Wall Street Journal Corrects False Claim About Charlie Kirk Shooter
new york, zaterdag, 13 september 2025.
The Wall Street Journal has quietly retracted a false claim that the alleged shooter in the Charlie Kirk case had engraved transgender ideology on bullets. This correction comes after criticism from media observers and fact-checkers. The inscriptions on the bullets turned out to be primarily memes and cultural references, and not specifically related to transgender ideology.
Correction After Criticism
The Wall Street Journal has quietly retracted a false claim that the alleged shooter in the Charlie Kirk case had engraved transgender ideology on bullets. This correction comes after criticism from media observers and fact-checkers. The inscriptions on the bullets turned out to be primarily memes and cultural references, and not specifically related to transgender ideology [1][2].
Original Reporting
In the original reporting by the Wall Street Journal on 10 September 2025, the headline read: ‘Ammunition in Kirk Shooting Engraved With Transgender, Antifascist Ideology: Sources.’ Later that day, the headline was updated to: ‘Early Bulletin Said Ammunition in Kirk Shooting Engraved With Transgender, Antifascist Ideology; Some Sources Urge Caution’ [1][2].
Reactions from Authorities
Republican Utah Governor Spencer Cox stated during a press conference on 11 September 2025 that the inscriptions on the bullets were primarily memes and cultural references. He provided no indication that the bullets contained any transgender references [1][2][3].
Details of the Inscriptions
The inscriptions on the bullets, found by the police, included texts such as ‘Hey fascist catch!’ with arrows, ‘Bella Ciao,’ ‘If you read this, U are gay LMAO,’ and ‘notices bulge, OwO what’s this?’ These inscriptions are described as a mix of memes and cultural references, not specifically related to transgender ideology [1][2][3].
Arrest of the Suspect
On 12 September 2025, Utah Governor Spencer Cox and FBI Director Kash Patel announced the arrest of 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, a former student at Utah State University, as a suspect in the murder of Charlie Kirk [3][4][5].
Impact of the Erroneous Reporting
The erroneous reporting by the Wall Street Journal led to confusion and the spread of misinformation. GLAAD and the American Civil Liberties Union demanded a retraction and an apology from the Wall Street Journal for the false allegations [1][2][6].
Practical Tips for Readers
To identify fake news, it is important to consult multiple reliable sources, fact-check information with independent fact-checkers, and think critically about the information you encounter. Ensure that you do not react solely to headlines but read the full article and verify sources [GPT].