Impact of Charlie Kirk’s Assassination Reaches Ohio
The Daily Signal 9/15/2025 1:58:30 PM
 

Since the assassination of Turning Point USA’s Charlie Kirk last Wednesday, touching tributes have poured in from across the nation and the world. However, there’s also been an onslaught of those criticizing the slain political activist. Many supporters of Kirk and his cause have highlighted those who have reacted in such a disturbing way.

This includes in Ohio as well, with calls to action against Scott Kyser, a “content coordinator” for WCPO 9 in Cincinnati and the now former Fairview Park City Council president, Michael Kilbane.

Kyser’s posted to his Facebook page, “Ya hate to see it… ..,” and also “care” reacted to a reply from apparently his wife that said, “No you don’t,” along with a celebratory emoji.

A spokesperson for WCPO provided a statement for The Daily Signal when reached for comment.

“WCPO is aware of comments made by an employee on their personal social media in regard to the death of Charlie Kirk. These remarks do not represent the standards that guide our newsroom, and we are addressing the matter. We remain committed to delivering journalism rooted in accuracy, respect and public trust,” the statement read.

Kilbane’s resignation, which came on Saturday and was effective immediately,” followed the Cuyahoga GOP’s calls for action. Kilbane had posted to his Facebook account, “A lot of good people died today. Charlie Kirk wasn’t one of them.”

The City of Fairview Park Facebook page shared Kilbane’s letter to the mayor and council members. The post limited replies, though as of Monday afternoon there are 400 reactions and over 100 shares.

In his resignation letter, Kilbane said, “Due to the negative attention a comment that I made on a social media post has brought to the City, I am hereby resigning my position as City Council President, effective immediately. I am sorry to the residents, my neighbors and to my colleagues for everything you’ve had to endure as a result of my comment. I apologize profusely. I love this city, and it has been my very great honor to have been allowed to serve you all these years.”

As of Monday afternoon, the most recent post from Cuyahoga GOP over X addresses Kilbane’s resignation. The post also shares a screenshot of a headline from local news coverage.

Outlets covering Kilbane’s resignation included 19 News in Cleveland. The news site had also previously highlighted outrage from residents over his anti-Kirk remarks.

Cuyahoga GOP was not the only local group to have highlighted Kilbane’s comments. Strongsville GOP pointed out how former Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio had endorsed Kilbane. A since-deleted Facebook post from Michael Kilbane 2020 with a date of Oct. 8, 2023, has Kilbane celebrating Brown’s endorsement.

Brown was defeated last November by now Sen. Bernie Moreno, a Republican.

The former senator announced last month that he is running once more, this time against Republican Sen. Jon Husted, who was appointed by Gov. Mike DeWine to fill now-Vice President JD Vance’s seat. The 2026 Husted-Brown race is considered “Lean Republican,” and polls also favor Husted.

Shannon Burns, the president of Strongsville GOP, told The Daily Signal how Brown “ran a failed campaign against Bernie Moreno trying to convince Ohioans he was a moderate and had insinuated he agreed with President Trump.”

Brown, however, according to Burns, is “showing his true roots” and “want[s] to pander to his political base.”

Noting how Brown had represented the Strongsville area in the House before being elevated to the Senate, Burns called Brown a “hardcore progressive.” She lambasted the candidate for having “no morals to say what’s right, which is that this type of language [from Kilbane], this type of vitriol has no place in the public square.”

The Daily Signal reached out to Brown’s campaign for comment.

Meanwhile, Ohio has seen an outpouring of grief and affection for Charlie Kirk. One commemoration took place Saturday, when the Ohio Republican Party, Ohio College Republicans, and Ohio Young Republicans held a candlelight vigil in Dublin, Ohio.

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