Charlie Kirk feared pro-"Israel" backlash before killing: Grayzone
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Charlie Kirk, assassinated on September 10, had rejected a funding offer from Netanyahu and grown fearful of pro-"Israel" forces. Friends say his criticism of Israeli influence in US politics left him angry, isolated, and under pressure.
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Charlie Kirk speaks before he is shot during Turning Point's visit to Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025. (AP)
A close friend of Charlie Kirk has revealed new details about the conservative leader’s growing rift with pro-"Israel" forces before his September 10 assassination. The source divulged to Grayzone that Kirk had rejected an offer from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to channel major new donations into his Turning Point USA (TPUSA) organization, and believed the move was intended to silence his rising criticism of Israeli influence in Washington.
Growing hostility toward Netanyahu
In the weeks before his death, Kirk reportedly described Netanyahu as a “bully,” furious at the Israeli leader’s efforts to shape personnel decisions inside the Trump administration through donor pressure.
He also warned Trump against striking Iran at Netanyahu’s urging, a move that led to tense confrontations within the White House.
Kirk’s friend, who also had access to President Donald Trump’s inner circle, recalled that in June Kirk directly warned Trump against launching strikes on Iran at "Israel’s" request.
“Charlie was the only one who did that,” the source said, noting that Trump snapped back at him and quickly ended the exchange. For Kirk, the confrontation reinforced his belief that the US president was being steered by a foreign power into disastrous conflicts. Within weeks, he found himself facing a wave of intimidation and hostility from Netanyahu’s wealthy allies—figures he later referred to in interviews as influential Jewish “leaders” and “stakeholders.”
The source said Kirk was increasingly alarmed by intimidation from wealthy allies of Netanyahu. “He was afraid of them,” the longtime friend emphasized.
TPUSA rift with "Israel"
Kirk, who built TPUSA into the largest conservative youth group in the US, had long relied on Zionist donors and publicly defended "Israel." Yet, as public opinion within the Republican grassroots shifted during the Gaza war, he began questioning narratives surrounding October 7 and criticized the outsized influence of pro-"Israel" figures in US politics.
This shift fueled a backlash from donors who once supported him. Texts and phone calls poured in from prominent financiers demanding he fall back into line. Kirk described the pressure as “menacing” and admitted during interviews with Megyn Kelly and Ben Shapiro that he felt censored when it came to criticizing "Israel."
This was Charlie Kirk’s last episode.
— Brandon Taylor Moore (@LetsGoBrando45) September 11, 2025
When he says “Some people would accuse Israel of wanting to ethically cleanse….” , @benshapiro’s face tells you everything you need to know.
He most definitely called his daddy @netanyahu after this recording. 🎯 pic.twitter.com/gm7Tf24cxT
Kirk’s evolving views created friction not only with donors but also within the conservative movement. Figures like Candace Owens said he was undergoing “a spiritual transformation,” while others, including Ben Shapiro, openly attacked his leadership in the days before his assassination.
Kirk was killed on September 10 during a speaking event in Utah. He was struck by a sniper’s bullet while addressing an audience, in what quickly became one of the most widely shared assassination videos in history.
Authorities have since arrested a 22-year-old suspect, though speculation about the motive continues. Many online have linked Kirk’s assassination to his growing criticism of "Israel," a theory Netanyahu himself publicly denied in interviews following the killing.
Despite the lack of evidence tying "Israel" to the attack, the controversy underscores the fractures within the US conservative movement over its relationship with Netanyahu and the war on Gaza.
