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Matthew Dowd later said MSNBC agreed his comments about Charlie Kirk had been misconstrued, but told him the decision to end their association had already been made. That is Dowd’s account of a conversation after his dismissal; The Guardian reported that MSNBC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
What Matthew Dowd said during the coverage
On September 10, 2025, Dowd appeared on MSNBC during breaking coverage of the shooting of Charlie Kirk at an event at Utah Valley University. Details were still unclear. TIME reported that Dowd first noted the uncertainty, then described Kirk as divisive and said, “hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions.”
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The remarks drew criticism because they came while news of the shooting was unfolding, before the circumstances were established. Dowd later said he had not intended to blame Kirk for the attack.
How Dowd and MSNBC responded
Dowd’s apology
Dowd apologized on Bluesky. As quoted by TIME’s September 11 report, he wrote: “Let me be clear, I in no way intended for my comments to blame Kirk for this horrendous attack.” He also apologized for his tone and words.
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MSNBC’s statement
MSNBC president Rebecca Kutler called the remarks “inappropriate, insensitive, and unacceptable.” She apologized to viewers and said there is no place for violence in America, political or otherwise. The network’s condemnation was separate from Dowd’s apology: it addressed the on-air comments, while Dowd said he had not meant to assign blame.
What is known about the firing—and what is disputed
MSNBC ended its association with Dowd. In an Associated Press report published September 12, Dowd alleged that a “right wing media mob” pressured the network and said his comments were being misconstrued. AP also reported a response from an unnamed MSNBC executive, who said the network recognized immediately that the comments were inappropriate and that outside pressure did not cause the firing. These are conflicting attributed accounts, not an independently established explanation of the network’s decision.
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Dowd’s allegation and the executive’s response are reported in the Associated Press account. The executive was not named, so the denial should be understood as AP’s account of an unnamed network source.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What Dowd clarified in his later interview
In an interview with Katie Couric, reported by The Guardian on September 20, Dowd said he had told MSNBC his comments had been misconstrued and that the network agreed. He said he was then told: “They agreed it had been misconstrued. But they said it didn’t matter. The decision’s been made.”
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This is Dowd’s description of a private conversation, not a confirmed admission by MSNBC. The Guardian said the network did not immediately respond to its request for comment. Its report was modified September 22.
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