Courtney TannerA best-selling author and educator is pushing back against conservative criticism that she shouldn’t speak at Utah Valley University’s commencement over comments she made shortly after commentator Charlie Kirk was killed on the Orem campus.
In a statement to The Salt Lake Tribune, a spokesperson for Sharon McMahon said Monday that she “unequivocally condemned the murder of Charlie Kirk, repeatedly and publicly calling his death a tragedy and stressing that public debate must never be met with violence.”
McMahon, who is often referred to as “America’s Government Teacher,” is known for her online videos explaining current political events. UVU announced late last month that she would be the keynote speaker at its April 29 ceremony at the UCCU Center. The school also will award her an honorary doctorate in education.
(Utah Valley University) Pictured is Sharon McMahon, an author and former history teacher, who has been selected as the 2026 commencement speaker for Utah Valley University. The choice has drawn backlash from conservative groups.
The statement from her spokesperson added: “Sharon’s goal is to unpack what is happening in society and help people understand how government works. …. She believes what we need most is more bridge-building and more people willing to show up for one another.”
Her selection, though, has been met with pushback from conservative student groups and politicians, who have said it is “insensitive” to have her speak.
McMahon drew ire from Republicans after Kirk’s death for her posts on social media that some felt were inconsiderate. A few of those have since been deleted.
The one that attracted much of the attention was from Sept. 12 — two days after Kirk was shot during an appearance at UVU. McMahon posted several part quotes from Kirk, including his comments about Black individuals and Muslims.
Then, she added, “Millions of people feel they were harmed, and the murder that was horrific and should never have happened does not magically erase what was said or done. … But if you were a Charlie Kirk fan, you might not realize why there is so much backlash to posts eulogizing his death.”
Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, had been visiting UVU to speak on Sept. 10 when, police say, a single shot was fired from a rooftop, striking and killing him. Tyler James Robinson, 22, has since been arrested and charged in connection with Kirk’s death.
In another video McMahon posted shortly after hearing Kirk had been shot, she is crying at the news. She wrote in the caption: “This isn’t the America I want to live in. I am sure Charlie Kirk and I would not agree on many things. And my heart is still broken for his family.” That post remains online.
Her spokesperson defended McMahon as someone who has met with leaders on both sides of the aisle, including Utah’s Republican Gov. Spencer Cox, “to foster the kind of dialogue and perspective democracy depends on.”
UVU’s Turning Point USA club posted a statement Friday on Instagram saying McMahon tried to “tarnish” Kirk’s name and “minimize the tragedy” instead of “offering condolences or condemning political violence.”
Caleb Chilcutt, the club’s president, added: “There are countless better alternatives, and the fact that the university is choosing McMahon is entirely disappointing to all of us still reeling from his loss. I couldn’t be more disappointed in the university for such a hurtful and callous decision.”
On social media, Sage Lloyd, president of UVU’s College Republicans, said she is strongly opposed to McMahon speaking at commencement. Lloyd included McMahon among what she called “character assassins.”
“It is an insult,” Lloyd said in the statement, “to deliberately select a speaker who mocked the loss of a political figure assassinated on our beloved campus.”
Several politicians also posted online, expressing frustration and disappointment. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, has been the most vocal among them. He has posted seven times on his X account @BasedMike Lee, calling out UVU for hosting McMahon and urging the school to choose a new speaker.
“UVU couldn’t even wait a year before scheduling a commencement speaker who defamed Charlie Kirk in the days immediately following his horrific murder on UVU campus,” reads one of his posts from April 10.
A message from The Salt Lake Tribune to his office for further comment was unreturned.
Former Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz joined in, saying the decision to have McMahon speak is “horrific, untimely, and insensitive.” Several Turning Point USA staffers added to the calls to disinvite her.
A spokesperson for UVU declined to comment on the pushback.
The school’s Facebook post announcing McMahon as the commencement speaker had about equal comments from those for and against the choice.
“She is a force of nature and a force for good,” said UVU President Astrid Tuminez in a statement then. “... I think our graduates are very lucky to have her as commencement speaker!”
Tuminez will step down as president at the end of this month, with commencement set to be her final big event.
In a previous news release, UVU said McMahon’s ongoing efforts “to empower informed discussions and civil disagreements” goes well with the university’s “Our Better Selves for a Better America” initiative. That was underway before Kirk’s death and has been pushed since to teach students how to better engage in healthy debate in a fractured country.
At the time of the announcement, McMahon said she was “deeply grateful for this honor from UVU” to speak at commencement. The university has hosted her for events previously.
UVU faced criticisms over its commencement speaker selection in 2021. Then, the university had selected Wendy Watson Nelson, a former nurse and professor — who also was the wife of Russell M. Nelson, then the president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (President Nelson died last September.)
LGBTQ students at the time were upset, given her work, including publications in which she suggests “homosexual activities” hurt the institution of marriage and labels gay relationships as “distortion and perversion.” Those students started a petition and requested an apology from the administration. Many said they planned to skip commencement because of it.
