MAGA's fractious debate over Israel is disrupting the movement's mourning for the late activist Charlie Kirk and reviving bitter grievances among prominent right-wing voices.
Why it matters: MAGA swiftly coalesced in grief and anger after Kirk was assassinated last week. The fact that disagreements over Israel pierced that unity underscores how divisive the issue has become — and how much foreign policy orthodoxy is evolving on the right.
Driving the news: Candace Owens, a popular right-wing podcaster and conspiracy theorist, set off the clash Monday by claiming on her show that MAGA-friendly hedge fund manager Bill Ackman staged a private "intervention" for Kirk at an event in the Hamptons last month.
- Owens alleged that Ackman, who is Jewish and a vocal supporter of Israel, made "threats" after Kirk questioned Israel's handling of the war in Gaza.
- Owens went on to claim, without evidence, that Kirk was "offered a ton of money" that he declined to accept — and was "on the brink of changing some of his perspectives," seemingly referencing his overall pro-Israel stances.
Megyn Kelly, the cable-host-turned-podcaster, said Kirk had confided in her that he felt "frustrated" and "pressured" over his Israel criticism, though she didn't endorse Owens' claims of money or coercion.
- Tucker Carlson, the ex-Fox News anchor and prominent Israel critic, said Kirk told him he "hated" Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — and urged Carlson to highlight supposed links between Israeli intelligence and Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced sex trafficker who died in prison in 2019.
What they're saying: Ackman, Kirk allies and attendees of the Hamptons event flooded X with accusations that Owens is fabricating her claims.
- Ackman insisted there was no "intervention" or "blackmail," posting a WhatsApp conversation he had with Kirk exchanging pleasantries after the event.
- "[L]et's not let those emotions cause us to construct conspiracy theories that can cause innocent people serious and potentially deadly harm. One tragic and devastating loss is enough," Ackman said on X.
"Charlie personally told me he had a very cordial relationship with Bill and the event was productive," added Andrew Kolvet, Kirk's executive producer and spokesperson.
- Kolvet said that questions were raised in the Hamptons about hosting Carlson at a July event, but that Kirk responded: "Honestly, people telling me not to have Tucker makes me want to have Tucker."
- Other attendees, including influencer Xaviaer DuRousseau and Babylon Bee CEO Seth Dillon, said Kirk remained staunchly pro-Israel but acknowledged frustration that debate about the war was often "penalized" or "discouraged."
Zoom in: Owens doubled down on Wednesday, saying in a statement to Axios, "I don't need to comment because left and right, people are awake now. This smear campaign will be ineffectual."
Zoom out: Kirk's assassination has become a magnet for conspiracy theories of all stripes.
- Some corners of the internet baselessly claim the Mossad, Israel's foreign intelligence service, killed Kirk. Others claim he was murdered by a MAGA loyalist, despite evidence his assassin identified more with the political left.
- Some liberals falsely claimed the shooter was a follower of the ultra-right-wing "Groypers," a group of Christian white nationalists opposed to immigration, feminism and LGBTQ+ rights.
Between the lines: Few issues divide MAGA more bitterly than the U.S. relationship with Israel.
- Some in the movement hold traditional views on Israel as an important strategic and historical ally, grounded in religious affinities and shared security interests.
- Others view Israel as a faraway country taking advantage of U.S. resources and power, with little benefit for Americans.
- "It is disgusting and abhorrent we are even having to have this conversation," Josh Hammer, a right-wing podcaster and Israel supporter who was at the Hamptons event, said on his show Wednesday.
