AT A GLANCE
- Candace Owens and Erika Kirk met privately for more than four hours following Owens’ public speculation about Charlie Kirk’s killing
- Erika Kirk, now leading Turning Point USA, previously urged Owens to stop spreading unverified theories
- Both women described the meeting as “productive,” though Owens has not walked back her suspicions
- The case remains active, with a suspect already charged in Kirk’s death
Erika Kirk, Now Leading Turning Point USA, Previously Urged Owens to Stop Spreading Theories About Charlie Kirk’s Death
After months of public tension, Candace Owens and Erika Kirk finally sat down face to face to address Owens’ controversial comments surrounding the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
The meeting took place Monday, Dec. 15, and according to both women, it was lengthy, direct, and emotionally charged. Owens said the conversation lasted four and a half hours and insisted that “absolutely nothing was held back.”
Erika Kirk, who has stepped into a leadership role at Turning Point USA following her husband’s death, confirmed the meeting in a post on X, calling it “very productive” and hinting that more details would be shared later.
“Had a very productive conversation with @RealCandaceO,” Kirk wrote. “More to come from both of us. Looking forward to AmFest this week. Time to get back to work.”
Owens echoed the sentiment, though with significantly more commentary.
“Erika and I had an extremely productive 4 1/2 hour meeting that I think we both feel should have taken place a lot earlier than it did,” Owens wrote, adding that while they disagreed on certain people and points, they were able to “share intel and clarify intent.”
Owens said the immediate outcome of the meeting was that “tensions were thawed,” though she stopped short of offering any apology or retraction.
Owens’ Ongoing Questions About Charlie Kirk’s Death
Charlie Kirk, a co-founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed on Sept. 10 at a college campus in Utah. Authorities charged 22-year-old Tyler Robinson with aggravated murder and additional felony counts. Investigators have maintained that Robinson acted alone.
Owens, however, has publicly rejected that conclusion.
On her podcast just days after the shooting, Owens claimed the public was being misled and suggested the federal government could be withholding key information. She described Kirk as her “brother” and “best friend,” framing her suspicions as a personal duty rather than speculation.
“There are lies that are being told and they need to be slapped down right now,” Owens said during a Sept. 15 episode, while advancing theories that have not been supported by law enforcement.
For weeks, Erika Kirk remained silent. That changed during an interview with CBS News’ Bari Weiss, where she directly addressed Owens’ claims.
“Stop,” Kirk said. “That’s it. That’s all I have to say. Stop.”
A Long, Complicated History
Owens first became involved with Turning Point USA in 2017, when Charlie Kirk hired her on the spot, according to Owens. She later served as the organization’s communications director before leaving in 2019.
Following Kirk’s death, Owens repeatedly emphasized the closeness of their relationship.
“We were brother and sister,” she said in a video posted one day after the shooting. “Our relationship was forged in fire — the fire of politics.”
Despite Monday’s meeting, Owens has made clear she is not backing down.
The day after sitting down with Erika Kirk, Owens devoted roughly 30 minutes of her show to discussing the meeting, criticizing Erika Kirk’s CBS interview, and reiterating her belief that Robinson may not be responsible for the killing.
“I didn’t know what to expect going into the room,” Owens said. “I didn’t know if there were going to be legal threats.”
While she acknowledged disagreements during the meeting, Owens said she still believes investigators should revisit aspects of the case.
For now, both women are publicly calling the conversation a step forward. Whether it leads to unity, accountability, or yet another public fracture inside conservative media circles remains to be seen.
