Lawmakers erupt in anger over Kirk shooting: ‘Silent prayers get silent results’

Lawmakers responded to the news of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk’s killing with dismay — but were quick to turn on one another over the heated rhetoric that both parties have agreed has gotten out of hand.

Rather than just joining together to denounce Kirk’s killing, some lawmakers publicly castigated one another.

“Silent prayers get silent results,” yelled Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) amid a moment of silence for Kirk on the House floor. In response, Democrats shouted about a school shooting in Boebert’s own state that also occurred on Wednesday.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) hurled expletives at Democrats in the chamber. Speaker Mike Johnson, who just moments before had condemned Kirk’s shooting, banged his gavel amid the chaos on the floor to bring order to the disruptions.

The heated reactions, which came as people across the nation were still absorbing the stunning act of apparent political violence on a college campus in Utah, illustrated the deep polarization in Washington — even among lawmakers who share a sense of vulnerability. Johnson has been warning in recent weeks about an uptick in threats against lawmakers, and members have been working on boosting their personal security.

Kirk’s killing recalled not-so distant memories of assassination attempts against President Donald Trump and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, as well as the recent killing of the Minnesota state lawmaker Melissa Hortman and even Brian Thompson, the health care executive who was gunned down in midtown Manhattan.

Some members were reluctant to go as far as Luna. Rep. Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.) said “point[ing] fingers based on ideology when a tragedy like this happens” was evidence that America had lost its way. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) rebuked Kirk’s killing but argued it was further evidence of the need for gun control legislation.

“In any gun death, Congress bears a responsibility for failing to pass measures that might have prevented it,” he said.

Asked what Congress should do about the rise in politically-motivated attacks, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi responded, “You should talk to Republicans about that. I can't go into it now. It's a longer story.” Pelosi’s elderly husband Paul was struck in the head with a hammer by a conspiracy-obsessed man who broke into their San Francisco home.

Kirk, an outspoken ally of the president who traveled to campuses across the country promoting conservative policies, was shot Wednesday at an event in Orem, Utah. The 31-year-old was speaking at Utah Valley University for Turning Point USA, the organization he founded to mobilize young conservatives.

Several House Republicans and Democrats learned about the shooting on the House floor, as they debated the annual defense appropriations bill. Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas.) pointed out the irony “that a guy that tried to set up civil discourse on college campuses is attacked like that.”

For some members of Congress, news of Kirk’s passing was deeply personal. Johnson said he was a friend and Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) called him the “nicest person I knew.”

Kirk’s killing comes less than 14 months after a 20-year-old shot Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania., grazing his ear and killing an audience member. And in the aftermath of the election, threats against members of Congress have continued to rise, Johnson said earlier this month, adding that Capitol Police had tracked close to 14,000 assessments of threatening and concerning behavior. The number was up from 9,000 in 2024.

On Wednesday, Johnson urged his colleagues and anyone with a platform to tell their followers to exercise civility. Amid rising threats, House GOP leadership recently announced an increase in funding for members’ residential security.

“We need every political figure, we need everyone who has a platform to say this loudly and clearly: We can settle disagreements and disputes in a civil manner,” Johnson told reporters.

In June 2017, Scalise, now the No. 2 House Republican, was shot at a practice for the annual Congressional softball game, nearly killing the Congressional leader. Walking onto the House floor amid news of the shooting, the Louisiana Republican was visibly emotional.

“There’s no need, there’s no excuse for political violence in our country,” Scalise told reporters. “It’s gotta end.”

Nicholas Wu and Mia McCarthy contributed to this report.