Conservative commentator Candace Owens and Erika Kirk, the widow of the late Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, have declared a partial truce following a lengthy private meeting. The sit-down comes after months of increasingly bitter public attacks from Owens, who has levelled a series of damaging allegations about the organisation and the circumstances surrounding Charlie Kirk's assassination in September.
A 'Productive' Meeting After Months of Vitriol
Owens took to social media to announce the outcome of the four-and-a-half-hour meeting, describing it as 'extremely productive' and suggesting it should have happened sooner. In a lengthy statement, she wrote: 'We agreed much more than I had anticipated. Of course, we also disagreed on various points and people as well. Most importantly, we were able to share intel and clarify intent.' She promised a full account on her live stream, stating tensions had 'thawed' after nothing was held back.
Erika Kirk's response was notably more muted. On the platform X, she posted: 'Had a very productive conversation with @RealCandaceO. More to come from both of us. Looking forward to AmFest this week. Time to get back to work.' The reference to America Fest 2025—Turning Point USA's annual conference in Phoenix, co-headlined by Kirk and Vice President JD Vance—signals a desire to move forward publicly.
The Roots of a Bitter Feud
The conflict escalated dramatically last week when Erika Kirk appeared on Fox News, condemning 'evil' conspiracy theorists profiting from her husband's murder online. Though she did not name Owens, the target was clear. Owens fired back, accusing Kirk of 'hypocrisy' and 'Meghan Markle syndrome' for seeking privacy while on national television.
Owens, the former TPUSA communications director who left in 2020, has used her massively popular podcast to propagate a cascade of theories about Charlie Kirk's death. She has claimed, often citing anonymous sources, that TPUSA staff 'betrayed' their boss, and has implicated entities from the Israeli government to the US military. Her episodes on the topic, which rake in millions of views, have propelled her podcast to a No 1 global ranking but drawn fierce criticism for profiting from tragedy.
The personal attacks have been particularly cutting. In one recent episode, Owens reminisced about being Charlie Kirk's 'wing-woman', claiming he was 'in love' with another woman before marrying Erika—a comment widely seen as a slight against the widow.
Broader Repercussions and Political Fallout
The feud has spilled over into the financial and political arenas. Owens urged donors to request refunds from TPUSA and alleged $8.5 million in company funds were misused. In response, the US Treasury Department sent a private letter to Erika Kirk assuring her that Turning Point USA is not under investigation, a move seen as the Trump administration intervening to clear the organisation.
Erika Kirk now oversees the vast TPUSA network, which boasts over 250,000 members nationwide. The organisation maintains close ties with Donald Trump, who posthumously awarded Charlie Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom and comforted Erika at his memorial service, attended by more than 60,000 people.
While the immediate tension has thawed, fundamental disagreements remain. Owens continues to question the official narrative of the assassination, carried out by 22-year-old Tyler Robinson on September 10 at Utah Valley University. Erika Kirk, meanwhile, is focused on steering TPUSA forward and honouring her husband's legacy. Whether this meeting marks a genuine peace or merely a temporary ceasefire in a bitter conservative civil war is yet to be seen.
