From Grief to Grift: The Conspiracy Hustle After Kirk’s Death
The far right turns Kirk’s killing into a stage for antisemitism, paranoia, and brand-building.
Prominent figures on the American right circulated conspiracy theories after the killing of activist Charlie Kirk, pushing claims that have no support in the official investigation. What began as grief quickly turned into a parade of speculation, infighting, and even antisemitic rhetoric.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., insisted Kirk’s death was part of a broader plot against conservatives. She went further, warning about “Jews taking over Christian patriotic Turning Point USA,” remarks critics widely condemned as antisemitic. Watchdog groups and fellow lawmakers accused her of stoking division while offering no evidence.
Steve Bannon used his War Room podcast to argue that the official timeline looked scripted and that Tyler Robinson, the man charged, could not have acted alone. He described Kirk as a “casualty of war” in the country’s political struggle, casting the shooting as a battlefront rather than a crime. Commentator Laura Loomer claimed the killing was staged and tied to hidden power brokers, another charge delivered without proof.
Tucker Carlson focused on Israel. He said Kirk “did not like” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling him “a very destructive force,” and claimed Kirk was “appalled by what was happening in Gaza.” That line drew swift pushback from Sen. Ted Cruz, who accused Carlson of misrepresenting Kirk’s views. Carlson also suggested the administration could seize on the tragedy to justify speech restrictions, a warning critics said fed antisemitic narratives.
Candace Owens drove the most dramatic escalation. First she accused billionaire Bill Ackman of leading a Hamptons “intervention” to pressure Kirk on Israel. Ackman denied it and released text exchanges showing what he called a cordial friendship. When Kirk’s pastor, Rob McCoy, urged her to stop spreading “gossip and innuendo,” Owens snapped back that he should “be quiet.” Veteran broadcaster Michael Savage piled on, branding her a “black racist” and telling her to “shut your [expletive] mouth.” Owens then declared the killing a “federal conspiracy,” claiming government agencies were involved in a cover-up. Megyn Kelly partially defended her, saying Kirk had confided that he felt pressure over his stance on Israel, though Kelly stopped short of endorsing Owens’s wilder claims.
Conspiracies spilled over to the left as well. Jemele Hill briefly claimed on Bluesky that Kirk had been the victim of a “white supremacist gang hit,” citing bullet casing markings and a disinformation expert. She deleted the post after backlash. Prosecutors, meanwhile, say Robinson acted alone, motivated by ideology, not gangs.
Alex Jones took the rhetoric even further. On a livestream he shouted that “right-wingers are in a war” and accused the left of putting a “bullseye on Trump and his supporters.” He railed against “corporate media bastards” and promised, “we’re gonna get them.” Bannon echoed the sentiment, again calling Kirk “a casualty of war.” Observers warned the language turns mourning into a call to arms and distorts an open case.
Investigators remain clear: Robinson confessed, sent messages referencing Kirk, and will face the death penalty if convicted. No evidence has surfaced of a larger plot or foreign hand.
What has emerged instead is a familiar pattern. A tragedy becomes a stage for opportunists to push half-baked stories, boost their brands, and drown out fact with noise.
Sources
Marjorie Taylor Greene Issues Warning About Jews Taking Over Turning Point USA — Mediaite
MTG Makes Wildly Antisemitic Claim — Yahoo News
Tucker Carlson Says Charlie Kirk Did Not Like Netanyahu and Was Appalled by Gaza — Mediaite
Candace Owens Rages at Charlie Kirk’s Pastor — Mediaite
Michael Savage Nukes Candace Owens Over Kirk Conspiracies — Mediaite
Candace Owens Calls Kirk’s Death a Federal Conspiracy — Mediaite
Megyn Kelly Backs Owens in Dispute Over Kirk’s Views on Israel — Mediaite
Jemele Hill Deletes Post Claiming Kirk Was Victim of White Supremacist Gang Hit — Mediaite
Alex Jones and Steve Bannon Call Kirk’s Death “War” — The New Republic