The tragic assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk on September 10 has shaken conservatives across the nation. But what’s perhaps even more chilling than the murder itself is the reaction from the American left — teachers, nurses, military officers, and even judges openly cheered the death of a conservative voice. Instead of condemning this grotesque celebration of political violence, Senator James Lankford (R-OK) chose to side with Democrats and lecture his own base.

Appearing on CBS News’ *Face the Nation* with Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE), Lankford dismissed the conservative push to hold these radicals accountable, labeling it “cancel culture.” According to Lankford, businesses shouldn’t be firing employees who celebrated the cold-blooded killing of a Trump ally. In his words: “This is about protecting the individual businesses.”

That’s the best he could offer — hand-wringing over “cancel culture” while Americans who despise conservatives literally applaud assassination.

The truth is simple: when leftists openly rejoice over murder, it is not “cancel culture” to say they are unfit to hold positions of trust in classrooms, hospitals, or public service. It’s common sense. No parent wants their child taught by a teacher who celebrates killing political opponents. No patient wants medical care from a nurse who finds joy in political executions.

But Lankford wasn’t finished. He doubled down, warning that employers were overreacting to “pushback from the community” and that online outrage was threatening to “kill businesses.” Apparently, the senator is more concerned about the job security of radicals cheering political violence than he is about the security of everyday Americans who now see that large swaths of the left have no problem with conservatives being slaughtered.

Coons, naturally, was thrilled to have Lankford’s cover. He echoed the Oklahoma senator’s concerns, claiming “cancel culture is a real challenge” and urging people to “think twice before they post.” Notice what was missing: any genuine condemnation of the depravity of celebrating Kirk’s death. For Democrats, the tragedy wasn’t the assassination or the ghoulish celebration that followed — it was the fact that leftists lost their jobs over it.

Grassroots conservatives aren’t buying it. Social media erupted after the segment aired, with furious voters demanding Lankford be primaried in 2028. One commenter hit the nail on the head: “It’s not ‘cancel culture’ to fire employees that celebrate Charlie Kirk’s death. It’s ‘anti-assassination culture.’ Big difference.”

Another put it bluntly: “No Republican who doesn’t have a big problem with liberals calling for the death of conservatives needs to be in office.”

That’s the point. Conservatives are tired of weak Republicans who posture as moral arbiters while their base is under attack. Lankford’s job isn’t to make excuses for people who cheer political murder — his job is to defend his constituents, stand against lawlessness, and call evil what it is.

Charlie Kirk’s assassination revealed something dark about the American left. But James Lankford’s response revealed something just as troubling about the Republican establishment: too many would rather appease Democrats than fight for the people who put them in office.