Karl Rove on Jimmy Kimmel
TL;DR
Karl Rove condemned the politicization of Jimmy Kimmel's comments regarding Charlie Kirk's murder as wrong and dangerous.
Key Points
The consultant harshly criticized the politicization of Charlie Kirk's murder by some conservatives in a September 2025 op-ed.
He explicitly stated that using Kirk's death to justify retaliation against political rivals was "wrong and dangerous."
Rove emphasized that the act was committed by one person, not an unspecified collective, using the correct pronouns for the accused.
Summary
Longtime Republican strategist Karl Rove expressed a strong, critical position regarding the fallout from Jimmy Kimmel's comments about the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, as documented in a September 2025 op-ed in The Wall Street Journal. Rove explicitly slammed what he viewed as an effort by some conservatives to use Kirk's murder to justify retaliation against political rivals, labeling this sentiment as "a disturbing and growing undercurrent in our national conversation." He directly refuted the notion that an unspecified "they" was responsible for the shooting, emphasizing that one individual was the perpetrator.
This position implies a defense of Kimmel against claims of ideological blame, as Rove clarified that the correct pronouns for the alleged murderer were "he" and "him," and that holding political opponents broadly responsible was "wrong and dangerous." The former White House advisor's statement contrasts with the narrative that had been established by some in conservative circles, including the president, who had broadly assigned ideological blame for the assassination, suggesting Rove was focusing on reasoned discourse over political score-settling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Karl Rove's known position is an indirect defense of Jimmy Kimmel against politicization, by condemning the broader trend of assigning collective responsibility for Charlie Kirk's murder, which Kimmel commented on. Rove's stance suggests Kimmel was being unfairly targeted for mocking the president's reaction rather than for the substance of his commentary itself.
The provided context does not indicate any prior or subsequent public statements by Karl Rove specifically about Jimmy Kimmel, making it difficult to characterize an evolution in his stance. His September 2025 op-ed focused on refuting the narrative of collective blame surrounding the event that led to Kimmel's suspension.
Karl Rove did not directly mention Jimmy Kimmel in the available sources, but he did criticize the collective responsibility narrative that was used against Kimmel following his monologue. Rove argued that using the murder to justify retaliation against political rivals was "wrong and dangerous," a theme relevant to Kimmel's situation.
Sources3
Karl Rove shreds conservatives for targeting rivals by saying 'they' killed Charlie Kirk: 'Wrong and dangerous' | The Independent
Kimmel’s Comments Weren’t What MAGA Critics Say They Were
Jimmy Kimmel
* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.