Candace Owens used the latest episode of her podcast to address one of the most contentious controversies in conservative media: her ongoing dispute with Turning Point USA leadership following the assassination of its co-founder, Charlie Kirk. The episode marked Owens’ first extended public comments after a private, four-and-a-half-hour meeting with Turning Point CEO Erika Kirk, Charlie’s widow.
Addressing speculation that she had been “silenced” after the meeting, Owens dismissed claims that she had recanted her views or been pressured into compliance. She described the online reaction to her brief post acknowledging the meeting as “unhinged,” pushing back against theories that she had received some kind of ultimatum. Owens emphasized that the discussion was lengthy, emotional, and long overdue.
For more than 30 minutes, Owens detailed the meeting with Erika Kirk, saying she entered it unsure of what to expect. She acknowledged that some of her past rhetoric, particularly calling Turning Point a “God-forsaken company” and urging donors to stop supporting it—was overly aggressive. Owens said she took responsibility for the tone of those comments, attributing them to frustration over what she viewed as unanswered questions and conflicting statements from Turning Point leadership.
According to Owens, Erika Kirk acknowledged what she characterized as “miscommunications” within the organization following Charlie Kirk’s death. The two also discussed disputed claims about text messages allegedly sent by Charlie the night before he was killed, which Erika has publicly denied existed. Owens said some clarifications were helpful but maintained that several explanations did not satisfy her.
Crucially, Owens made clear she has not withdrawn her suspicions. She reiterated concerns involving surveillance footage, individuals present at the scene, internal accounts from Turning Point figures, and whether Tyler Robinson is solely responsible for the assassination. Owens also revived her claims about suspicious flight activity involving Egyptian planes, asserting she plans to present further evidence tying the flights to broader international patterns.
Despite the tense history between them, Owens framed the meeting as a step toward transparency rather than resolution. “I did not recant any of my suspicions,” she said, acknowledging that disagreement remains. The episode underscored how deeply divided even close allies remain over one of the most shocking events in modern conservative politics—and how unresolved questions continue to fuel public debate.