College Professor Who Called Charlie Kirk a 'Nazi' Handed Legal Win [View all]

Source: Newsweek

Sep 24, 2025 at 10:24 PM EDT


A tenured college professor at the University of South Dakota was handed a temporary legal win on Wednesday after a judge halted his impending firing for remarks made immediately after the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Newsweek reached out to the school via email for comment.

Why It Matters

The case involving the professor who called Kirk a "hate spreading Nazi" online, according to a court document, is at the center of a larger national debate over the limits of free speech for educators, public employment and political discourse. The recent federal court ruling that the university cannot terminate the professor for his social media post exemplifies the ongoing tension between academic freedom and public accountability, with broad implications for First Amendment rights in educational settings.

Kirk, 31, was a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump and a face of the MAGA movement for younger generations. He utilized social media platforms to engage with younger people about culture war topics, foreign policy, religion and other notable conservative values.

What To Know

Professor Phillip Michael Hook's win follows his lawsuit against the university for "unconstitutional retaliation in violation of the First Amendment," the court document says. U.S. District Judge Karen Schreier, nominee of former President Bill Clinton, noted in her ruling in part: "The public has a compelling interest in protecting its First Amendment rights."

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/college-professor-who-called-charlie-kirk-a-nazi-handed-legal-win-10494271