In a time when political assassinations are met with cheers by some, the question of who should be allowed to don a military uniform has become a contentious issue.
This is the reality of 2025, where the left is expressing outrage over Secretary of War Pete Hegseth's decision to monitor service members who posted celebratory messages following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
The tragic demise of Kirk during an event at Utah Valley University was met with a disturbing amount of jubilation from the left, leading to several individuals in sensitive positions being dismissed due to their inappropriate comments about his murder. Hegseth, in a stern response on Friday, stated that any military personnel endorsing homicide would face punitive measures.
Echoing Pentagon Chief Spokesman Sean Parnell's statement that it was "unacceptable for military personnel and Department of War civilians to celebrate or mock the assassination of a fellow American," Hegseth confirmed that his team was closely monitoring these individuals. "We are tracking all these very closely and will address, immediately," Hegseth declared, adding that such behavior was "completely unacceptable."
As reported by NBC News, Pentagon leaders revealed that several individuals had been dismissed from their posts due to their public comments, although the exact number of service members involved and the nature of their punishment remained undisclosed. The report also noted that numerous social media users had aided Hegseth and the Pentagon in identifying and flagging posts, with many posts from service members and civilian Pentagon employees being collected under the hashtag #RevolutionariesintheRanks.
Predictably, some leftists have framed this as a free speech issue, a right they seemed less enthusiastic about when Charlie Kirk exercised it. Now, however, they've rediscovered their passion for free speech as some of their allies celebrate Kirk's death.
While it's legally non-actionable for these individuals to express such views if they're not in military uniform, they are not immune from the consequences of their speech. Numerous individuals have already faced dismissal for their distasteful comments about Kirk following his shooting. The same principle applies here, especially as these individuals are employed by the government.
This situation is further exacerbated when government employees, such as a Federal Emergency Management Agency worker, use the aftermath of the shooting to label Kirk a "racist homophobe misogynist" online. This individual has since been placed on leave, with a spokesperson stating, "Celebrating the death of a fellow American is appalling, unacceptable and sickening. Such behavior does not reflect the values of public service, and it will not be tolerated among individuals entrusted to work at FEMA."
The spokesperson added that the "employees words are revolting and unconscionable" and that he "was immediately placed on administrative leave."
It should be universally accepted that this is an appropriate response, particularly for those entrusted with the defense of our nation. Hegseth's leadership at the Pentagon is a much-needed change, demonstrating that freedom of speech does not equate to freedom from consequences.
The era of woke culture endorsing such repugnant behavior without repercussions is over. Many on the left are learning this lesson the hard way, and if they believed this was the opportune moment to air their grievances, they are sorely mistaken.
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