JB Pritzker condemns political violence after Charlie Kirk's death, says Trump's rhetoric 'often foments it'

Illinois Gov JB Pritzker a Democrat on Wednesday condemned political acts of violence in the wake of the shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk although the governor argued that President Donald Trump often ignites political violence Kirk the -year-old co-founder of Turning Point USA was shot and killed during an event on the campus of Utah Valley University on Wednesday afternoon He was transported to a hospital in critical condition before he was later pronounced dead I want to express my sympathy to Charlie Kirk's family and to Charlie Kirk Pritsker informed reporters I don't know whether it's political violence because I don't know who did it But I will say that political violence unfortunately has been ratcheting up in this country and we saw the shootings the killings in Minnesota we've seen other political violence occur in other states VIGILS HELD ACROSS US AFTER ASSASSINATION OF CHARLIE KIRK 'WE MUST HEAL' And I would just say it's got to stop and I think there are people who are fomenting it in this country he continued I think the president's rhetoric often foments it We've seen the January th rioters who clearly have tripped a new era of political violence and the president what did he do He pardoned them I mean what kind of signal does that send to people who want to perpetrate political violence Not a good one The governor referenced an circumstance in June in which Vance Boelter was charged with murdering former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman a Democrat her husband Mark and their dog at their home in Minneapolis Boelter was also charged with shooting Minnesota state Sen John Hoffman also a Democrat and his wife Yvette and for attempting to shoot their daughter Hope The incidents cited by Pritzker are just specific of several acts of political violence in current years as Trump experienced two assassination attempts last year and Paul Pelosi the husband of Rep Nancy Pelosi D-Calif was attacked with a hammer in No one in this country should have to fear gun violence whether they're in class in high school or attending an event on a college campus Pritzker later wrote on X I strongly condemn the shooting that killed Charlie Kirk in the present day at Utah Valley University May his memory be a blessing CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSINATION SPARKS BIPARTISAN UPROAR OVER POLITICAL VIOLENCE AS UTAH MANHUNT UNDERWAYResponding to the governor's comments to reporters former Republican Illinois state Sen Darren Bailey who is also reportedly running for governor against Pritzker in explained the Democrat pointed fingers at Trump and the Jan rioters rather than only condemning the violence against Kirk JB Pritzker is the spoiled billionaire who s consistently had everything handed to him When Illinois needed leadership in current times after the violent attack on Charlie Kirk what did JB do Instead of condemning the violence he pointed fingers at Donald Trump and January Bailey who lost to Pritzker in the governor's race revealed on X CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP That s not leadership it s cowardice Illinois deserves leaders who take responsibility who defend free speech and who stand up for what s right Unfortunately JB Pritzker has shown time and time again that he s not up to the task Bailey added