CNN senior White House correspondent Kristen Holmes commented Friday on “Inside Politics” that President Donald Trump’s criticism of the radical left was “not the answer to toning it down” following the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.

Holmes addressed Trump’s remarks during the program, pointing to recent calls by Utah Governor Spencer Cox for a reduction in heated rhetoric after Kirk was killed Wednesday while speaking at Utah Valley University.

“They have consequences on both sides of the aisle. I think, look, this is all the larger conversation that you guys are just having, which is how do you tone it down? As we heard from the Utah governor,” Holmes said.

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“Donald Trump’s rhetoric this morning, talking about left radicals and that they’re a problem is not the answer to toning it down in terms of what we just heard again, from the Utah governor.”

She continued by raising questions about how political leaders and the public might respond moving forward.

“I think the question now, and I can’t answer it, is how do others try to move forward in a less explosive way? And we saw the reaction, and I don’t know that you can count the reaction from people that were close to Charlie Kirk yesterday. It was angry. The day before was sad. It turned to anger. But that is part of a grieving process. The big question is, where do we go in the weeks and months ahead? And how, and who is going to be the person who helps tone down that rhetoric?”

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Trump has publicly condemned the assassination of Kirk and announced that the 31-year-old conservative activist will be posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

He described Kirk as a close ally and said he plans to attend the funeral in Arizona.

Law enforcement officials in Utah have charged 22-year-old Tyler Robinson in connection with the shooting.

Robinson was taken into custody Thursday after a manhunt that lasted more than 30 hours.

Authorities have described the incident as a political assassination.

Utah Governor Spencer Cox said Friday that the state would continue to work with federal law enforcement to complete the investigation and provide answers to the public.

He emphasized the need for cooler heads to prevail in the wake of the shooting.

Holmes’s remarks reflect ongoing media discussions about how political rhetoric has intensified in recent years.

Analysts and commentators have debated whether language used by political leaders and public figures contributes to an environment where violence becomes more likely.

The killing of Kirk, who founded Turning Point USA in 2012 and became a prominent conservative voice, has sparked a national response from both supporters and critics.

Vigils have been held across the country, and elected officials from multiple states have issued statements on the tragedy.

Kirk’s funeral arrangements are expected to be announced in the coming days.

In the meantime, the investigation continues as authorities examine Robinson’s background, possible motives, and evidence collected at the scene of the shooting.

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