Three active-duty U.S. military personnel are under scrutiny after publicly mocking, celebrating, or implicitly justifying the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The backlash has grown loud enough to prompt a direct response from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who called the conduct “completely unacceptable.”
Marine Officer Recruiter Toasts Kirk’s Death With Beer Emojis
Captain Jacoby Williamson, a Marine officer recruiter stationed in Chicago, posted a story on Instagram celebrating Kirk’s killing. It featured an image of Charlie Kirk with the caption:
“Another racist man popped 🍻”
The beer clinking emojis implied celebration. The post originated from Williamson’s professional recruiting account: @capt_williamson_usmc, which includes no disclaimer distancing his views from those of the U.S. Marine Corps.
Williamson currently serves as the Officer Selection Officer (OSO) for the greater Chicago region. His background includes an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction, a B.A. in Black History, and former roles in intelligence, public affairs, and strategic communications. Notably, his duties once included advising generals and managing external messaging for the Marine Corps—raising questions about how someone trained in communications could make such a public misstep.
Navy TikToker With 1.5M Followers Says “F**k That Guy”
Petty Officer 3rd Class Hyland, a Navy sailor known on TikTok as @ispeak1906, is also facing backlash after posting a video stating:
“Is what happened to him sad? Absolutely. However, fk that guy.”**
“I don’t condone what happened to him, but guess what—God’s timing is always right.”
Hyland also implied that the incident highlighted racial double standards in the media, mocking the coverage in a satirical “white voice” and framing the attack as racially charged—despite no evidence suggesting race or politics played any role in the killing.
Hyland wasn’t in uniform in the viral video, but other content on his profile frequently features him in Navy uniform or on duty. Though his bio includes the typical disclaimer—“My Views Are Not Reflective of the DOD OR USN”—that doesn’t exempt him from UCMJ enforcement if the Navy determines his behavior harms the service’s reputation or morale.
Army Lieutenant Jokes That “The Wrong Target” Was Hit
Lieutenant McCray, a U.S. Army chemical officer who also performs music under the name @traumabare, posted a TikTok video laughing about Charlie Kirk’s death with the caption:
“Right idea, wrong target.”
Although the video has since been deleted, it remains indexed by Google, confirming it featured Kirk and a dismissive tone. The implication—that someone else, potentially a sitting president, should have been targeted—has raised national security concerns.
Before its removal, McCray’s TikTok had over 168,000 followers and 5.6 million likes. His content frequently blended political commentary, music promotion, and openly gay lifestyle posts. On Instagram, McCray is open about being a gay man and regularly discusses LGBTQ+ topics—another layer that has drawn attention and backlash.
Following the video, furious viewers flooded his Instagram account with comments:
“I notified the FBI about your TikTok post. You’re gonna feel real stupid having to explain what you meant by ‘Right idea, wrong target.’”
“P.O.S… Celebrating the death of someone who did no harm to no one.”
So far, there has been no confirmation from Army officials regarding an investigation or disciplinary measures.
Secretary of Defense: “Completely Unacceptable. Will Be Addressed Immediately.”
The controversy eventually caught the attention of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who issued a firm response on X (formerly Twitter), writing:
“We are tracking all these very closely — and will address, immediately. Completely unacceptable.”
— Secretary Pete Hegseth, September 11, 2025
Hegseth’s statement came in response to Army veteran Sean Parnell, who had posted:
“It is unacceptable for military personnel and Department of War civilians to celebrate or mock the assassination of a fellow American. The Department of War has zero tolerance for it.”
The fact that the sitting Secretary of Defense had to personally address the issue speaks volumes about how seriously the Pentagon is treating the fallout.
DoD Policy: No Tolerance for Celebrating Violence
While service members retain limited First Amendment protections, DOD and UCMJ guidelines prohibit:
- Promoting or celebrating acts of violence
- Posting partisan or politically inflammatory content while in uniform or through official channels
- Conduct that undermines good order, discipline, or public trust in the military
Violations can lead to non-judicial punishment, administrative separation, or even court-martial.
In all three of these cases, the individuals involved are either recruiters, influencers, or officers—roles that require a high level of professionalism and accountability. Their conduct is now under the microscope not just from the military, but from the American public.
The Salty Bottom Line
This isn’t just edgy content or political venting. This is active-duty military personnel publicly celebrating or trivializing the death of a U.S. citizen, and in one case, suggesting a U.S. President should have been assassinated instead.
Whether you like Charlie Kirk or not, this kind of behavior from uniformed servicemembers crosses a line. It betrays the military’s core values and threatens the apolitical trust that civilians place in their armed forces.
When Marine recruiters toast to civilian deaths, when Navy sailors post “f**k that guy,” and when Army lieutenants joke about “wrong targets,” it’s not just about politics—it’s about discipline, judgment, and credibility.
Let’s see if Secretary Hegseth and the military brass follow through with the accountability they’ve promised.
Because if we don’t enforce standards here, where else will they fall apart?
Editorial Note: This article was updated at 1536 EST to incorporate information regarding Lt. McCray and a public statement from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
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