MAGA Supporters Demand Revival of Smith-Mundt Act as “Charlie Kirk Act”

Lead MAGA activists launched a petition on September 13 to reinstate the 1948 Smith-Mundt Act-renaming it the “Charlie Kirk Act”-to penalize media outlets for alleged propaganda following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University.

Nut Graf The campaign, propelled by a viral video from Trump supporter Ellie May, argues that mainstream outlets’ “lies and hateful rhetoric” fueled misinformation that contributed to Kirk’s death and must be curbed through strict accountability measures.

Media Accountability Push In her TikTok plea viewed over 1.9 million times, May accused networks of branding individuals as “fascists,” “Nazis” and “white supremacists” without evidence. She proposed:

• Fines of at least 35% of a company’s value for each violation
• Inclusion of social media influencers under the law’s scope
• Renaming the statute in honor of Charlie Kirk

Cold War Roots and 2013 Amendment The original Smith-Mundt Act, part of the U.S. Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948, banned domestic dissemination of U.S. government-produced materials aimed at foreign audiences. A 2013 amendment lifted certain restrictions, allowing Americans to request government broadcasts, but critics say this change weakened safeguards against propaganda.

Criticism and Free Speech Concerns Opponents warn that reviving the law could usher in censorship and infringe on First Amendment rights. Detractors note that Kirk himself championed free speech and would likely oppose granting government authority to police content creators and journalists.

Next Steps The Change.org petition amassed over 5,000 signatures within 13 hours. Supporters are calling on former President Trump to reintroduce the act under its new name during any potential future administration.