Did Nick Fuentes Radicalize Charlie Kirk's Murderer?
Far-right podcaster Nick Fuentes has become a top trend on X following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Authorities are investigating the suspect's motive, and critics are pointing to Fuentes' history of inflammatory rhetoric as a potential source of Tyler Robinson's radicalization.
Far-right podcaster and white nationalist Nick Fuentes has surged to the top of X (formerly Twitter) trends today, as online discussions intensify around the recent assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The 27-year-old Fuentes, known for his antisemitic, misogynistic, and white supremacist rhetoric, is drawing renewed scrutiny due to his long-standing feud with Kirk and unverified claims linking the suspected shooter to Fuentes' online following.
The buzz began escalating after Kirk, 31, was fatally shot on September 10 during an outdoor event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Authorities arrested 22-year-old Tyler Robinson as the primary suspect, who allegedly left behind cryptic messages including memes, gaming references, and a note reading "Hey Fascist! Catch!" Robinson's online activity has fueled speculation that he was a "Groyper" – a term for members of Fuentes' far-right online army, named after a Pepe the Frog meme variant. Groypers have a history of disrupting Kirk's Turning Point USA (TPUSA) events, accusing him of being too moderate on issues like immigration and Israel support.
Fuentes, who hosts the "America First" livestream on platforms like Rumble, has amassed a growing audience of alienated young conservatives, with his shows often drawing hundreds of thousands of views. On September 12, he urged his followers to "stand down" and avoid violence, stating he would "disavow" anyone turning to arms in the wake of Kirk's death. However, critics point to his past inflammatory comments, including calls for extreme measures against perceived enemies and Holocaust denial, as potentially inciting radicalization.
Fuentes and Kirk's rivalry dates back to the 2019 "Groyper Wars," when Fuentes' followers infiltrated TPUSA campus events to heckle Kirk with provocative questions on race, immigration, and Zionism. Fuentes branded Kirk a "neocon" and "fake Christian," urging protests and harassment at every appearance. In one 2025 clip, Fuentes mocked Kirk as "no Christian" and called for his events to be disrupted relentlessly.
Despite this, Fuentes pivoted after Kirk's death, delivering a lengthy eulogy on his show where he called Kirk a "good Christian" and speculated wildly about the motives behind the killing. He claimed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered Kirk a $150 million bribe to stay pro-Israel, which Kirk allegedly refused, a narrative Fuentes used to portray Kirk as shifting toward "America First" isolationism. Fuentes has also floated conspiracy theories implicating Mossad or Jewish networks in the assassination, echoing his broader antisemitic worldview, while denying direct involvement by Israel in this specific case.
In a viral post today, parody account @Handsome_yuppie highlighted Fuentes' apparent hypocrisy, sharing a clip of him praising Jewish influence in a sarcastic tone: "Infamous radical Zionist Nick Fuentes explains why Jews are the GOAT 🙏🏻 ✡️." The post, viewed thousands of times, demonstrates Fuentes' contradictory rhetoric – he has repeatedly promoted antisemitic tropes, including Holocaust denial and claims of Jewish control over media and politics, while occasionally using ironic or coded language to appeal to broader audiences.
Fuentes' trending status reflects his expanding footprint in far-right circles. Since early 2025, he has gained over 100,000 followers on X and dominates Rumble streams, positioning himself as a successor to mainstream conservatives like Kirk. Organizations like the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) and Anti-Defamation League (ADL) classify him as a white nationalist who promotes violence and misogyny, including jokes about assaulting women and praising Adolf Hitler. In August 2025, he launched "Groyper War 2," a meme-fueled campaign against Trump's team to push for more extreme policies on immigration and race.
The Kirk assassination has amplified concerns about online radicalization. FBI Director Kash Patel revealed a "broad network" of groups had prior intel on the plot, with Robinson's Discord messages suggesting ideological motives. Kirk's family and TPUSA have vowed defamation lawsuits against those spreading unverified claims, including ties to Fuentes.
Fuentes' surge highlights deepening fractures in the conservative movement, where his "Groyper Army," estimated at tens of thousands, challenges establishment figures from the right. As investigations continue, experts warn his influence could inspire further unrest.