Former President Barack Obama addresses the Obama Foundation’s 2024 Democracy Forum on December 05, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)(WASHINGTON) — Former President Barack Obama says he finds the murder of Charlie Kirk “horrific” and “a tragedy” and stressed that Americans must be able to disagree, push back against ideas they don’t ascribe to, while respecting the right of others to hold those opinions. “Regardless of where you are on the political spectrum, what happened to Charlie Kirk was horrific and a tragedy,” he said. And we have to be clear and forthright in condemning them.”He continued: “And so, look, obviously I didn’t know Charlie Kirk. And I think at moments like this, when tensions are high, then part of the job of the president is to pull people together.”Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio.