Fox News host Jesse Watters called on conservatives to “avenge” conservative activist Charlie Kirk on an episode of “The Five.”
The Turning Point USA founder was assassinated during an event on a Utah college campus on Wednesday. Video from the scene showed that Kirk was debating the prevalence of transgender mass shooters immediately before he was shot. Watters painted a picture of rampant left-wing political violence, telling his audience that the American left was “at war” with conservatives.
“We’re sick, we’re sad, we’re angry, and we’re resolute, and we’re going to avenge Charlie’s death in the way Charlie would want it to be avenged,” he said. “Whether we want to accept it or not, they are at war with us! And what are we gonna do about it? How much political violence are we going to tolerate?”
Fox News’ Jesse Watters says “we’re gonna avenge Charlie [Kirk’s] death.”
“Everybody’s accountable. And we’re watching … the politicians, the media, and all these rats out there. This can never happen again. It ends now.” pic.twitter.com/4BYsnjm7NW
— The Recount (@therecount) September 10, 2025
Watters said that Kirk would have wanted conservatives to “put as much pressure on these people as possible,” calling the opposition “rats.”
“This is unacceptable and has to stop, and it has to stop now. And everybody’s accountable,” he said. “This is a turning point, and we know which direction we’re going.”
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Watters heated rhetoric was a notable departure from the barrage of condolences and grief shared by other right-wing commentators. Megyn Kelly and Glenn Beck were visibly shaken by the news of Kirk’s death during Wednesday’s episode of “The Megyn Kelly Show.” Watters’ fellow Fox News host Will Cain was audibly upset when he announced the news of Kirk’s passing on the network.
“I don’t really know where you go from here,” Cain said, sniffling. “I don’t know what’s left for us as a country to discuss when even a discussion and a debate over the issues results in violence that leads to the death of a good man.”
