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American far right at war as Candace Owen leaks Charlie Kirk texts

There’s been a widening rift between American right wingers in recent years. While Donald Trump enjoys widespread support from the right, his followers are increasingly split into two camps on the issue of Israel:

  • Those who support the status quo (i.e. providing almost unconditional support).
  • Those who have begun to question what America is getting from the relationship.

The latter group has become increasingly loud since the death of Charlie Kirk, with conspiracy theories arising around the idea that Israel assassinated the YouTuber because he was planning to stop supporting them. This accusation was always incredibly tenuous – and it still is – but the American conspiracy theorist Candace Owens has now come forwards with this:


Regardless of whether the theory has any merit, there are many prominent right wingers who believe it. As a result, it could potentially do serious damage to the Israel-US relationship in years to come.

Candace Owens: exacerbating the divide

Candace Owens has a history of anti-Israel sentiment; she’s also been accused of antisemitism:

It’s important to understand the difference between anti-Zionism and antisemitism. The former is opposition to the supporters of an expansionist ethno-state which has gone from committing apartheid to committing genocide; the latter is suggesting there’s something inherently wrong with all Jewish people regardless of their politics.

Conspiracy-minded right wingers who follow Owens are highlighting these three lines from Kirk:

Jewish donors play into all the stereotypes. I cannot and will not be bullied like this.

Leaving me no choice but to leave the pro Israel cause.

While some accused Owens of fabricating the texts, she wasn’t the only person in the chain, and Turning Point USA (TPUSA) have confirmed their authenticity:

Owens also said the following, suggesting she probably isn’t coordinating with TPUSA (that or they’re trying to make it seem otherwise):

Her supporters believe that Candace Owens has actually played this situation to ‘expose’ the dishonesty of TPUSA and other American right wingers:

Another figure on the right with a history of antisemitism is Marjorie Taylor Greene, who had this to say:

The other big voice on the right pushing back against Israel is Tucker Carlson. While he hasn’t commented on Owens’ latest leak, he has said plenty on Israel in recent months:


Theorising

The idea that Israel killed Charlie Kirk is admittedly outlandish. At the same time, the official story on what happened to Kirk is also increasingly strange:


This isn’t us saying we think they did it, of course, as so far the only thing we’ve seen to suggest Israel’s involvement was Benjamin Netanyahu denying that he had anything to do with it:


Our interest in this story is primarily the rift it’s creating in the American political sphere.

What you need to understand is that every few years an even more unhinged version of American right forms around some cause or grievance that they use to push out the current establishment within the Republican Party. Most recently we saw this when the Tea Party weirdoes came for the neo-cons, and we saw it again when Trump came for what was left.

There are people on the right in America who understand Trump won’t live forever, and that when he goes there’ll be a vacuum. These people need a cause to rally around, and figures like Carlson and Candace Owens have clearly decided that cause is Israel.

They’re not wrong to suggest Israel has embarrassed America; they’re also not wrong to believe the public is turning against Israel; they’re just wrong about everything else.

While it’s doubtful Owens will have anything as impactful as what she’s released, she has hinted at more to come:

We’ll keep you updated on this chasm of doubt and conspiracy as it widens.

Featured image via Gage Skidmore

By Willem Moore

This post was originally published on Canary.