How Russia, China, and Iran Are Exploiting the Assassination of Charlie Kirk

Reports from multiple intelligence and media analyses confirm that Russia, China, and Iran are actively exploiting
the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk—fatally shot on September 10, 2025, during
a speaking event at Utah Valley University—to spread disinformation, conspiracy theories, and narratives aimed at
deepening political divisions in the United States.

This follows a well-established pattern of adversarial information operations, where hostile nations seize on moments
of domestic turmoil to undermine American institutions, erode trust in democracy, and portray the U.S. as unstable or
on the brink of civil war. Prosecutors say the killing was carried out by 22-year-old Tyler Robinson,
a U.S. citizen motivated by anti-conservative ideology, but that hasn’t stopped foreign powers from weaponizing the
tragedy.

How They’re Exploiting It

Each country tailors its propaganda to specific geopolitical goals, but the ultimate aim is the same:
sow chaos and amplify polarization inside the U.S. Here’s a breakdown based on monitoring from
NewsGuard and the Center for Internet Security:

Russia

Russian state media and Kremlin-linked bot networks (notably Storm-1679) have flooded platforms like X with
more than 2,000 posts. Narratives falsely tie the assassination to U.S. support for Ukraine, suggesting Ukrainian
intelligence staged it in retaliation for Kirk’s criticism of aid to Kyiv. Others claim it was a “false flag” by the
so-called Biden-era “deep state.” High-profile figures, including Dmitry Medvedev, have echoed these messages, warning
of looming “civil war” in America. These posts have accumulated millions of views, encouraging distrust in elections
and fueling calls for violence.

China

Pro-CCP accounts and outlets like Global Times have mentioned Kirk’s death over 1,500 times in just the first
week, portraying the U.S. as a “violent, divided mess” on the verge of collapse. Disinformation spread includes false
claims that the suspect was a Trump donor or that the killing was an internal MAGA purge. Beijing-linked bots push
this as evidence of American hypocrisy on democracy, contrasting it with China’s “stability.” Utah Gov. Spencer Cox
even warned publicly that “bots from China” were spreading disinformation to stir unrest.

Iran

Tehran-aligned media, including outlets tied to the IRGC such as Mashregh News, have promoted antisemitic
conspiracies suggesting Israel’s Mossad orchestrated the attack to silence Kirk or frame Muslims. These posts,
viewed over 500,000 times, accuse the U.S. of covering up a broader “Zionist plot.” The narratives exploit ongoing
debates about antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment, furthering Tehran’s regional propaganda objectives.

Broader Context and Impact

The foreign campaigns are amplifying thousands of posts across both state-controlled and social platforms, with
tens of millions of views. While most of the toxic discourse originates domestically—from far-right “deep state”
claims to far-left celebrations—foreign actors are magnifying it. In fact, posts advocating violence in the wake of
Kirk’s assassination have been viewed more than 43 million times on X alone.

Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA and a prominent ally of Donald Trump, was a key figure in mobilizing young
conservatives. His death has triggered vigils, threats against educators, and escalating partisan blame. Prosecutors
pursuing the death penalty for Robinson cite texts showing his hostility toward Kirk’s views.

The assassination has also become fodder for U.S. conspiracy circles. Alex Jones speculated on foreign involvement
by Israel, Ukraine, and China, while figures like Candace Owens and Tucker Carlson have leaned into “deep state”
theories that overlap with adversarial messaging from abroad.

This phenomenon is not new—Russia, China, and Iran have previously exploited events like the January 6 Capitol riot,
major hurricanes, and election controversies. But Kirk’s killing is uniquely effective fuel for disinformation,
amplifying fears of escalating political violence and deepening mistrust across society.

The outcome aligns with their objectives: a fractured national conversation, weakened trust in democratic
institutions, and heightened risk of retaliation-driven unrest in the U.S.