The shocking assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has thrown the MAGA world into a period of intense mourning and furious blame-setting. In the weeks since Kirk was killed, the unified front of grief has splintered, and right-wing podcaster Candace Owens has positioned herself at the center of the storm. While figures like Donald Trump and J.D. Vance pointed fingers at the “organized left,” Owens has taken a different, more controversial path, weaving a complex conspiracy that points the finger at a powerful, unexpected entity: Israel. Her allegations have not only disrupted the political mourning process but have exposed deep and growing divisions within the movement itself.
Owens, who described Kirk as a “brother,” has used her platform to cast profound doubt on the official narrative that his death was the action of a lone shooter. Instead, she suggests a shadowy plot with global implications. Her theory, which has garnered enough attention to warrant denials from the Israeli Prime Minister, claims that Kirk was targeted because he was beginning to waver in his support for Israel. The result is a messy clash of grief, opportunism, and the raw ideological fractures that are defining the second Trump presidency.
A Conspiracy of “Zionist” Control and Covert Threats
So, what exactly is Candace Owens saying? Her narrative, spread across multiple episodes of her popular podcast, is intricate. She claims that Kirk was under pressure for his evolving views on Israel, particularly after he invited vocal Israel critics like Tucker Carlson and Dave Smith to speak at Turning Point USA events. Owens alleges that Kirk confided in her about being threatened by the Israeli government and by Bill Ackman, a pro-Israel, pro-Trump hedge fund billionaire. She insists that Kirk was “on the brink of changing some of his perspectives” and had declined a “ton of money” intended to influence his stance.
However, Owens provides no conclusive evidence for these threats. She leverages her close friendship with Kirk to suggest she has insider knowledge of a “deeper truth.” She is careful not to outright state that Israel ordered the killing, but she uses implication and association to keep the idea alive for her audience. In her own words, she called out “Bibi Netanyahu No 1 among them, shamefully, who are trying to distort the truth, a truth that I know and can prove.” Her language often veers into territory critics label as antisemitic, referring to “Zionist-controlled publications” and making inflammatory comparisons, such as stating that “Joseph Goebbels has nothing on the Zionists in America.”
Fact check: TRUE. pic.twitter.com/dS2VLybX0Y
— Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) September 17, 2025
The response to these claims has been swift and forceful. Bill Ackman posted cordial text messages between himself and Kirk as evidence that he never threatened him, stating, “at no time have I ever threatened Charlie Kirk.” Benjamin Netanyahu has issued two separate statements denying the “insane,” “false,” and “outrageous” rumors of Israel’s involvement. Even Kirk’s own executive producer, Andrew Kolvet, pushed back, saying Kirk had a “very cordial relationship” with Ackman. Despite this, Owens has doubled down, recently claiming that she is being “hounded” by the media, specifically citing the lawsuit from French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, in an effort to distract her from investigating Kirk’s murder.
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Opportunism and the Fracturing of a Movement
Candace Owens’s actions following Kirk’s death are seen by many observers as a stark example of political opportunism. Experts like Derek Beres, who co-hosts the Conspirituality podcast, describe her as an opportunist who shifts positions to attract attention. “I don’t find any moral centre in her. There’s no consistency, it’s about whatever is going to get eyeballs on ‘me’,” Beres said, adding that many right-wing podcasters are acting like “vultures” trying to claim a piece of Kirk’s legacy. This feeding frenzy has included everything from merchandise sales to recruitment drives, all under the shadow of the assassination.
More significantly, Owens’s conspiracy theories highlight a major ideological crack within the MAGA coalition. The movement is no monolith; it is a tenuous alliance between traditional pro-Israel conservatives and a growing faction that views Israel with suspicion. Kirk’s death has become a battleground for these groups to vie for influence. While Owens pushes her theory, others like Steve Bannon floated the idea of Chinese Communist Party involvement, and Laura Loomer initially blamed a “trans terror cell.” This fracturing occurs as the movement is already grappling with internal debates over U.S. support for Israel and the unresolved questions surrounding Jeffrey Epstein.
Charlie Kirk was a great man. He deserves honor – not lies. pic.twitter.com/NwEN4B2q7w
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) September 18, 2025
The power struggle extends to who will inherit Kirk’s influence. Owens has openly railed against those trying to fill what she calls “Charlie Kirk’s chair,” warning, “I will be an enemy of you.” This posturing signals a fight for the soul of the movement between different wings, including more far-right elements like white nationalist Nick Fuentes, who long considered Kirk too moderate. Ultimately, the conspiracy theories propagated by Candace Owens are about more than just one tragic death. They are a symptom of a movement at a crossroads, where grief is a commodity, truth is malleable, and the pursuit of power often overshadows the memory of the fallen.
