American and United Airlines have joined Delta in suspending employees following social media posts about Charlie Kirk’s death, while Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has publicly pushed for firings over the incident.

American And United Suspend Employees Over Charlie Kirk Posts; Sean Duffy Urges Consequences

In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s killing on September 10, 2025, American Airlines said employees who “promoted such violence on social media were immediately removed from service.” United Airlines also confirmed suspensions and emphasized a “zero tolerance” policy for posts that celebrate or justify political violence.

The airlines have not disclosed how many employees are involved, nor all of the specific posts in question. The companies state the posts violated their social media and conduct policies, often saying the content went “beyond healthy, respectful debate.”

We’ve explored the nebulous nature of airline social media policies here. In short, if you’re an airline employee, it is very shrewd indeed to err on the side of caution, as anything you say can and will be used against you and your “free speech” rights do not extend to your private employer.

I do understand the disdain for Charlie Kirk’s positions, but the praise of political violence crosses the line. For example, United pilot Andrew Schweizer, pictured above, who has also posted pictures of himself in uniform, said:

I mean, kudos for having the guts not to backtrack on your hate, but that’s a really poorly-thought-out position. But hardly surprising…he was one of the COVID hysterics who was so fundamentally wrong about the pandemic too:

Sean Duffy: Leading the Pressure

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has been vocal in condemning such posts, arguing that employees who celebrate Kirk’s death should be fired. He wrote on X that “this behavior is disgusting and they should be fired” and that “any company responsible for the safety of the traveling public cannot tolerate that behavior.”

His remarks have placed public and political pressure on airlines to act quickly. Some critics argue that Duffy’s stance heightens fears of over-enforcement or chilling effects on free speech, especially since many posts are private or off-duty. Others say public safety demands no leniency when employees entrusted with transportation promote or applaud political violence.

CONCLUSION

American and United have taken disciplinary action similar to Delta, suspending employees for social media remarks about Charlie Kirk’s death that airlines say violate internal policies. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has publicly called for firings in response, reinforcing government expectations of corporate accountability. As details remain thin in terms of the number of employees, exact content, and timing, this will present an important test case in how companies, politics, and free speech intersect in the age of social media.

> Read More: Delta Air Lines Suspends Employees For Celebrating Charlie Kirk’s Death