A professor who was fired for calling Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk a “Nazi” and saying Kirk’s family “deserved better” in a Facebook post has been reinstated by a district court.
Clinton-appointed Judge Karen E. Schreie issued a temporary restraining order Wednesday reinstating tenured University of South Dakota professor Phillip Michael Hook to his position, ruling that his statement constituted protected free speech and that the university could not punish him for it. Hook wrote the post on Sept. 10, the same day Kirk was assassinated at a campus speaking event at Utah Valley University.
“Okay. I don’t give a flying f*** about this Kirk person,” Hook posted online. “Apparently he was a hate spreading Nazi. I wasn’t paying close enough attention to the idiotic right fringe to even know who he was. I’m sorry for his family that he was a hate spreading Nazi and got killed. I’m sure they deserved better. Maybe good people could now enter their lives.”
“But geez, where was all this concern when the politicians in Minnesota were shot? And the school shootings? And Capitol Police?” Hook continued. “I have no thoughts or prayers for this hate spreading Nazi. A shrug, maybe.”
Three hours after the post, Hook chose to remove it and posted an apology to his account.
“Apparently my frustration with the sudden onslaught of coverage concerning a guy shot today led to a post I mow [sic] regret posting,” Hook said. “I’m sure many folks fully understood my premise but the simple fact that some were offended, led me to remove the post. I extend this public apology to those who were offended. Om Shanti.”
By this point, however, it was too late. Republican South Dakota Speaker of the House Jon Hansen spoke out against Hook for his post, saying he was “disgusted” by the “hateful and vile comments” and stating he had reached out to the university president to call for Hook’s termination.
“Yesterday, I was made aware of these hateful and vile comments made by a University of South Dakota professor regarding the death of Charlie Kirk and Charlie’s family. I am disgusted by his remarks, and think they are unbecoming of someone who works for and represents our University,” Hansen posted to X. “That kind of disgusting rhetoric from an employee and representative of our university directed toward a good man’s family who was recently assassinated will not be tolerated.”
Yesterday, I was made aware of these hateful and vile comments made by a University of South Dakota professor regarding the death of Charlie Kirk and Charlie’s family. I am disgusted by his remarks, and think they are unbecoming of someone who works for and represents our… pic.twitter.com/FIVa1OlGrM
— Speaker Jon Hansen (@SpeakerHansen) September 12, 2025
Should the University of South Dakota reinstate professor Phillip Michael Hook after his controversial comments?
Republican South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden also called for Hook’s termination.
“When I read this post, I was shaking mad,” Rhoden said in an X post reacting to Hook’s original message. “The Board of Regents intends to FIRE this University of South Dakota professor, and I’m glad. This individual stands in front of South Dakota students to educate them. We must not send the message to our kids that this is acceptable public discourse. We need more Charlie Kirks on campus and less hatred like this.”
When I read this post, I was shaking mad. The Board of Regents intends to FIRE this University of South Dakota professor, and I’m glad.
This individual stands in front of South Dakota students to educate them. We must not send the message to our kids that this is acceptable… pic.twitter.com/tzYs1svHGw
— Governor Larry Rhoden (@GovLarryRhoden) September 12, 2025
Hook was soon placed on administrative leave and informed by the university of its “intent to terminate” him, citing “unfitness … to perform assigned duties” and a policy that states that even when professors speak “as private citizens,” they must be accurate and respectful and understand that their position “imposes special obligations,” according to the court document.
Hook then filed a lawsuit against the school for “unconstitutional retaliation against core political speech in violation of the First Amendment.” The court granted Hook a temporary restraining order in effect until Oct. 8.
Hook is one of several professors punished for rhetoric posted online after Kirk’s death. Many teachers and professors publicly mocked or cheered on the assassination, resulting in similar terminations. Others have been punished for supporting and memorializing the slain conservative leader.
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