MSNBC Guest Admits She Scoffed at Young Men Feeling ‘Marginalized’ Before Charlie Kirk Death

Crooked Media VP of Politics Shaniqua McClendon revealed the killing of Charlie Kirk reminded her of a key moment in the 2024 election where she realized it was not okay to “blanketly” judge entire groups of people, like young men who support President Donald Trump.

McClendon, during an appearance on MSNBC, added that moment has “stuck” with her, and the slaying of the conservative star last week reinforced that we all have to “try to do better” to improve society.

She shared that story during her final comments on Alex Witt Reports on Sunday afternoon. Here is her full comment:

Something that’s just come to me throughout all of this is, we all contribute to the society we live in. You know, I’ve seen a lot of people pointing out Charlie Kirk’s views on gun ownership. This is not the same, but it made me think about an email I got after appearing on your show once. Before the election, I made a comment that I’d much rather be Kamala Harris, because women were supporting her, instead of being Donald Trump, because he had a bunch of young men supporting him. And I got a note that just pretty much asked me why I thought it was okay to cast young men blanketly as a group that a candidate wouldn’t want support from. And that’s something that stuck with me, because in a world where I’m saying things like that is also a world where young men might feel marginalized and go into these online spaces where he’s radicalized and find access to a gun. So I just want all of us to take this moment to think about the way we contribute to the society we live in, and all try to do better.

McClendon, a moment earlier, added she was “happy” Kirk’s family and friends get to celebrate his life as they see fit.

Her comments come amid a contentious debate over how to remember Kirk’s life, with some progressives arguing against the outpouring of support for the conservative activist. The Nation, for example, said Kirk’s legacy “deserved no mourning,” and Howard Kurtz, on his final episode of hosting MediaBuzz on Fox News, said Kirk was “not a saint” — a comment his Fox News colleague Greg Gutfeld mocked soon after.

Kirk was shot and killed at an event at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10. President Trump has said he will attend Kirk’s funeral this week, telling reporters he has an “obligation” to be there.

You can watch McClendon’s full comment above, via MSNBC.