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An educator known for calling herself ‘America’s government teacher’ is drawing attention as she prepares to speak at the same institution where Charlie Kirk was tragically killed. Previously, she had openly criticized Kirk after his assassination.
Sharon McMahon was announced as the keynote speaker for Utah Valley University’s commencement ceremony in late March. The university also plans to honor her with a doctorate degree.
The choice sparked backlash among conservatives and the university’s Turning Point USA chapter, who highlighted McMahon’s past tweets that have since been removed, posted shortly after Kirk’s death on September 10, 2025.
McMahon expressed, “Many feel they were affected, and the terrible incident of murder, which was utterly condemnable, doesn’t erase past actions or words.”
She added, “To numerous Americans, particularly those who are Black, LGBTQ, or Muslim, Charlie Kirk was not someone who merely participated in well-intentioned discussions on college campuses.”
McMahon’s tweets were taken down, though she still often posts anti-Trump and anti-conservative content on social media.
Utah Senator Mike Lee made a post furious at the university that was retweeted by Elon Musk.
‘What if Charlie Kirk had been a beloved figure on the left, rather than among conservatives?’ Lee said.
‘And what if Sharon McMahon were a conservative – one who had defamed Charlie Kirk immediately after his horrific assassination at UVU? Would UVU have scheduled her to speak at commencement? Not in a million years. Not in ten million years.’
Sharon McMahon (pictured), an educator who promotes herself as ‘America’s government teacher’ and criticized Charlie Kirk after his assassination, is set to speak at the very same school where he was murdered
Kirk, 31, was shot dead as he visited Utah Valley University on September 10
‘So why does UVU think this is okay? It’s not,’ he added.
Utah Valley University TPUSA chapter president Caleb Chilcutt slammed the decision in an interview with Fox News Monday.
‘They could have brought any other speaker. If they liked Charlie, didn’t like Charlie — I honestly don’t really care. But the fact they brought someone who was so critical, literally days after the assassination on my campus, is just shameful for me,’ Chilcutt said.
Jason Chaffetz, a former Utah Congressman and a commentator for the network, called McMahon a ‘liberal hack’ who should be disinvited.
‘Look, there’s still time to correct this. This hasn’t happened. And if the university is gonna step up and do the right thing, they’re gonna cancel her and put in somebody like an astronaut or an athlete or somebody, anybody, But this person, this partisan hack, she should not be addressing the students, not at the commencement.’
The school’s President Astrid S. Tuminez praised McMahon in a statement announcing she would speak.
‘Sharon McMahon is an original. She is a force of nature and a force for good. As a former history teacher, she understands that education can inform, inspire, and instigate courageous action,’ Tuminez said.
She added that ‘our graduates are very lucky to have her as commencement speaker!’
Utah Senator Mike Lee made a post furious at the university that was retweeted by Elon Musk
Kirk was allegedly shot by Robinson in the neck while he delivered a speech to students at Utah Valley University on September 10 last year
‘I am deeply grateful for this honor from UVU, whose work reflects the very best of what education can do: expand opportunity, strengthen communities, and prepare people to serve the world around them,’ McMahon said.
‘It is a privilege to be recognized by an institution with that kind of impact.’
The Daily Mail has reached out to both McMahon and Utah Valley University for further comment.
Kirk was fatally shot while speaking at the university on September 10, 2025.
Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old who did not attend the university, was arrested in connection with the shooting.
Robinson, 22, is facing capital murder charges and a potential death sentence for Kirk’s murder