Clemson fires employee for Kirk posts. Two more removed from teaching duties
Clemson University fired one employee Monday following a social media post in the wake of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination. Two faculty members also have been removed from teaching duties pending an investigation.
The termination follows posts by the Clemson chapter of the College Republicans sharing social media posts of Clemson employees that appeared to mock Kirk and celebrate his murder.
The two faculty members were removed from their teaching duties pending investigation for termination, the school said.
The school did not identify the three employees involved.
“Following an immediate and deliberate investigation into inappropriate social media content, Clemson today terminated an employee due to their social media posts,” the school said Monday in a statement released about one hour before a special Board of Trustees meeting.
After a three-hour executive session, Board Chairwoman Kim Wilkerson said in a prepared statement the board “expects the highest level of integrity, accountability and professionalism from all university employees.”
“When individuals fall short of these expectations, especially in ways that compromise the safety of our campus community and undermine the learning environment, decisive action is not only warranted, but necessary to uphold the university’s missions and values,” Wilkerson said before the board adjourned. “Accordingly, the board supports President Clements in his efforts to take immediate and appropriate measures regarding the employees in question.”
State law says it is unlawful for a person to “discharge a citizen from employment or occupation, ... because of political opinions or the exercise of political rights and privileges guaranteed to every citizen by the Constitution and laws of the United States or by the Constitution and laws of this State.”
In a letter from Attorney General Alan Wilson, a Republican running for governor, said the state law allows the school to take corrective action and the school’s leadership would be protected from criminal liability.
“The First Amendment protects freedom of speech, but it does not shield threats, glorification of violence, or behavior that undermines the mission of our state institutions,” said Attorney General Wilson. “Clemson, and any state university in South Carolina, should not be paralyzed by fear of prosecution when dealing with employees who publicly endorse political violence.”
Clemson’s moves Monday also come as the most influential members of the legislature, House Speaker Murrell Smith, Senate President Thomas Alexander, House Ways and Means Chairman Bruce Bannister and Senate Finance Chairman Harvey Peeler, called on the board of trustees to take action. It was notable that the two budget chairmen signed on as the school receives $219 million in annual money out of the state budget.
Several members of the Legislature, most notably the Freedom Caucus, but as well as candidates for governor called on the school to lose money if it doesn’t fire the employees.
“I know there’s a lot of political grandstanding, ‘We’re going to cut your budget if you don’t do what we say.’ That’s never been the way we’ve budgeted for our flagship universities,” Bannister said. “We are interested in how they could help move the state forward and we want them to do an exceptional job training the folks who are going to work in South Carolina and continue to have a good reputation nationally.”
Bannister, a Greenville County Republican, said the four legislative leaders did not have a discussion about what action the board of trustees should take or conversations about what the ramifications the school would face if it didn’t take action.
They only wanted the board to meet and make the best move for the school.
“We want the board of trustees to take it seriously and we don’t think those professors’ comments celebrating a political assassination are appropriate, especially if they’re teaching the young children that we’re sending to the university to learn how to be good South Carolina citizens.”
This is a developing story that will be updated.
This story was originally published September 15, 2025 at 1:37 PM.
