Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau has warned that foreigners in the United States could lose their visas if they are found glorifying or joking about the assassination of conservative figure Charlie Kirk online.
“In light of yesterday’s horrific assassination of a leading political figure, I want to underscore that foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country,” Landau wrote on X, condemning what he described as “disgusting” posts that praised or mocked the killing.
Kirk, a 31-year-old ally of President Donald Trump and a prominent voice for young conservatives, was gunned down on Wednesday, September 10, during a university speaking engagement in Utah. His death has sparked intense political reaction nationwide.
Landau urged social media users to flag posts from foreigners celebrating the attack, even responding directly to replies that shared specific examples. He promised that the State Department would review the cases and take action where warranted.
The move comes amid a broader immigration crackdown by the Trump administration. As of August, the State Department confirmed that more than 6,000 student visas had been revoked, many tied to overstays or criminal violations. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also pushed to strip visas from foreign nationals he labeled as “lunatics” involved in campus protests against Israel’s war in Gaza, citing a law that permits removal on foreign policy grounds.
Visa applicants are now required to keep their social media profiles open for scrutiny — a policy introduced under Rubio.
The aggressive stance, however, has drawn criticism, with opponents pointing out the contradiction between Washington’s moves to police online expression at home while denouncing restrictions on speech in Europe targeting far-right groups.
