Why were orbital kinetic weapons not publicly adopted?

Why did the United States not use orbital kinetic weapons if the space treaty did not prohibit them, or was escalation the concern?

The public rationale recalled is fear of a slippery slope, while the identity of any system placed in orbit remains unknown.

The question assumes that treaty restrictions leave room for kinetic weapons in orbit. Fear that placing weapons there would start a slippery slope is the public rationale recalled for restraint. The reply also asserts that something has since been placed in space, without identifying it. Neither that assertion nor the treaty premise is verified in the exchange.