On the evening of December 14, 2025, Erika Kirk, the widow of slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk, stunned the political world by announcing she would meet privately with Candace Owens—a former Turning Point USA staffer and now a lightning rod for controversy—on Monday, December 15. The announcement came amid a maelstrom of conspiracy theories swirling around the September assassination of Charlie Kirk, theories that Owens herself has vigorously promoted, much to the dismay of many within the conservative movement.
Erika Kirk, who now leads Turning Point USA (TPUSA) in the wake of her husband’s tragic death, took to X (formerly Twitter) to share the news. “Candace Owens and I are meeting for a private, in-person discussion on Monday, December 15. @RealCandaceO 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 responded promptly, echoing Kirk’s sentiment: “I am very much looking forward to this discussion,” punctuating her message with a raised hands emoji.
This private summit replaced a much-anticipated TPUSA livestream, which had been scheduled to systematically debunk Owens’ claims regarding Charlie Kirk’s assassination. The livestream’s sudden cancellation signaled the seriousness of the rift and underscored the high stakes involved. According to NewsNation, the organization had intended to confront Owens’ assertions head-on, but the plan was scrapped in favor of this one-on-one meeting.
Owens, who served as TPUSA’s communications director from 2017 to 2019 and was once a close friend of Charlie Kirk, began spreading conspiracy theories almost immediately after Kirk was shot and killed on September 10, 2025. Her theories have grown increasingly elaborate—and incendiary—over the months. She has suggested, without evidence, that Kirk’s murder was an “inside job,” implicating not just unnamed TPUSA associates, but also American supporters of Israel and, in a surprising twist, the French military. Axios reported that Owens even speculated Kirk was assassinated by a pro-Israel henchman with help from TPUSA insiders and the U.S. military.
Owens’ allegations haven’t stopped at shadowy plots. She has gone further, asserting that Charlie Kirk had become disillusioned with the U.S. alliance with Israel and was under pressure from pro-Israel TPUSA donors in the weeks leading up to his death. These claims, which have been widely rejected as baseless by mainstream conservative figures and Jewish organizations alike, have contributed to a deepening rift within the MAGA movement. Some have accused Owens of promoting antisemitic conspiracy theories, a charge she has vehemently denied even as her criticism of Israel has become more pronounced in recent years.
The fallout has been swift and severe. Erika Kirk, now at the helm of TPUSA, has not minced words in her response. Appearing at a recent CBS town hall, she was asked what message she would send to Owens regarding the ongoing speculation about her husband’s murder. Her answer was terse, but powerful: “Stop. That’s it. That’s all I have to say. Stop.” This simple yet direct rebuke captured the frustration felt by many in the conservative movement, who see Owens’ theories as both divisive and damaging.
The situation has also placed Owens’ own motives under the microscope. She has openly questioned Erika Kirk’s leadership of TPUSA following Charlie Kirk’s death, casting aspersions on her intentions and fueling further speculation. The result has been a highly public feud that has spilled over into social media and conservative circles, with both women commanding significant followings and influence.
But the controversy doesn’t end there. Owens is currently embroiled in a separate defamation lawsuit filed by French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron. The suit, brought in Delaware Superior Court in July 2025, accuses Owens of orchestrating a “campaign of global humiliation” by repeatedly and falsely claiming that Brigitte Macron was born a man. The complaint, as reported by NewsNation, pulls no punches: “These claims are demonstrably false, and Owens knew they were false when she published them. Yet, she published them anyway. And the reason is clear: It is not the pursuit of truth, but the pursuit of fame.”
This legal battle only adds to the storm surrounding Owens, whose penchant for controversy has made her a fixture in right-wing media—and a frequent target of criticism from both inside and outside the conservative movement. Her willingness to challenge established narratives, particularly regarding Israel, has alienated many former allies and made her a polarizing figure even within MAGA circles. According to Axios and NewsNation, some Jewish groups and conservative leaders have gone so far as to label her rhetoric antisemitic, a charge that has further complicated her standing.
The upcoming meeting between Erika Kirk and Candace Owens is, by all accounts, a high-stakes gamble. For Erika Kirk, it represents an opportunity to address the swirling rumors and restore some sense of unity to TPUSA and the broader conservative movement. For Owens, it is a chance to defend her views and perhaps mend fences—or, depending on how the conversation goes, to double down on her claims. Both women have agreed to pause all public commentary, livestreams, and social media exchanges until after their discussion, a tacit acknowledgment of the gravity of the situation.
Observers across the political spectrum are watching closely. The feud has already exposed deep fissures within the conservative movement, pitting former friends and allies against each other and raising uncomfortable questions about the role of conspiracy theories in American political discourse. The assassination of Charlie Kirk was, in itself, a shocking and destabilizing event for TPUSA and its supporters. The subsequent battle over the narrative of his death has only added to the chaos.
As the meeting approaches, the stakes could hardly be higher. Will Erika Kirk and Candace Owens find common ground, or will their conversation serve to further entrench the divisions that have emerged in recent months? For now, the conservative movement—and the public at large—can only wait and see. One thing is certain: the outcome of this private summit will reverberate far beyond the walls of TPUSA, shaping the future of its leadership and the broader direction of right-wing activism in America.
The days ahead promise answers, but also more questions, as two of the movement’s most prominent women face off behind closed doors, with the eyes of a nation upon them.
