In a dramatic turn within the conservative movement, Erika Kirk, the widow of slain Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, has opted to address explosive assassination claims privately with controversial podcaster Candace Owens. This decision comes after weeks of public sparring and mounting speculation that have rocked the MAGA world and exposed deep rifts in right-wing media alliances.
The highly anticipated meeting between Kirk and Owens is set for Monday, December 15, 2025, following the abrupt postponement of a planned Turning Point USA (TPUSA) livestream that was originally intended to rebut Owens’ theories about Charlie Kirk’s September 10 assassination. According to CBS News and Hindustan Times, Erika Kirk announced on X (formerly Twitter), “Candace Owens and I are meeting for a private, in-person discussion on Monday, December 15. @RealCandace and I have agreed that public discussions, livestreams, and tweets are on hold until after this meeting. I look forward to a productive conversation. Thank you.” Owens echoed the sentiment, replying that she was “very much looking forward” to the discussion.
This private sit-down marks a rare pause in a bitter feud that has transfixed and divided the conservative commentariat. Owens, a former TPUSA communications director and once a close friend of the Kirks, began raising suspicions about Charlie Kirk’s death almost immediately after the fatal shooting at Utah Valley University. Her podcast, which commands a massive online audience, became the epicenter for a flurry of conspiracy theories implicating a range of actors—from TPUSA insiders to American supporters of Israel, and even the French and U.S. militaries. Owens has not provided concrete evidence for any of these claims, as reported by Hindustan Times and Axios.
Owens’ assertions have not only strained her relationship with TPUSA but also reshaped alliances and animosities across the conservative media ecosystem. Some prominent MAGA figures, such as podcasters Steven Crowder and Tim Pool, have publicly criticized Owens for what they see as exploiting Kirk’s death for attention and views. Others, especially those with anti-Zionist or openly antisemitic leanings, have rallied behind Owens, demanding that TPUSA address what they perceive as suspicious circumstances surrounding the assassination. According to Axios, these divisions have become one of the most radioactive flashpoints in the ongoing civil war within the MAGA movement.
Erika Kirk, who assumed the role of TPUSA CEO after her husband’s death, initially avoided a direct confrontation with Owens. The organization’s leadership sporadically denied the conspiracy claims, hoping perhaps to avoid fanning the flames. That changed dramatically on December 3, when Blake Neff, a producer for The Charlie Kirk Show, issued TPUSA’s most detailed rebuttal yet. Neff announced a livestream scheduled for December 15 to address Owens’ allegations point by point and even invited Owens to participate. When Owens cited a scheduling conflict, TPUSA stated the event would proceed without her. But in a last-minute twist, Erika Kirk herself decided to cancel the public event in favor of a private meeting, a move that surprised many observers.
Kirk has not shied away from expressing her frustration with Owens’ campaign. In a pointed Fox News appearance, Kirk declared, “When you go after my family, my Turning Point USA family, my Charlie Kirk Show family, when you go after the people that I love, and you're making hundreds and thousands of dollars every single episode going after the people that I love because somehow they're in on this, no.” At a CBS News town hall, when asked what message she had for Owens, Kirk replied simply, “Stop. That's it. That's all I have to say. Stop.”
In a separate interview with Bari Weiss for CBS News, Erika Kirk expressed concern that Owens’ conspiracy theories could prejudice the jury pool for Tyler Robinson’s upcoming trial. Robinson, a 22-year-old Utah native, has been arrested and charged with Kirk’s killing. Kirk warned that the spread of unsubstantiated claims could “taint the jury pool,” potentially undermining the integrity of the judicial process. Despite these pleas, Owens has continued to use her podcast as a platform for her theories and has not relented in her criticism of both Erika Kirk and TPUSA.
According to Hindustan Times, the private meeting between Kirk and Owens will not be livestreamed or publicly broadcast, leaving both supporters and critics to speculate about what, if any, resolution might emerge. With both women controlling their own influential media channels—the Charlie Kirk Show and Owens’ podcast, respectively—details of the conversation are expected to be shared after the fact, likely through their respective platforms on YouTube.
The roots of this controversy stretch back to Owens’ evolving relationship with both TPUSA and the broader conservative movement. Once a key figure in mainstream right-wing circles, Owens has in recent years drifted toward more strident criticism of Israel and “Zionists,” embracing conspiracy theories that have been widely condemned by Jewish organizations and many conservative leaders as antisemitic. Central to her claims is the allegation that Charlie Kirk was growing disillusioned with the U.S.-Israel alliance before his death and was facing pressure from pro-Israel donors to TPUSA. These unsubstantiated assertions have only deepened the rift within the movement and complicated efforts to present a unified front.
TPUSA’s handling of the controversy has also been subject to scrutiny. The group’s initial reluctance to engage Owens directly was perceived by some as an attempt to avoid giving the theories further oxygen. However, as the controversy gained momentum and Owens’ audience swelled into the millions, pressure mounted for a more forceful response. The planned livestream represented a turning point, signaling TPUSA’s willingness to confront the allegations head-on—only for the plan to be shelved in favor of private negotiations at the eleventh hour.
For many observers, the Kirk-Owens meeting is about more than just settling a personal dispute. It represents a critical test for the conservative movement’s ability to police its own boundaries, confront internal misinformation, and navigate the increasingly fractious world of right-wing media. Whether the private conversation leads to a truce, a public reckoning, or simply more fuel for the fire remains to be seen.
With the fate of both TPUSA’s reputation and the integrity of the ongoing criminal proceedings hanging in the balance, all eyes will be on what, if anything, emerges from Monday’s closed-door summit. For now, the conservative movement—and its many factions—waits, holding its breath.