Vice President JD Vance urged conservative allies to tone down the menacing debate over Charlie Kirk’s death and political legacy that’s being perpetuated by prominent members of the MAGA movement. 

Vance, who called Kirk a friend and credited him with shaping his own career, stepped into a bitter online feud that is roiling the movement and threatening to overshadow Kirk’s life work. 

‘I understand the feeling that people are putting words into Charlie Kirk’s mouth,’ Vance wrote on X, ‘But for now, let’s celebrate our friend, remember his impact, and save the debate for after his funeral.’

The plea highlights how Kirk’s death has exposed deep rifts within Trump’s base, with prominent figures clashing over unfounded conspiracy theories around Kirk’s death days before his memorial service in Arizona that will feature President Donald Trump.

Right-media personality and former Kirk employee Candace Owens alleged that billionaire Bill Ackman was angered by Kirk’s souring views on Israel and that ‘threats were made,’ by Ackman weeks before Kirk’s death – a story that has triggered fierce backlash and fueled an online rumor mill of conspiracy theories.

Owens’ noted Wednesday in her own post on X that ‘It’s crazy how I never once said that Israel murdered Charlie Kirk but the Zionists are all repeating that without a shred of evidence.’

‘Remember, if they aren’t lying they aren’t breathing,’ Owens also wrote Wednesday.

At the same time, she fully embraced being a ‘full conspiracy theorist on this,’ casting doubts that the text message chain between Kirk’s alleged killer and lover released by authorities is authentic. 

U.S. Vice President JD Vance exits Air Force Two, upon his return from Howell, Michigan on September 17, 2025 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Vance visited a metal stamping factory during his visit to Michigan

Charlie Kirk throws hats to the crowd after arriving at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025 in Orem, Utah. Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was speaking at his “American Comeback Tour” when he was shot in the neck and killed

Adam Sosnick, Patrick Bet-David, Eric Bolling, and Vincent Oshana record an episode of the Patrick Bet-David Podcast – Charlie Kirk Killer’s Texts, Candace Owens vs Bill Ackman & Musk Calls For Destiny’s Arrest | PBD on September 17th, 2025

Despite Owens’ long history of association with Kirk, Eric Bolling, a former Fox News host, said on an episode of the Patrick Bet David Podcast streamed Wednesday that Kirk had a ‘quiet break up’ with Candace Owens after she got too ‘down the rabbit hole for him.’ 

‘There hasn’t been a communication pipeline between the two for many years,’ Bolling also stated. 

A spokesman for Candace Owens told the Daily Mail Bolling ‘is flat-out lying.’

‘Candace spoke at a TPUSA event as recently as last summer, and Candace and Charlie literally went on a college tour together in 2024. The TPUSA website does not even list Eric Bolling as a board member.’

The spokesman said Bolling’s critique was ‘designed to distract from the important questions that Candace is asking on her show every day.’

Candace Amber Owens Farmer, US conservative political commentator speaks on stage during ‘Turning Point’s The People’s Convention’ on June 14, 2024 at Huntington Place in Detroit, Michigan

Despite Bolling being cited by online commentators as a Turning Point USA board member, he does not appear to be one per the organization’s website nor is he listed on a Thursday statement from board members announcing Erika Kirk the group’s new CEO. 

Bolling himself has shared that he was on the ‘TPUSA editorial advisory board,’ a seemingly minor but notable distinction. 

 Owens’s spokesman did not respond to the Daily Mail’s questions about whether she planned to attend Kirk’s memorial, if she had been asked to speak, or if she herself had asked Turning Point to speak at the event. There was also no reply to a question from the Daily Mail about Owens’ relationship with Erika Kirk.

Daily Mail has reached out to Turning Point for comment, asking if Owens will be involved with the memorial, or even welcomed to attend. 

Despite Owens and Kirk’s interconnected past, other conservative players close to Kirk at the time of his death have explicitly weighed in against Owens in the past several days.

Dave Rubin backed up Bolling’s description of Kirk and Owen’s relationship. 

‘I’ve really tried not to get involved in this circus, but since @ericbolling’s going public, I will confirm that what he says here is consistent with what I know first hand.’

Donald Trump walks on stage after being introduced by Charlie Kirk (L) at the Turning Point Action conference as he continues his 2024 presidential campaign on July 15, 2023 in West Palm Beach, Florida. Trump spoke at the event held in the Palm Beach County Convention Center

Charlie Kirk speaks at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025 in Orem, Utah. Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was speaking at his ‘American Comeback Tour’ minutes before he was shot in the neck and killed

Vice President JD Vance weighed in Wednesday on a debate that has ignited within the online right after Charlie Kirk’s death last week, spurred by comments from major right-wing media voices including Candace Owens, as well as Megyn Kelly and Tucker Carlson

  Laura Loomer also weighed in against Owens, writing on X that she has received ‘many calls from people at TPUSA who are LIVID at Candace Owens,’ adding that she would not be surprised if Owens was barred from attending Kirk’s memorial on Sunday, adding that her behavior has been ‘totally irredeemable.’

JD Vance and wife Usha, honored Kirk by flying his casket from Utah to Arizona on Air Force Two following his campus assassination at Utah Valley University.

Vance will speak at Kirk’s Arizona memorial Sunday alongside President Trump. Other Trump administration leaders scheduled to speak include Susie Wiles, Stephen Miller, and DNI Tulsi Gabbard.