Candace Owens has ignited criticism after launching a pointed critique against Karoline Leavitt concerning the Iran war, using an unflattering photo of the press secretary. Owens faced allegations of misrepresenting Leavitt’s words when she shared comments from the White House spokesperson, who had stated that Iran did not pose a threat to the U.S. homeland. In reality, Leavitt was addressing a specific ABC News report about a potential Iranian drone threat to California, rather than a broader national security concern, which even the Trump administration acknowledged as a potential issue. Owens superimposed Leavitt’s comments onto a dramatic close-up from a Vanity Fair article.

Leavitt had previously clarified, “TO BE CLEAR: No such threat from Iran to our homeland exists, and it never did,” in response to the drone story originating in California. Owens posted the image alongside the quote, branding the administration as “Unserious.” Many users on X quickly criticized Owens for omitting the full context of Leavitt’s statement. YouTuber Joey Salads urged, “Show the whole thing – it actually destroys your entire narrative.” Meanwhile, the Steak for Breakfast Podcast retorted by labeling Owens a “[Expletive] grifter.” The personal nature of Owens’s attack was especially surprising given her and Leavitt’s shared connection to the late Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA.

Leavitt has often credited Kirk as a pivotal mentor in her political career, highlighting his support during her 2022 congressional campaign in New Hampshire. The press secretary continues to maintain strong ties with the Turning Point USA organization and is set to appear alongside Erika Kirk, who now leads the non-profit after her husband’s untimely demise. They will be speaking at George Washington University as part of TPUSA’s This Is The Turning Point Tour on April 2 at 6:30 p.m. Interestingly, Owens is also slated to attend an event in Washington, D.C., this week.

The podcaster will take the stage at the Catholics For Catholics 3rd annual Catholic Prayer For America Gala on Thursday in Washington, DC. Although Catholics For Catholics has partnered with Turning Point USA in the past, the group does not appear to be involved in this event or Owens’s speech. Owens will also interview former Trump Administration national security official Joe Kent at the March 19 event. Shortly after the killing of her former friend, boss, and mentor, Charlie Kirk, Owens appeared to explicitly blame members of President Trump’s administration for Kirk’s murder. ‘He gave so much of his life to Trump and to politics, and they were just like NOPE. That’s it,’ Owens said during an October episode of her show. ‘So here’s a holiday. What is with them giving them a holiday after they kill them? As soon as they give you a holiday, they definitely killed you. There’s no question – they killed you.’

A spokesman for Owens denied at the time that she had suggested Trump killed Kirk. ‘Candace never stated that Trump killed Kirk. If you spent the time to watch her full episode, instead of regurgitating a distorted clip that Candace’s opposition paid someone to post, you would know Candace was questioning the FBI covering up Kirk’s death – just as the FBI covered up for MLK’s murder, then the government gave MLK a holiday and a boulevard,’ he said. After being snubbed from speaking at Kirk’s memorial in Arizona last year, Owens stated that the memorial event, attended by nearly 100,000 people, was ‘being controlled by the White House.’ ‘Why would I be invited by anyone in Trump’s Zionist administration, as I am speaking about the topics that I am speaking… It’s common sense they’re not going to allow me to share the stage,’ Owens added at the time. Kirk was shot dead on September 10 while speaking at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University. Tyler Robinson, 22, a left-wing college dropout, has been charged with his murder.