US President Donald Trump has amplified a viral video demanding the revival of a Cold War-era law to hold media outlets accountable. The move comes after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
The video, created by TikTok user Ellie May, proposes renaming the law the “Charlie Kirk Act” in honor of the late activist. Within just 13 hours, the accompanying petition gained more than 5,000 signatures.
In 13 hours we’ve gotten 5000 signatures😇👏🏼 keep it up guys🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 link is down below⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️ https://t.co/xXsQ2dvQ4O pic.twitter.com/mFmmV9nAV0
— Ellie May❤️🤍💙 (@officialellymay) September 13, 2025
Charlie Kirk’s Death Sparks Debate
Kirk, 31, co-founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed on September 10 while hosting an event at Utah Valley University. Police later arrested 22-year-old Tyler Robinson in connection with the fatal shooting.
Viral Video Blames Media for Misinformation
In her viral post, Ellie May accused mainstream outlets and social platforms of fueling chaos after Kirk’s death. She highlighted the spread of AI-generated images and false claims about the suspect that circulated widely online.
May argued such misinformation “can damage reputations and put lives at risk.”
Petition Calls for Harsh Penalties
The petition proposes strict financial penalties for outlets and platforms spreading baseless accusations or unfairly censoring.
“Each violation should be subject to a fine amounting to at least 35 percent of the company’s value,” she wrote, insisting accountability should apply to both journalists and online creators.
Push to Revive the Smith-Mundt Act
May also urged a return of the Smith-Mundt Act, a 1948 law designed to restrict government-funded foreign media from being distributed inside the United States.
She claimed the law was repealed by Barack Obama in 2013. However, in reality, it was modified under the Smith-Mundt Modernization Act, allowing access to outlets like Voice of America within the US. Importantly, this law does not regulate private media organizations.
TikTok Creator Defends Petition
Speaking to The Independent, May admitted surprise at the rapid growth of her campaign:
“Each time I check, it’s going up by about 100 signatures, so I feel like this could become a pivotal moment in American history.”
Responding to criticism, she clarified on X:
“I’m not calling for censorship, I’m calling for media organizations to be held accountable for the ignorant s**t that they say.”
Rejecting False Claims About the Suspect
May also have condemned viral rumors falsely identifying Tyler Robinson as a Trump supporter. She stressed that AI-edited images linking him to MAGA groups were fabricated.
“Those are entirely fake,” she insisted.
