A recent cartoon in The Salt Lake Tribune has stirred controversy by appearing to advocate for violence against Republican lawmakers in light of the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk just weeks prior, igniting a charged political atmosphere in Utah.
Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was tragically shot while attending an event at Utah Valley University last month. His assassination has since become a focal point for discussions around political discourse and violence within the arena of American politics.
In what might be seen as both poorly timed and excessively provocative, The Salt Lake Tribune published a cartoon a mere weeks following Kirk’s death, entitled âThe Hole-in-the-Head Gang.â This illustration depicted a wanted poster featuring various elected officials, portrayed with questionable adornments. Andrew Kolvet, Executive Producer of the Charlie Kirk Show, expressed outrage at the publication of the cartoon, characterizing it as âAbsolutely disgusting.â
Less than a month removed from Charlie’s assassination in Utah, the Salt Lake Tribune published this cartoon entitled “The Hole-in-the-Head Gang” depicting a wanted poster with elected officials from the state (with red around the neck?!).
Absolutely disgusting. pic.twitter.com/Sq4Y63gW1A
â Andrew Kolvet (@AndrewKolvet) October 10, 2025
In response to the backlash, just two days after releasing the cartoon, The Salt Lake Tribune issued an editorâs note clarifying that the title had been revised after failing to meet their standards for publication. However, the cartoon itself remains unaltered online.
The note stated, âEditorâs note, Oct. 9, 7:12 p.m. – The headline on this cartoon has been updated because the original did not meet our standards for publication. We know words matter. We strive to be intentional about our language, and we regret this error,â as per a statement from The Salt Lake Tribune.
Pat Bagley, the cartoonist in question, has been a mainstay at The Salt Lake Tribune for over 45 years and has been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. His experience comes into question as observers wonder whether the editorial process has sufficiently matured given the sensitivity of the current political climate.
Utahâs latest newspaper is calling for the assassination of elected officials. pic.twitter.com/gjqp42KimB
â Cernovich (@Cernovich) October 10, 2025
Senator Mike Lee has been notably vocal about this incident, directly addressing the imprecisions in the Tribune’s apology. âWhat about the original version didnât meet the standards for publication?â Lee challenged. âWas it the part implying someone should put a hole in my head or was there a spelling error?â With this quip, Lee pointedly highlights the troubling implications behind the cartoon’s imagery and the nuanced responsibilities of editorial judgment in today’s media landscape.
What about the original version didnât meet the standards for publication?
Was it part implying someone should put a hole in my head or was there a spelling error? https://t.co/OIuNzPXFGR
â Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) October 10, 2025
