America is facing a crisis of humanity. Political disagreement has morphed into a justification for violence. Even worse, the brutal murder of a 31-year-old husband and father of two young children is being celebrated by extremists on the far left. It is sickening.
The violent shooting death of Illinois-born Charlie Kirk exposed a darkness that must be addressed. Charlie was not assassinated because he was hateful or disrespectful. He was not silencing others or spewing venom. He was killed because he was winning the great political argument in the very places where liberal indoctrination thrives—on college campuses.
Charlie Kirk went directly into the lion’s den. He invited honest and free debate. He listened carefully, responded thoughtfully, and rooted his arguments in fact, love of country, and conservative values. He did not shout down opponents or belittle them. He offered them a platform. He modeled how to argue firmly while still treating others with respect.
Now compare that to Governor Pritzker. Just one month into President Donald Trump’s current term, during his State of the State Address, Governor Pritzker likened Republicans to Nazis and suggested Republicans were operating with a goal of dismantling our constitutional republic. “I do not invoke the specter of Nazis lightly,” he said, leaving no doubt about the parallels he intended to draw.
Then, in April, Pritzker declared, “These Republicans cannot know a moment of peace.” Just weeks later, at a New England press conference, he warned of a so-called “fascist takeover plan” by President Trump.
Time and again, Pritzker has employed Nazi, fascist, and authoritarian imagery to paint Republicans as existential threats. These comments were carefully crafted to incite anger, widen the political divide, and advance Pritzker’s political agenda.
Now, in the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, Pritzker has joined the calls for civility. However, his calls to tone down the rhetoric ring hollow when they come without any apology, recognition, or ownership of the role he himself has played in widening the political divide and encouraging hate, not just in Illinois, but across the country.
His rhetoric cannot be brushed aside as harmless political theater. Words matter. They can inform, inspire, and unite. But they can also inflame, indoctrinate, and divide. When leaders casually compare their political opponents to Nazis or fascists, they are purposely using inflamed rhetoric to scare people. And it is that very brand of toxic rhetoric that incites politically-motivated violence.
The truth is that our political opponents are not enemies on a battlefield. They are our neighbors, coworkers, and fellow citizens. We can and should argue passionately about the future of our communities. As the Senate’s most conservative member, that is something I do every day. But democracy depends on free and open debate, not intimidation or fear.
Governor Pritzker cannot credibly call for civility while continuing to brand his political opponents as Nazis or fascists. If he genuinely believes rhetoric must be toned down, he should start by acknowledging his own role in fueling the very divisions he now condemns.
As Americans, we must reject hate and recommit to honest debate. We must demonstrate that democracy remains strong enough to handle disagreement without descending into violence. That is the legacy Charlie Kirk sought to uphold, and it is the standard we must demand of our leaders.
