Fox News' Hypocrisy On Brian Kilmeade's Violent Rhetoric Is Underscored By Unjustified Retaliation Against Trump Critics

Marc H. Morial 
President and CEO
National Urban League

“This is not a simple slip of the tongue. This remark promotes violence against some of the most vulnerable members of our society—people experiencing homelessness and serious mental illness. It dehumanizes them, reduces their lives to disposable inconveniences, and implicitly endorses state-sanctioned violence.” – Change.org petition demanding termination of Fox News host Brian Kilmeade

A late-night talk show host on ABC suggested the Trump administration is exploiting the murder of right-wing provocateur Charlie Kirk to score political points. Under pressure from the Trump administration, the network immediately pulled his show off the air.

A political analyst on MSNBC reacting to news of shots fired pointed out that Kirk’s own incendiary rhetoric contributed to a violent political climate.  The news had not yet broken that Kirk was killed or even hit. The network fired him before the end of the day.

A Washington Post columnist posted on social media that the “absolution for white men who espouse hatred and violence” is “part of what keeps America violent.” The Post called her comments “gross misconduct” that endangered “the physical safety of colleagues” and fired her.

But the Fox News host who called for the execution of mentally ill homeless people still has his job.  Brian Kilmeade has faced no repercussions. The network has not uttered a word to denounce his comments.

Days after Kilmeade suggested “involuntary lethal injection or something, just kill ‘em,” 13 homeless people were wounded in two separate mass shootings in Minneapolis.

With its silence, Fox not only sanctions the substance of Kilmeade's abhorrent statement, but embraces a double standard that glorifies the most extreme incitement to violence from the right while suppressing valid criticism of the right.

It's not even a question of whether we want to live under that standard, but whether we can.

While it’s hard to believe Kilmeade still has a job after his blatant endorsement of unjustified violence, it’s even harder to believe considering his long history of inflammatory comments.  He criticized Americans for inter-cultural marriage while praising the “pure genes” of Sweden. He falsely claimed, “all terrorists are Muslim.” He dismissed the mistreatment of immigrant families, saying  “These aren’t our kids … it’s not like [Trump] is doing this to the people of Idaho or Texas.” He attacked the judge who approved a search warrant against Trump, displaying a photoshopped image of Ghislaine Maxwell giving the judge a foot massage.

Unlike the comments that got Jimmy Kimmel, Matthew Dowd, and Karen Attiah fired, Kilmeade’s statements are both hateful and misleading.  His call to execute the homeless was so shocking, in fact, that some right-leaning social media users refused to believe he even said it.

In the days after Kilmeade’s statement, at least 14 petitions calling for his dismissal sprung up on Change.org, garnering more than 19,000 signatures. Some of the petitioners cite their own experience with homelessness, or the experience of a friend or relative.

“I know the struggles of living without a home, the fear, the uncertainty, and the continuous fight for dignity. Working with the homeless, I witness their resilience, their hopes, and their dreams. Kilmeade's statement is not just reckless; it is a direct attack on human rights and dignity. Such views have no place in our society, especially from a public figure with significant media influence,” Rio Phillips wrote.

All of the petitions mention the duty of Fox News to demonstrate its commitment to journalistic standards and basic human decency.

“Taking strong action against such conduct is not just a matter of corporate responsibility but a social imperative,” petitioner John Davis wrote. “By terminating Brian Kilmeade's contract, Fox News can affirm its commitment to journalistic integrity and the wellbeing of all individuals, regardless of their socio-economic status or health conditions.”

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