“And when it happens to some, but even if you think they’re, quote, unquote, on the other side of the argument, that’s a threat to all of us,” he said. “And we have to be clear and forthright in condemning them.”

Obama added that he was generally aware of Kirk’s ideas, and while he believed they were wrong, the conservative activist’s death was a tragedy and he mourns for his family.

Still, that doesn’t mean people can’t debate ideas promoted by victims of political violence, Obama said. He criticized the Trump White House for immediately accusing the far-left of being responsible for the shooting even before details emerged about the perpetrator.