Charlie Kirk blames DEI initiatives for high death toll in Texas floods
- Texas experienced severe flash floods in July 2025, leading to over 120 deaths and many missing persons.
- Charlie Kirk claimed that DEI initiatives led to higher fatalities in response to the flooding.
- Kirk's comments received widespread criticism for politicizing a tragic event.
In early July 2025, Texas experienced devastating flash floods that led to at least 120 confirmed deaths and many individuals reported missing, particularly in Kerr County. The floods caused the Guadalupe River to rise dramatically, resulting in widespread destruction and prompting emergency responses from local authorities. Amid this tragedy, right-wing political commentator Charlie Kirk attributed the high death toll to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, claiming that they undermined meritocratic institutions. Kirk stated that the media was not reporting this connection, implying political motivations behind the Democrats' response to the crisis. His remarks garnered significant backlash and criticism from various quarters, suggesting that blaming DEI was both unfounded and inappropriate in light of the tragedy. As the community mourned, local officials faced scrutiny regarding their emergency response strategies and preparation for such disasters. The sentiment among critics underscored the dangers of politicizing humanitarian crises, highlighting that many believed Kirk's comments lacked an understanding of the complexities of disaster response and rescue operations conducted under duress.