08/22/2026
📣 Regardless of your political views or personal views, this needs to be rejected hard by the Troy community. Laughing about the death of someone is not funny. Read the statement about Walter Cook, Troy School District Board of Education candidate.
He’s also endorsed by the Michigan Education Association and Troy Education Association. Please ask them why they are supporting and endorsing this behavior. I tried asking the TEA and my comment was removed and I was blocked from their page.
The Oakland County Republican Party is demanding that Walter Cook immediately withdraw his candidacy for the Troy School District Board of Education after text messages surfaced showing Cook mocking the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
In the exchange, Cook wrote: “As the life ran out of his eyes, in his last moments… he leaned over to the left,” followed by, “Well slumped really.” Cook then made another joke about the eventual death of Steve Bannon, writing, “Maybe Bannon will hold on to his principles and drop to the right when his time comes? Idk.”
“This is not edgy humor, and it is not a harmless political joke. Walter Cook mocked the final moments of a murdered husband and father, then followed it with another disgusting crack about the death of a conservative. That is sick, depraved, and completely disqualifying. Anyone who finds amusement in political assassination has no business anywhere near a position of authority over Troy’s children.”
—Vance Patrick, Chairman, Oakland County Republican Party
Troy School Board members are entrusted with the safety, wellbeing, and education of thousands of students and staff. That responsibility requires sound judgment, moral character, and basic human decency. Cook’s own words demonstrate that he lacks all three.
“Parents should not have to wonder whether a candidate for school board views political violence as a punchline,” Patrick continued. “Walter Cook has exposed exactly who he is. He should end this campaign immediately, and every elected official, organization, and community leader supporting him should be forced to answer for whether they believe this vile conduct is acceptable.”
The Oakland County Republican Party calls on Cook to withdraw immediately and issue an unequivocal apology to Charlie Kirk’s family and the students, parents, teachers, and staff of the Troy School District. There can be no place in public office for anyone who celebrates or mocks political murder.
