Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a Texas Democrat, faced scrutiny for remarks made on CNN’s State of the Union just hours before Charlie Kirk’s memorial service. During the broadcast, Crockett defended her vote against a congressional resolution honoring the slain conservative activist, claiming Kirk “specifically targeted people of color.”

Host Dana Bash questioned Crockett about her decision after noting that 58 Democrats opposed the measure. “You were one. Why?” Bash asked.

Crockett responded, “Absolutely. You know what? One of the things I do want to point out that’s not been laid out, that honestly hurts my heart, is when I saw the no votes, there were only two caucasians. For the most part, the only people that voted no were people of color.”

She added, “Because the rhetoric that Charlie Kirk continuously put out there was rhetoric that specifically targeted people of color. And so it is unfortunate that even our colleagues could not see how harmful his rhetoric was, specifically to us.”

The segment has sparked debate over the timing and tone of Crockett’s remarks, which aired just hours before a memorial service that drew widespread attention and emphasized Kirk’s Christian faith and public activism.

During the CNN segment, Crockett positioned herself as a civil rights advocate. “I’m not honoring that kind of stuff, especially as a civil rights attorney and understanding how I got to Congress, knowing that there were people that died, people that were willing to die, that worked to make sure that voices like mine could exist in this place,” she said.

However, critics noted that her claims were misleading. Charlie Kirk’s work and messaging were never about targeting minorities; rather, his focus on race emphasized accountability, fairness, and merit. Issues he championed—such as ensuring the best candidate for a job, advocating for border security, and promoting legal immigration—were central to his platform.

Despite these facts, host Dana Bash did not challenge Crockett’s assertions, allowing the criticisms to go unopposed. In reality, Kirk’s message resonated with Americans from all backgrounds, and his faith-centered mission reached beyond political or racial divisions.

While Crockett’s segment on Sunday morning sparked controversy, the memorial service later that day honored Kirk’s life and legacy. According to Turning Point USA spokesman Andrew Kolvet, the event reached an extraordinary audience: “Our production and streaming partners tracked over 100 million overall streams for today’s tribute to Charlie,” he reported on X.

“This is JUST what they know about. It’s likely much larger,” Kolvet added. “Over 100 million people just heard the Gospel proclaimed again and again by speaker after speaker. Truly remarkable. For Charlie.”

Charlie Kirk, 31, was fatally shot on Sept. 10 during an event at Utah Valley University. The alleged shooter, 22-year-old Tyler James Robinson, faces murder charges and the death penalty. In a remarkable act of grace, Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, publicly forgave Robinson during the memorial service on Sunday.

While CNN provided a platform for Rep. Jasmine Crockett to air divisive claims, the memorial itself reached tens of millions and delivered a profoundly positive message, far surpassing the impact of what critics have described as the left’s politically charged theatrics.