Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Pentagon is tracking posts glorifying conservative figure Charlie Kirk's killing.

This story has been updated to add a comment from the Army.

A Marine has been fired over a social media post calling Charlie Kirk a "racist man" who was "popped" after the Pentagon said it was tracking and would have "zero tolerance" for posts from servicemembers or employees glorifying the conservative icon's killing.

"It is unacceptable for military personnel and Department of War civilians to celebrate or mock the assassination of a fellow American," chief spokesperson Sean Parnell wrote on X. "The Department of War has zero tolerance for it."

"We are tracking all these very closely – and will address, immediately," Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on X. "Completely unacceptable."

Right-wing influencers call for military firings over Kirk posts

After Kirk's death, right-wing influencers with sway in the Trump administration put out calls on social media asking for their followers to put on blast any posts from servicemembers or Department of War employees criticizing Kirk or celebrating his death.

A screenshot circulated in the conservative social media sphere appeared to show a post from a U.S. Marine Corps recruiter that read, "Another racist man popped," alongside an image of Kirk.

"Hi @PeteHegseth, can you please fire this lunatic?" wrote Libs of TikTok, an account run by right-wing influencer Chaya Raichik.

The U.S. Marine Corps confirmed that one of its members was fired.

“We are aware of a social media post that does not align with our core values,” Lt. Col. Joshua Benson, lead spokesman for the Marines, said in a statement. “The Marine in question has been relieved of his recruiting duties, and the matter is currently under investigation.”

The Marine who was fired did not return a request for comment.

Another screenshot shared by right-wing accounts appeared to show a Facebook post from a teacher in the military's school system branding Kirk a "garbage human."

Maj. Adam D'Ortona, a right-wing influencer who works in Hegseth's office and goes by the moniker "infantrydort" online, reposted the screenshot, writing that "If you speak like this woman, you should lose your job."

"Openly celebrating the death of anyone (let alone a fellow American) is not harmless free speech. It is corrosion from within," D'Ortona wrote.

Kingsley Wilson, a Pentagon spokesperson, said D'Ortona is not a spokesperson or advisor for the Department of War.

Without mentioning Kirk by name, Dan Driscoll, John Phelan and Troy Meink – the secretaries of the Army, Navy and Air Force – also put out similarly-worded statements on social media hinting that posts from servicemembers and employees celebrating or mocking the assassination will be monitored and could trigger retaliation.

The Air Force said it was “aware of inappropriate comments concerning recent political violence."

“As commanders verify inappropriate actions, they are taking the necessary administrative and disciplinary actions to hold service members accountable," a spokesperson said in a statement.

The Navy and Army said they had nothing to provide.

The State Department also warned on Sept. 11 that foreign nationals who glorify Kirk's assassination are "not welcome" in the country. The Trump administration "does not believe that the United States should grant visas to persons whose presence in our country does not align with U.S. national security interests," the department told USA TODAY.

At a Pentagon ceremony commemorating the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, Hegseth lauded Kirk as a "Christ-follower and American patriot," comparing him to police officers and firefighters who responded on 9/11.

"Well done, good and faithful servant. Full heart, clear eyes. Like those on 9/11, he will never be forgotten," he said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Marine fired over anti-Charlie Kirk post, Hegseth says Pentagon 'tracking' military posts

Reporting by Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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