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A senior official at the University of Pennsylvania is facing significant backlash for his reposts and a personal post on X, following the tragic assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. The post in question came from Professor Michael E. Mann, who is also the director of the Center for Science, Sustainability & the Media.
In a now-deleted post, Mann remarked, “The white on white violence has gotten out of hand.” This statement has generated considerable outrage among conservative commentators and politicians.
He later retweeted various posts targeting Kirk. One notable retweet came from Max Granger, who mocked a New York Times column by Ezra Klein, that read, “Ezra Klein: I had my differences with the head of Trump’s Hitler Youth, but we both wanted the same thing: to make America great again.” Such remarks have raised concerns regarding Mann’s comments.
Mann called another Klein article on Kirk, titled “Charlie Kirk Was Practicing Politics the Right Way,” an act of whitewashing Kirk’s legacy. He criticized Utah Governor Spencer Cox by stating that Cox only expressed thoughts and prayers during a press conference—involving a link to Everytown, a gun control advocacy group, about legislation previously signed by Cox.
This incident has ignited responses from various conservative voices, including Sen. Dave McCormick, a Republican from Pennsylvania, who stated, “This is despicable behavior. This dangerous rhetoric cannot and will not be tolerated. I will unequivocally condemn this behavior and demand that UPenn take immediate and decisive action.”
Furthermore, Will Hild, executive director of Consumers’ Research, expressed strong disapproval of Mann’s posts, asserting, “When people in positions of power, like Mann, continually demonize their political opponents by calling them ‘Nazis’ and ‘threats to democracy,’ they cannot act shocked when individuals act on this inflammatory rhetoric. This is wholly unacceptable, University of Pennsylvania. Fire him.”
In the midst of the controversy, GOP communications director Zach Parkinson also highlighted Mann’s political connections. He mentioned Mann’s past recognition from former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2024, as well as his participation in a “Humanists for Harris” event hosted by the Secular Democrats of America in October 2024.
Parkinson asserted, “Mann isn’t just another lefty Twitter troll. He is part of the Democratic establishment, frequently invited by Democrats to testify before Congress. He has been an advisor to Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign and regularly appears at political events endorsed by Democrats.”
Amidst the criticism, conservative communicator Steve Guest described Mann’s reposts as “absolutely ghoulish content.”
In an attempt to address the growing backlash, Mann issued a statement on Thursday. He clarified, “I reposted this earlier today. I was simply agreeing with the widespread criticism of Ezra Klein’s claim that Kirk was ‘practicing politics the right way.’ I do NOT approve of the inappropriate and inflammatory language used to describe Kirk, which I had overlooked. I have deleted those remarks.”
Furthermore, Mann expressed his views about the ongoing investigations surrounding Kirk’s assassination. He stated in another post, “I hope they catch him” referring to the suspect linked to the shooting. He emphasized that political violence is unacceptable, regardless of the side involved. Mann remarked, “I hope we can all agree with that.”
Kirk’s assassination has prompted a surge of tributes from across the political spectrum, expressing condolences for him and his family. However, the fallout from this tragedy has also led to heightened scrutiny of those making comments that either praise or downplay the seriousness of the event.
Fox News Digital has reached out to both the University of Pennsylvania and Mann for further comments regarding this incident. As the story develops, it raises critical discussions around political rhetoric and the responsibility of public figures to foster respectful discourse, especially in the wake of tragedies that ripple through society.
In the current climate, where political discourse often veers towards vitriol, the stakes remain high. Observers continue to examine how words can fuel reactions and how individuals in influential positions navigate the complex landscape of political communication. The response to Mann’s actions may serve as a bellwether for broader societal attitudes towards accountability in the wake of divisive events.
