WSJ Blasted for Inaccurately Reporting Charlie Kirk Shooter Had ‘Transgender’ Writing on Bullets

Charlie Kirk speaks before he is shot during Turning Point’s visit to Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. (Tess Crowley/The Deseret News via AP)
The Wall Street Journal has come under fire for prematurely reporting that Charlie Kirk’s alleged murderer bullets had writings pertaining to “transgender ideology” on them.
The Journal was the first to report the information Thursday. The information was based on a preliminary report from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Moments before the Journal reported it, however, a source leaked it to conservative commentator Steven Crowder.
That information was quickly repeated by other prominent conservative figures, including Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), Donald Trump Jr., and OutKick founder Clay Travis.
Shortly after WSJ’s publication of the story, it was amended with a note from a source “urging caution” due to the fact that it was still early in the investigation.
The next day at a press conference, Utah Governor Spencer Cox announced that anti-fascist writing was found on bullet casings. References to pro-trans views, however, were nowhere to be found at the time of the presser.
Social media users were quick to attack The Wall Street Journal in light of the new information. Some even demanded a full retraction of the story.
Just before Friday’s presser, The Wall Street Journal included another note stating that the bulletin from the ATF “may not accurately reflect the messages on the ammunition.”
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