Kristen Welker Tries To Bait Lindsey Graham Into Fretting About Violence On The Right, It Doesn’t Go Well

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina did not take the bait from “Meet the Press” host Kristen Welker on Sunday when pressed about conservative responses to the assassination of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) founder Charlie Kirk.

Kirk was assassinated during a TPUSA “Prove Me Wrong” event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday, during which he was debating attendees on a variety of topics, including transgenderism and mass shootings. NBC News’ Welker peppered Graham with questions about comments by President Donald Trump and “War Room” host Steve Bannon that blamed leftist rhetoric for the assassination. (RELATED: Scott Jennings Erupts, Says Dems Have ‘No Idea How To Debate’ After Charlie Kirk’s Assassin Caught)

“Senator, do you believe this is the right message for this moment?” Welker asked Graham.

“There is an effort by the left to dehumanize the MAGA movement,” the senator responded. “I reject political violence. If you are offended by what somebody says or does, then take up a political cause to fight back, not a gun, not a bomb, not a knife. We don’t need the Mideast moment here in America, where it turns into just revenge killing. … What we need to do is be honest with each other.”

WATCH:

Authorities arrested 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, who was in a romantic relationship with a biological male who identified as a transgender woman, accusing him of carrying out the assassination. Graham explained to Welker why conservatives were angry about the killing.

Robinson is reportedly not cooperating with authorities, although Republican Gov. Spencer Cox of Utah said the suspect’s reported romantic partner was cooperating.

“President Trump is not just the president of the United States, he’s the leader of the movement. Charlie Kirk was his chief lieutenant,” Graham said. “This is viewed by many people in the MAGA movement, conservatives like myself, as an attack on the movement and not just traditional political violence.”

“Turning Point wasn’t a violent organization,” Graham added. “It wasn’t Antifa, it wasn’t the KKK. If you really want to honor Charlie’s legacy, get involved. Do what he did. Organize, debate, let’s win in 2026, that’s the best way to do this.”

TPUSA reportedly received 18,000 requests for new chapters since Kirk’s widow, Erika, addressed supporters on Friday, two days after her late husband’s assassination. The conservative organization had just over 10,000 chapters before.

“I hear in your voice what you are saying,” Welker replied. “Are you worried there could be retaliation?”

“Yeah, you always worry … Somebody very close to you gets killed for thinking like you. Charlie was a symbol of MAGA to so many young people who felt disenfranchised. He said things that people don’t like. I understand that. But the answer is not to kill him.”

TPUSA chapters in high schools and colleges have faced violence and threats of violence in the past. The Dartmouth College chapter of the conservative student group attempted to host journalist Andy Ngo and a former member of Antifa, Gabriel Nadales, to discuss the left-wing group at a January 2022 event before the Ivy League school converted it to a virtual event due to security concerns about an in-person event.

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