The New York Yankees are facing a social media firestorm following a moment of silence for Charlie Kirk before Wednesday night’s game against the Detroit Tigers. Kirk, the polarizing conservative activist and Turning Point USA founder, was fatally shot yesterday at Utah Valley University in what authorities are calling a political assassination.
The shooting occurred during an outdoor event that was being attended by about 3,000 people as part of Kirk’s “The American Comeback” college tour.
Kirk, 31, built a national following by traveling to college campuses to debate liberal students after founding Turning Point USA at age 18. The staunch President Donald Trump ally leaves behind a wife and two young children.
Mixed Reactions Follow Yankees’ Charlie Kirk Tribute
“Before tonight’s game we held a moment of silence in memoriam of Charlie Kirk,” the Yankees posted on X. “Kirk founded the youth activist group ‘Turning Point USA’ and had become a fixture on college campuses. Charlie Kirk, a husband and father of two children, was 31 years old.”
The tribute immediately drew sharp condemnation from fans due to Kirk’s controversial history of rhetoric targeting LGBT, Black and Muslim communities.
thank God I'm a Mets fan. Absolutely embarrassing
— KP (@Kpop_Prince_) September 10, 2025
Y'all can't be serious. What happened to him today, while tragic for our country, doesn't deserve this memoriam.
— Brendan (@Brendan_1999_) September 10, 2025
Y’all are trash for doing that. pic.twitter.com/EUbLTK93PI
— 𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚔 (@arikbeyhive) September 11, 2025
Boooo 🍅
— Melissa’s World 🌎 (@meliss_anne2) September 10, 2025
Wow way to not keep politics out of sports
— Sycamore’s Source (@sycamoressource) September 10, 2025
Honoring a white nationalist. Reverse wokeism is a joke.
— BadHabit (@BadHabit1084) September 11, 2025
However, the Yankees also received praise from supporters who appreciated the gesture.
Tip of the cap to the @Yankees ❤️🇺🇸
— KPH3802 (@kph3802) September 11, 2025
Big move. 😢👍🏻
— Mark_Ta_on (@_Maha07_) September 11, 2025
🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
— roseanne 🥀 (@HoodieFrazier) September 10, 2025
Thank you @Yankees
— Albert Latham (@albert1776) September 10, 2025
Thank you!
— Nanner (@Nanner5828) September 11, 2025
I am a red sox fan and I can appreciate the yankees today
— AMC 4 ALL (@amc4everyone) September 11, 2025
🙏🙏🙏
Some things are bigger than baseball. Even as a Met fan, I greatly appreciate this. Beautiful gesture.
— Keith Appell (@KeithAppell) September 11, 2025
Authorities continue searching for Kirk’s killer. Trump announced he will posthumously award Kirk the presidential medal of freedom.
Trump is scheduled to appear at Yankee Stadium Thursday night to honor 9/11 heroes and victims on the 24th anniversary of the terror attacks.
