Fox News host Brian Kilmeade found himself at the center of a firestorm this past week after making an on-air suggestion that homeless people who refuse help should be subjected to "involuntary lethal injection." The comment, made during the September 10, 2025, broadcast of "Fox & Friends," came as Kilmeade and his co-hosts were discussing the tragic murder of 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte, North Carolina—a case that has drawn national attention and reignited fierce debate over crime, homelessness, and mental health policy in the United States.
The segment began with co-host Lawrence Jones lamenting that "a lot" of homeless people "don’t want to take the [government] programs" or accept help. He argued, "You can’t give them a choice. Either you take the resources that we’re going to give you, or you’re going to be locked up in jail." Kilmeade, in a moment that would quickly go viral, interjected, "Or involuntary lethal injection, or something. Just kill them." Fellow co-host Ainsley Earhardt expressed dismay, asking, "Why did it have to get to this point?" To which Kilmeade replied, "We aren't voting for the right people."
The immediate context for the conversation was the August 22, 2025, stabbing of Zarutska on a Charlotte light rail train. The accused assailant, Decarlos Brown Jr., 34, is described as homeless and mentally ill, with a lengthy history of interaction with the criminal justice system—fourteen prior criminal cases, according to ABC News. Brown’s mother, Michelle Dewitt, told reporters she had tried to get him admitted to a mental hospital, but he was released after just 14 days. She later dropped him off at a homeless shelter, but her concerns for her son’s safety—and that of others—remained unaddressed.
Kilmeade’s remarks, broadcast live to millions, were met with swift and widespread condemnation. Social media erupted in outrage, and prominent figures across the political spectrum weighed in. California Governor Gavin Newsom responded by quoting scripture on his X (formerly Twitter) account: "Proverbs 21:13: Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered." Representative Don Beyer of Northern Virginia called Kilmeade’s comments "sick" and pointed out, "America’s homeless population includes over a million children and tens of thousands of veterans, many of whom served in Iraq or Afghanistan. Nobody deserves to be murdered by the government for mental illness or poverty."
Homeless advocates were equally appalled. Christine Quinn, president and CEO of Win, a major New York City provider of shelter and services for homeless families, said Kilmeade’s remark was "completely devoid of all humanity." She publicly invited the Fox host to volunteer at one of Win’s shelters, hoping he might gain a deeper understanding of the challenges facing those without homes.
By Sunday, September 14, the controversy had reached such a pitch that Kilmeade addressed it directly on air. During a brief appearance on "Fox News Sunday," he said, "In the morning, we were discussing the murder of Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte, N.C., and how to stop these kinds of attacks by homeless, mentally ill assailants, including institutionalizing or jailing such people so they cannot attack again. Now, during that discussion, I wrongly said they should get lethal injections. I apologize for that extremely callous remark. I’m obviously aware that not all mentally ill homeless people act as the perpetrator did in North Carolina and that so many homeless people deserve our empathy and compassion."
Kilmeade’s apology did little to stem the outcry. Critics noted that his original comments came just hours before the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Utah, an incident that further inflamed debate over public safety and political rhetoric. Some liberal commentators pointed out the irony that while conservatives decried celebrations of Kirk’s death, there appeared to be less outrage over Kilmeade’s suggestion of extrajudicial killings of American citizens.
The timing of the controversy is particularly sensitive, given recent shifts in federal policy. On July 24, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at changing the federal approach to homelessness. The order directs service providers receiving federal funds to prioritize removing people with drug or mental health challenges from public spaces, even if it means locking them up. The president also deployed the National Guard to Washington, D.C., in part to clear homeless encampments from the city. "Surrendering our cities and citizens to disorder and fear is neither compassionate to the homeless nor other citizens," Trump said in the order. He argued that previous programs had failed to address the root causes of homelessness, leaving others vulnerable to public safety threats.
Conservative critics, including some Fox News personalities, have long argued that billions in government spending on homelessness have failed to solve the problem. They often frame the issue as one of public safety, pointing to high-profile crimes like the Zarutska case as evidence that tougher measures are needed. However, homeless service providers counter that the vast majority of people experiencing homelessness are not mentally ill or violent and that most are homeless only temporarily. They argue that the best way to end homelessness is to help people secure stable housing, not to criminalize or demonize them.
According to the most recent nationwide assessment, approximately 770,000 people were experiencing homelessness on a single night in January 2024. That figure includes people living in hotels or shelters, as well as 5,200 individuals still displaced by the 2023 Maui wildfires. Advocates stress that effective solutions require both compassion and significant investment, not punitive measures.
The case of Decarlos Brown Jr. illustrates the complexities at the intersection of homelessness, mental illness, and public safety. Brown’s family had tried to get him committed for treatment, but the system failed to provide lasting help. His release from the hospital and subsequent stay at a homeless shelter did not address his underlying needs, ultimately culminating in tragedy. As the debate rages on, some ask: Are we doing enough to support people before they become a danger to themselves or others?
The Fox News incident has also sparked broader conversations about the responsibilities of media figures and the power of language. MSNBC analyst Matthew Dowd was fired the same week for suggesting that hateful rhetoric can lead to hateful actions, highlighting the heightened scrutiny around media commentary during turbulent times.
For now, Kilmeade’s apology marks an attempt to put the controversy behind him. But for many advocates and critics alike, the episode serves as a stark reminder of the real-world consequences of words—and the urgent need for more humane, effective solutions to America’s homelessness crisis.
