NBC News, White House correspondent Vaughn Hillyard reported that after far-right activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed at a Utah Valley University event on Wednesday, Washington had "come to a halt."
Speaking to MSNBC host Nicolle Wallace, Hillyard said that, given the relationships that Kirk had with lawmakers, the attack has paused regular business as those on the right awaited the official word about Kirk's death.
"At this point, Nicolle, I think Washington, D.C. has effectively come to a halt. This is a moment where — Charlie Kirk is somebody who has ingratiated himself across not just this White House and this administration, but up on Capitol Hill and in state races around the country. For anybody who is in any way involved in and around MAGA politics, which is effectively today's Republican Party, you will have come across Charlie Kirk."
Hillyard went on to say that Kirk's organization has grown larger as MAGA gained steam.
"Charlie Kirk is somebody who had struck up close relationships and friendships with people that in the White House and of course, the president of the United States. JD Vance was somebody who was also a close friend, somebody Charlie Kirk was there traveling with him day to day in the final days of his primary campaign back in May of 2022. He had struck up a close friendship with Don Jr. He had struck up a close friendship with other key officials inside of this White House, and so in many ways, while he didn't work directly in the government, he was somebody who had pushed the Republican Party into making a MAGA future beyond even Donald Trump."
Wallace walked through some of the worst acts of political violence in the past several years, such as the kidnapping attempt on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI), the two assassination attempts on Trump, the attempted kidnapping of Nancy Pelosi and assault of her husband, Paul, and the shooting and assassination of Minnesota lawmakers.
She asked Hillyard whether there was "any sense among your sources and the people you're talking to, that this is some sort of breaking point or tipping point in terms of coming out publicly and condemning political violence in all forms against all victims?"
Hillyard said that it was too early to know.
See the clip below or at the link here.