CEOs of Reddit, Twitch and Discord Called to Testify in Congress After Charlie Kirk Killing

Many Republicans are blaming social media for the murder of MAGA influencer Charlie Kirk since it’s been revealed the suspect engraved internet meme messages on the bullets and used Discord to allegedly confess to the killing. And now a high-profile congressman wants some of the executives from various tech platforms to testify about it all.

James Comer, the chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, released a statement Wednesday calling for the CEOs of Discord, Steam, Twitch, and Reddit to testify at a committee hearing on October 8, 2025.

“The politically motivated assassination of Charlie Kirk claimed the life of a husband, father, and American patriot. In the wake of this tragedy, and amid other acts of politically motivated violence, Congress has a duty to oversee the online platforms that radicals have used to advance political violence,” Comer said in a statement published online.

“To prevent future radicalization and violence, the CEOs of Discord, Steam, Twitch, and Reddit must appear before the Oversight Committee and explain what actions they will take to ensure their platforms are not exploited for nefarious purposes.”

Discord told Gizmodo in a statement on Wednesday that its CEO would be testifying.

“We have received the Committee’s invitation and welcome the opportunity to testify,” a spokesperson told Gizmodo. “We continuously engage with policymakers on these critical issues and look forward to continuing this important dialogue next month.”

Kirk was shot and killed Sept. 10 at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, while doing one of his debate-style talks on campus. Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old from Utah, turned himself in to authorities late the next day after his parents reportedly recognized him from security footage released by the FBI.

The bullet cartridges found near the scene of the crime were found to have messages engraved, one of many signs that the suspect was plugged in to internet trolling culture.

The messages reportedly included:

• “Notices bulges OWO what’s this?”
• “Hey fascist! Catch!” [Symbols that include an up arrow, right arrow, and three down arrows]
• “Oh bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao ciao”
• “If you read this you are gay LMAO”

Robinson also allegedly talked with friends on Discord, which is presumably why Comer wants to bring the CEO of the company in for a hearing. But it’s unclear why he’s also calling in executives who oversee companies like Twitch, Steam, and Reddit.

The shooter’s exact politics have yet to be determined, but the indictment alleges Robinson said Kirk was full of “hate.” The indictment also suggests that Robinson’s messages were just a way to perform as a troll rather than an attempt to make an earnest statement.

But that’s not going to stop legislators from insisting that something about platforms like Discord is in some way responsible for Kirk’s death, no matter how ridiculous that idea may be.

Reddit, Twitch, and Valve (the owner of Steam) didn’t respond to questions emailed on Wednesday about whether their respective CEOs would be attending the hearing. Gizmodo will update this article when we hear back.