatuses just so they can continue to exercise their free speech in the United States. We need to change. This is wrong."
Varney further inquired how divisive and hateful rhetoric can be eliminated, to which Donalds answered, "It starts with elected officials, political leaders, and influencers. We have to continue to have robust debates, too."
"That cannot stop," Donalds emphasized. "If you shut down robust debate, it ends America as far as I am concerned."
He reiterated how "everybody has got to respect the humanity of their rivals. We all got rivals in life, people we compete against. That is just the natural state of human beings." "But you have to respect their humanity. You have to acknowledge the fact that they are well-meaning people most of the time. Not all of the time, but they want to be able to go home and see their families," Donalds concluded.
