A U.S. Secret Service agent’s shocking Facebook post celebrating Charlie Kirk’s assassination has sparked outrage and swift action.

Anthony Pough, a Secret Service employee, was placed on immediate administrative leave after his post, reported by Real Clear Politics on Thursday, accused the Turning Point USA founder of promoting racism and hate, attributing his death to “karma," as Fox News reports.

Kirk, a prominent conservative voice, was assassinated on Wednesday, sending shockwaves through the nation and prompting memorials from Phoenix to Berlin. Pough’s post, which also referenced a tragic school shooting in Colorado that same day, dismissed mourning for Kirk as misplaced sympathy. His words reveal a troubling disregard for the gravity of political violence.

Agent’s post sparks outrage

Pough’s Facebook rant called Kirk’s death a consequence of “spewing hate” on his show, a claim that ignores Kirk’s role as a polarizing but influential conservative figure.

The post’s timing, juxtaposed with the Evergreen High School shooting that injured two students, struck many as callous. Celebrating any death, even that of a controversial figure, crosses a line that demands accountability.

The Secret Service, tasked with protecting the nation’s leaders, moved quickly to suspend Pough, who was in “Phase 2” of his career, focused on protective assignments but not yet assigned to President Donald Trump’s detail.

A spokesperson told Fox News Digital that such behavior violates the agency’s code of conduct, and an investigation is underway. This decisive response shows the agency’s commitment to rooting out unprofessional conduct, but questions linger about how such views took root.

Sen. Marsha Blackburn, a Tennessee Republican, didn’t mince words, demanding Pough’s immediate firing in a letter to Secret Service Director Sean Curran on Thursday. She called the post a sign of “rot” within the agency, a sentiment that resonates with those who see this as part of a broader cultural drift toward excusing violence against conservatives. Blackburn’s call for action underscores the need for trust in those entrusted with national security.

Public outcry grows

Pough’s claim that mourning Kirk was less warranted than grieving for the Colorado shooting victims was a rhetorical jab that misfired badly. Loss of life, whether in a school or a targeted assassination, deserves unified condemnation, not divisive score-settling. His attempt to frame Kirk’s death as divine justice only fuels the toxic polarization he claims to oppose.

“If you are mourning this guy, delete me,” Pough wrote, according to Real Clear Politics, revealing a mindset that brooks no dissent. Such ultimatums from a federal agent are chilling, suggesting a worldview more suited to social media spats than the solemn duties of the Secret Service. It’s a stark reminder that even those in elite roles can succumb to ideological zeal.

The Secret Service’s three-phase career structure places agents like Pough in protective roles during Phase 2, a critical stage where professionalism is paramount.

That someone in this position could so publicly celebrate a murder raises alarms about vetting and oversight. The agency’s swift move to suspend him is a start, but restoring public confidence will take more.

Investigation launched to secure accountability

“The U.S. Secret Service will not tolerate behavior that violates our code of conduct,” a spokesperson told Fox News Digital, signaling that Pough’s actions are under serious scrutiny. An investigation is a necessary step, but it must be thorough and transparent to address the broader implications of such a breach. Anything less risks eroding trust in an agency already under pressure.

Pough’s reference to “karma” in his post, stating that “you answer to GOD and speak things into existence,” suggests a troubling moral relativism. Justifying an assassination as cosmic payback isn’t just unprofessional -- it’s a dangerous precedent for someone tasked with protecting lives. The Secret Service must ensure such sentiments have no place in its ranks.

Blackburn’s letter to Director Curran didn’t just call for Pough’s termination; it framed his actions as symptomatic of deeper issues within the agency. “It’s time to root out the rot,” she posted on X, a pointed critique that resonates with conservatives wary of institutional bias. Her words carry weight, but the challenge is ensuring reform doesn’t get lost in political grandstanding.

Kirk memorials emerge

Across the country, from Arizona to Berlin, memorials for Charlie Kirk seen on Friday reflected his impact as a conservative firebrand. His assassination, coming amid a school shooting that same week, underscores a nation grappling with violence and division. Pough’s post, rather than fostering unity, poured salt on open wounds.

The Evergreen High School shooting, which Pough referenced, injured two students and deserved its own mourning, not a footnote in a tirade. Using tragedy to justify another tragedy reveals a warped perspective that has no place in public service. The Secret Service’s response must set a precedent that such behavior is intolerable.

As the investigation unfolds, the nation watches to see if accountability will prevail. Pough’s suspension is a start, but conservatives will demand more than a slap on the wrist for an agent who celebrated murder. In a time of grief, the call is clear: restore trust, uphold standards, and reject the politics of hate.