Fox News Host Howard Kurtz Calls Out Charlie Kirk’s Rhetoric: He ‘Was Not a Saint’

Fox News’ Howard Kurtz signed off after 12 years hosting MediaBuzz — closing out the show by lauding the network for giving him “extraordinary independence.” Earlier in the show, he demonstrated that independence with something Fox News viewers haven’t heard much of since Charlie Kirk was shot and killed on Wednesday — criticism of the late conservative activist.

Kurtz, during his opening segment Sunday, was holding a panel discussion about Kirk with Fox Business correspondent Charlie Gasparino and the Washington Examiner’s Sarah Bedford — the latter of whom argued that violent extremism is “not proportionate” between the far-right and the far-left.

“The left does have a radicalization problem that has not been spoken about proportionally in the media as the extremism on the right,” Bedford said. “And it does exist. There is violent extremism on both sides. It is not proportionate. And in order to have an honest conversation about what led to this moment, that has to focus in part on the left.”

But the Fox News host seized on that point to criticize Kirk and bring up an old comment of his which a the subject of controversy.

“I’m glad you mentioned that it’s not unique to one side or one party,” Kurtz told Bedford. “Charlie Kirk was not a saint. He said two years ago, it’s worth it to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so we can have the Second Amendment.”

Kurtz went on to add that he wasn’t trying to say that Kirk, or anyone else “has a perfect record.” He also blasted “sickos” reveling in Kirk’s death.

“There are sickos online right now who are celebrating the fact that he was killed,” Kurtz said. “I find that infuriating, I find it just inhumane.”

Watch above, via Fox News.