WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the Trump administration is actively pursuing the deportation and visa revocation of foreigners who have publicly celebrated the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The move follows widespread outrage among supporters of the MAGA movement, who have characterized Kirk’s death as a politically motivated act.

Kirk, a highly influential figure among young conservatives and a staunch ally of President Donald Trump, died on October 10. His death has been portrayed by key figures in the Trump administration as a tragic outcome of "left-wing extremist forces," sparking a fierce backlash against anyone expressing satisfaction over the event.

In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), Secretary Rubio delivered a stern warning, stating, "The United States will not welcome foreigners who celebrate the death of our fellow citizens." He emphasized that "visa cancellations are in progress" and warned that those who entered the country on a visa and "cheered a political figure's public assassination" should be prepared for deportation, as "you are not welcome in this country."

Speaking on Fox News, Rubio reiterated the administration's stance, asserting that visas should not be issued to individuals who engage in such "negative and destructive behavior." He added, "We should not give visas to people who come to the U.S. and do things like celebrating the murder, execution, and assassination of a political figure," and stressed that those already in the country should have their visas canceled.

The administration’s hardline approach comes amidst a deeply polarized reaction to Kirk's death. While many within the conservative and MAGA camps mourn his passing and condemn those who celebrate it, some within the progressive community have highlighted Kirk's past rhetoric, including allegations of promoting white supremacist views and inciting hatred. This criticism, while not condoning political violence, has been used to contextualize the strong reactions from Kirk's opponents. The ongoing actions by the State Department are seen as a direct response to this backlash, signaling the administration's firm stance against what it views as unpatriotic sentiment from foreign nationals.

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]