Turning Point USA spokesman Andrew Kolvet confirmed Oct. 7 that a screenshot of Charlie Kirk’s private text messages circulating online is authentic, showing Kirk venting frustration over what he described as pressure from Jewish donors that left him “no choice but to leave the pro Israel cause.”
The screenshot was first released by commentator Candace Owens in an Oct. 6 YouTube video. Owens, a former associate of Kirk’s Turning Point USA (TPUSA), said the messages were sent two days before Kirk’s assassination. She added that Josh Hammer, author of “Israel and Civilization,” and Rob McCoy, known as Kirk’s longtime pastor, were among the nine members of the group chat.
In the texts, Kirk said a donor had withdrawn a $2 million annual pledge to TPUSA after he refused to disinvite Tucker Carlson — who has been sharply critical of Israel — from an event. Kirk wrote that he would not be “bullied” and the dispute was pushing him to abandon the “pro-Israel cause.”
“Just lost another huge Jewish donor,” Kirk wrote in the group chat. “$2 million a year because we won’t cancel Tucker. I’m thinking of inviting Candace.”
“Jewish donors play into all the stereotypes,” he added in another message. “I cannot and will not be bullied like this.”
He concluded, “Leaving me no choice but to leave the pro Israel cause.”
Kolvet said on “The Charlie Kirk Show” that the image shared by Owens was a screenshot he had taken and shared with “a few people in government” after Kirk’s death to ensure “no stone [was] unturned” in the investigation.
“It is authentic,” Kolvet said, noting that he withheld it from the public out of respect for Kirk’s privacy.
“Charlie was adamantly free speech, and I am not personally going to impugn anybody’s character who is asking questions and looking for answers,” Kolvet said. “And, I will say that that text chain is consistent with frustrations that he voiced many times.”
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