What Can Democrats Do to Overcome the Way Trump is Likely to Weaponize the Murder of Charlie Kirk?

The psychology Trump exploits in moments of crisis...and how to break it.

What Can Democrats Do to Overcome the Way Trump is Likely to Weaponize the Murder of Charlie Kirk?

The psychology Trump exploits in moments of crisis…and how to break it.

The Jack Hopkins Now Newsletter #542: Friday, September 12th, 2025.

When Tragedy Becomes Ammunition

Every time America is shaken by a tragedy…the blood isn’t dry before the spin begins.

The grieving families haven’t even caught their breath. The reporters don’t yet know the shooter’s name. The forensics team is still marking shell casings in chalk. And already…ALREADY…the talking heads start their chant:

“This is proof the left is dangerous.”
“See, the country is under siege by radicals.”
“We need a strongman response.”

And no one plays that game harder…faster…and dirtier than Donald J. Trump.

So let’s get real. The murder of Charlie Kirk was not just a tragic act of violence. It was a political earthquake…and Trump is already strapping on his boots…ready to march across the rubble.

The question isn’t whether he’ll weaponize it. Of course he will. The question is: What are Democrats going to do about it?

Because if they don’t…Trump will ride this tragedy like a chariot into another cycle of fear…division…and authoritarian posturing.

Why This Matters More Than Most Will Admit

I know what some Democrats are thinking: “This is a right-wing personality. Why should we care how Trump spins it?”

Because this isn’t about Kirk. It’s about the frame.

When Trump takes control of the narrative…he isn’t just honoring Kirk. He’s feeding his own mythos. He’s painting himself as the protector…the avenger…the only one strong enough to keep America safe from the chaos.

And if Democrats let him dominate this moment…they will once again be shoved into the weakest possible position: defensive…apologetic…and two steps behind.

We’ve seen this movie. Again and again. And we know how it ends.

It ends with Trump shouting about “law and order.”
It ends with pundits screaming about “radical left violence.”
It ends with voters…especially independents…thinking, “Well, at least Trump looks strong.”

And if Democrats don’t flip this script…they’ll spend the next news cycle playing mop-up in a story Trump already owns.

The Three Things Trump Will Do Next

To fight effectively…you have to know your opponent’s playbook.

Trump’s isn’t complicated…but it is devastatingly effective. Expect these three plays…because they’re coming:

1. The Blame Frame

Trump will pin this murder on “the radical left,” regardless of facts. (He already has) He doesn’t need evidence…just repetition. “They’ve been calling for violence. They’re the ones who hate America. They’re the ones who killed Charlie.”

2. The Strongman Gambit

He’ll use the tragedy to justify more authoritarian action: National Guard deployments…“special powers,” immigration crackdowns…political surveillance. It’s the “if you want to be safe, you need ME” routine.

3. The Martyr Myth

He’ll sanctify Kirk as a martyr for the cause. Not just a victim…but a symbol…someone whose blood demands vengeance. That narrative keeps his base furious…loyal…and ready to fight.

The Hard Truth: Democrats Keep Losing the Frame

Let’s not sugarcoat it: Democrats have a bad habit of fumbling moments like this.

They hesitate. They issue dry statements. They default to policy wonkery while the other side sets fire to the national mood.

By the time Democrats roll out their carefully worded tweets…Trump has already branded the event in neon letters: Radical left violence. Law and order. Only I can fix it.

And here’s the brutal reality:

Voters don’t reward hesitation. They reward the side that shows moral clarity… emotional weight…and immediate action.

So What Can Democrats Actually Do?

This is where we stop wringing hands and start crafting the counterstrike. Democrats CAN overcome Trump’s weaponization of Kirk’s murder…but only if they do three things, fast and without apology:

1. Seize the Moral High Ground Immediately

Within minutes of events like this…Democrats should already be out front condemning the violence…expressing compassion for Kirk’s family, and declaring…without loopholes…that political violence is unacceptable. (I’ve seen evidence of them having this one covered.)

Why? Because this does two things:

• It denies Trump the chance to paint Democrats as indifferent or complicit.

• It signals strength through moral clarity: “We don’t tolerate this, period.”

Silence or hesitation is political suicide. Democrats need to outpace Trump in the opening minutes…not chase his echo two days later.

2. Pre-Bunk Trump’s Playbook

This is where strategy matters. Don’t just react to Trump…predict him. Tell the public what he’s about to do before he does it.

For example:

“Trump will use this tragedy to divide us. He’ll blame his opponents, even without facts. He’ll try to turn grief into fuel for his own power. Don’t let him.”

See the brilliance? When Trump inevitably follows the script…people see him as predictable…manipulative…even pathetic. It cuts the legs out from under him before he can strut.

3. Reframe the Story Around Shared Humanity

Instead of letting this become “right vs. left,” Democrats should hammer one theme:

We are ALL less safe when political violence becomes normalized.

That message appeals to moderates…independents…even some conservatives who don’t like Trump but feel uneasy about the chaos. It reframes the event as an American problem, not a partisan one.

Trump wants division. Democrats must insist on unity.

Deep Drill: The Psychological Traps Trump Exploits

Now, let’s dig deeper. Why do these moments work so well for Trump? Because he weaponizes psychological instincts most people don’t even realize they have.

Here are four of the biggest traps…and how Democrats can beat them:

Trap #1: Proportionality Bias

People believe big events must have big causes. Kirk’s murder was a major event…so the mind craves an equally massive explanation: radical left plots…deep-state assassins…civil war. Trump feeds that craving.

Counter:

Democrats must explain…calmly and clearly…that sometimes history pivots on the smallest acts. One shooter with one rifle can change headlines. Big effect…small cause…that’s reality.

Trap #2: Terror Management

When death crashes into view…people cling to the leader who promises safety. Trump thrives here. His strongman posturing offers “certainty” in the middle of fear.

Counter:

Democrats must project their own strength…not in bluster…but in steadiness. Speak about protecting democracy…securing communities…and honoring freedom without giving up civil rights. Safety with liberty beats safety with chains.

Trap #3: Narrative Transportation

Humans love stories. And Trump knows how to spin one: Kirk as martyr…the left as villain…himself as savior. That story is sticky.

Counter:

Democrats must tell a stronger story. Kirk’s murder isn’t about “us vs them.” It’s about the danger of political violence for everyone. The hero in this story isn’t Trump—it’s the American people refusing to surrender their freedom to fear.

Trap #4: Coalition Signaling

For Trump’s base…believing his version of events is a loyalty test. If you question it… you’re out. That tribal pull is powerful.

Counter:

Democrats can’t fight tribe with tribe. They must appeal to the vast middle who don’t want to be forced into anyone’s cult. Position truth itself as the higher loyalty.

The Tactical Moves Democrats Need Right Now

Enough theory. Here are concrete…actionable steps Democrats should be taking today:

Messaging Templates (Use Immediately)

1. “We grieve Charlie Kirk’s death. Violence has no place in our politics…period. Anyone who tries to use this tragedy for political gain is dishonoring his memory.”

2. “Trump will tell you this was the radical left. That’s his script. Don’t be fooled. Violence is an American problem, not a partisan one.”

3. “Safety doesn’t come from crackdowns or scapegoats. Safety comes from unity…justice… and protecting the freedoms that make America worth fighting for.”

Policy Levers (Show You Mean It)

Red Flag Laws:

Keep guns out of the hands of abusers.

Safe Storage Campaigns:

Treat gun locks like seatbelts: normalize them.

Violence Interruption Programs:

Invest in community-level prevention.

Mental Health Access:

Not as a scapegoat…but as a real pillar of safety.

Every time Trump calls for authoritarian action…Democrats should point to real solutions rooted in liberty and responsibility.

Media Strategy (Flip the Lens)

• Flood local outlets with Democrats condemning violence and calling for calm.

• Book surrogates who can connect with independents and moderates…not just progressives.

• Use graphics and fact sheets that contrast Trump’s rhetoric with evidence of what actually reduces violence.

Call Out the Con

Let’s not mince words. Trump is going to try to use Charlie Kirk’s death the way he uses everything: as a prop in his one-man show.

And Democrats need to say it out loud:

“Trump is exploiting tragedy for his own power. That’s not leadership. That’s a con.”

Because here’s the truth: leadership doesn’t mean hijacking grief. Leadership means protecting people.

Why This Fight Is About More Than One Event

Charlie Kirk’s murder is one moment. But the bigger battle is about how we process every moment like this.

Do we let Trump monopolize tragedy…turning every wound into a weapon?
Or do we stand firm…tell the truth…and refuse to let fear be his gasoline?

This isn’t about Kirk. It isn’t even about Trump. It’s about whether America chooses to live in reality…or in the fantasy of a strongman’s lies.

If Democrats can show moral clarity…pre-bunk Trump’s playbook…and reframe the story as one of shared humanity…they can blunt his weaponization. If they fail…they’ll hand him the torch…and he’ll burn the house down.

The choice is now.

Right now…take a slow…deep breath in….hold it a sec….now….slowly exhale…through pursed lips…for twice as long…as you inhaled.

That’s right. Do that more often. You’ll enjoy it…think more clearly…and be glad you did.

Back soon.

-Jack

P.S. For Paid Subscribers Only

If this article sharpened your thinking…know this: later this week…I’ll be sending you an even deeper dive. We’ll dissect the next layer…how disinformation operators engineer false-flag narratives step by step…and how you can inoculate your own mind before the next flashpoint.

If the free readers saw fire…this next one is the forge.

Stay tuned.