WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is escalating threats to crack down on what he describes as the “radical left” following Charlie Kirk’s assassination, stirring fears that his administration is trying to harness outrage over the killing to suppress political opposition.

An L.A. Fire Department memo that said city flags should remain raised went viral on social media. Many lambasted Mayor Karen Bass for not directing the flags to be lowered.

In the days that followed, Trump ordered that all US federal flags be flown at half‑staff in Kirk's honour. Taking to Truth Social several times, he also described the political activist as 'tremendous', a 'martyr for truth and freedom'. He even issued a threat to anyone 'celebrating' the podcaster's death.

MAGA mouthpiece and conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer also joined the anti-education campaign. She posted on X on Sunday, “It’s time to defund American universities. You don’t need to go to college. Charlie Kirk didn’t go to college.”

In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s killing, President Trump and his allies have laid out a broad plan to target liberal groups, monitor speech, revoke visas and designate certain groups as domestic terrorists.

The final video that Charlie Kirk recorded before his assassination has been released ahead of a huge memorial for the key ally and friend of President Trump. “This is the last videos that we had Charlie record before he was taken from us,” Turning Point Action COO Tyler Bowyer said as he shared the clip on X late Tuesday.

The president, vice president, and other figures are slated to deliver remarks at State Farm Stadium during an event honoring Charlie Kirk

ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel implied during his show that Charlie Kirk’s alleged assassin was a Republican despite reports of him having a “leftist ideology."