In a surprising turn of events, the University of South Dakota (USD) has reversed its plan to terminate art professor Michael Hook, who had recently faced backlash for a controversial post regarding the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.
USD President Sheila Gestring’s decision, conveyed in a communication, pointed to Hook’s expressed remorse, his nearly two-decade tenure at the institution, and a desire for stable operations as justifications for this reversal.
This development occurs amid a growing national trend of dismissals and investigations targeting public employees for insensitive remarks made following Kirk’s tragic murder last month.
Shortly after Kirk’s assassination, Hook utilized his personal Facebook page, where his affiliation with USD was prominently displayed, to issue a scathing commentary that seemed to endorse political violence.
In a now-deleted Facebook tirade, Hook stated: “Okay. I don’t give a flying f-ck about this Kirk person. Apparently, he was a hate-spreading Nazi. I wasn’t paying close enough attention to the idiotic right fringe to even know who he was.”
He escalated his rhetoric by targeting Kirk’s family, which includes two small children and a grieving spouse. Hook added, “I’m sorry for his family that he was a hate-spreading Nazi and got killed. I’m sure they deserved better. Maybe good people can now enter their lives.”
The post culminated in the chilling dismissal, “I have no thoughts or prayers for this hate-spreading Nazi. A shrug, maybe.”
This incendiary commentary quickly gained traction, drawing condemnation from conservative monitoring outlets like Libs of TikTok, which labeled Hook’s comments as “disgusting” and demanded accountability from USD.
University of South Dakota professor Michael Hook:
“I don’t give a flying fuck about this Kirk person. Maybe good people can now enter their [Charlie’s family] lives. I have no thoughts or prayers for this hate-spreading Nazi.”
.@usd any comment?? https://t.co/rbCp9dF8zQ pic.twitter.com/crEJmtjjrA
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) September 12, 2025
Governor Larry Rhoden and House Speaker Jon Hansen, both Republicans, vocally demanded Hook’s termination, describing his remarks as “hateful and vile,” asserting that they were unbefitting of someone representing a university.
Yesterday, I was made aware of these hateful and vile comments made by a University of South Dakota professor regarding the death of Charlie Kirk and Charlie’s family. I am disgusted by his remarks, and think they are unbecoming of someone who works for and represents our… pic.twitter.com/FIVa1OlGrM
— Speaker Jon Hansen (@SpeakerHansen) September 12, 2025
Hansen remarked via social media that he had reached out to USD President Gestring to advocate for Hook’s dismissal, underscoring that such derogatory commentary aimed at a “good man’s family who was recently assassinated will not be tolerated.”
This incident reflects a broader pattern observed throughout the country, where Republicans have actively encouraged public reporting of offensive comments leading to numerous firings and investigations in various sectors, including state agencies and educational institutions. A notable trend emerged in higher education where several employees were terminated for comments perceived as endorsing or trivializing Kirk’s murder.
In response to the potential firing, Hook sought legal action and subsequently filed a federal lawsuit.
Recently, U.S. District Judge Karen Schreier, appointed by President Clinton, granted a temporary restraining order halting Hook’s termination.
Judge Schreier’s ruling noted that Hook had expressed his views as a private citizen regarding a matter of public concern, thus deserving of First Amendment protection.
Despite the ongoing legal complexities, USD and the Board of Regents relented on October 3. President Gestring’s letter, later disclosed by Hook’s attorney, Jim Leach, officially rescinded the termination notice.
“We have considered your remorse for the post, your long-standing record of service, and the university’s interest in smooth operations,” the letter stated, as reported by the South Dakota Searchlight.
In a subsequent statement, Hook expressed his relief, stating, “I am thrilled that I can continue teaching my students at the University of South Dakota. I love this work and this university as much now as when I came here 19 years ago. I hope the state now understands that the First Amendment prohibits it from punishing anyone for speech about public issues—no matter how much state or national leaders or others disagree with it.”
