CNN refers to slogans on Charlie Kirk killer's gun as 'cultural issues'

CNN has come under fire for describing radical slogans found on the weapon used in Charlie Kirk’s assassination as “phrases related to cultural issues." During its on-air coverage, CNN ran a chyron stating: “Sources: phrases related to cultural issues were scrawled on rifle and ammo found near Charlie Kirk shooting.”

The network repeated the wording in an online report by Evan Perez and Scott Glover, citing sources who said investigators had recovered a rifle and ammunition marked with unspecified cultural references.

Other, more honest reporting indicates the inscriptions were far more radical. According to documents published by Steven Crowder and attributed to an ATF source, the recovered Mauser .30-06 bolt-action rifle and cartridges bore writings supporting transgender and Antifa ideology. The report stated: “All cartridges have engraved wording on them, expressing transgender and anti-fascist ideology.” Crowder’s claims were later backed up by reporting in the Wall Street Journal.

Federal authorities confirmed Thursday that the weapon was located in a wooded area near Utah Valley University, where Kirk was shot on September 10 during his American Comeback Tour. FBI Special Agent Robert Bohls described it as “a high-powered bolt action rifle” and said the FBI lab is conducting a full forensic analysis.

Officials also revealed they have images of the suspect but are withholding them for now. The shooter, believed to be college-aged, reportedly blended in with the campus crowd before fleeing the scene.

President Donald Trump, who announced Kirk’s death on Wednesday, said Kirk will be posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

In a statement, CNN said: “CNN’s reporting reflected the information we had at the time. As we are able to confirm additional details, we will update our reporting accordingly.”