OPINION
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez sparked outrage this week when she voted against a House resolution meant to honor the life of Charlie Kirk. Instead of showing restraint, she used her floor speech to launch a scathing tirade against a man who is no longer alive to defend himself. Her remarks went far beyond disagreement, attacking Kirk’s beliefs and public statements in a way that ignited debate over whether lawmakers should tarnish the memory of the deceased to score political points.
BREAKING: AOC just took to the House floor to defend her No vote on the Resolution honoring the life of Charlie Kirk.
This is going to make your blood boil.
AOC: “We should be clear about who Charlie Kirk was… His rhetoric and beliefs were ignorant, uneducated, and sought to… pic.twitter.com/MMjecCmyk5
— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) September 19, 2025
What the Resolution Said and the Vote Breakdown
The resolution proposed by House Republicans aimed to honor Kirk as a husband, father, Christian, and founder of Turning Point USA. It also condemned political violence in all forms and expressed condolences to his family after his assassination. Supporters of the measure argued that it was a chance for Congress to come together, set aside partisanship, and send a clear message that violence against public figures has no place in America. (RELATED NEWS: Charlie Kirk: A Patriot Remembered, A Legacy Unbroken)
A similar resolution was passed after the death of Minnesota State House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman. That measure condemned political violence and won unanimous support in both the House and Senate. Every single Republican in Congress voted for it.
But when it came to honoring Charlie Kirk, 96 Democrats in the House either voted against the resolution or chose to vote “present.” The Senate was unanimous.
Republicans have once again shown themselves to be the party willing to compromise. On issues like this, they do the right thing instead of letting partisan grudges stand in the way of basic decency.
AOC’s Criticism of Kirk
Instead of supporting the measure, AOC spoke forcefully against it. She labeled Kirk’s rhetoric as “ignorant” and “uneducated,” spreading falsehoods and taking his words out of context to paint him in the worst possible light. She cited past remarks—misrepresenting his stance on the Civil Rights Act, affirmative action, and minority groups—as proof of her claims. Ocasio-Cortez even pointed to his reaction after the Paul Pelosi attack, twisting his comments to suggest he minimized political violence.
In her speech, AOC argued that passing a resolution in Kirk’s honor would normalize what she framed as harmful rhetoric and send the wrong message to targeted communities. For her, honoring Kirk meant overlooking her interpretation of his so-called divisive beliefs, even though her accusations rested on distortions.
The Executive Producer of the Charlie Kirk Show, Andrew Kolvet was on Laura Ingraham to talk about AOC’s disgraceful words:
AOC can say what she wants—Americans will respond.@AndrewKolvet: “Her words were disgraceful. Congress couldn’t even unite to condemn the assassination of Charlie Kirk, an American hero. That’s shameful.” pic.twitter.com/mhDqg6gWGt
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) September 19, 2025
And as if the speech wasn’t bad enough, she later sent out a fundraising email, doubling down on her rhetoric. She raised money from the death of Charlie Kirk. This should tell you all you need to know.
AOC just sent an email attacking Charlie Kirk, calling his views “ignorant” and claiming they “sought to disenfranchise millions.”
This comes right after she voted no on a resolution honoring his legacy and calling it a “great pain” to Americans.
Her moral low knows no limits. pic.twitter.com/BRx7tgpNm0
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) September 19, 2025
The Final Word
Beyond this single vote, the real question is how we choose to honor human life. Charlie Kirk was more than his politics—he was a husband, a father, a friend, and a man who inspired millions. His death was not just a political moment; it was a tragedy that should remind us of the value of every life. At a time like this, partisanship should fade into the background.
Sadly, the negative rhetoric that fills the public square played a role in his death. When leaders and commentators treat their opponents as enemies rather than fellow Americans, they stoke anger and division that can spill into violence. This isn’t the moment for score-settling or harsh tirades against someone who can no longer speak for himself. It’s a time to turn down the temperature, to step back from the toxic cycle, and to recognize the human cost of hateful words.
Honoring Charlie’s life does not mean ignoring disagreements. It means showing basic decency, setting aside the harsh labels, and remembering the person beyond the politics. Every resolution, every tribute, should start with the truth that life is sacred. If we cannot unite on that, then we have lost something far greater than a vote in Congress—we have lost our sense of humanity.
I’ll leave you with this. Earlier this year, Charlie shared the words of Senator John Kennedy. Wise man. “Let her speak.”
Senator John Kennedy on AOC is pure gold:
“I consider AOC to be the leader of the Democratic Party.”
“I think she’s the reason there are directions on a shampoo bottle.”
“Our plan for dealing with her is Operation Let Her Speak.”
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) April 9, 2025
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