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Feud between Charlie Kirk and Nick Fuentes explained as NYT op-ed hails the Groyper movement leader to be the "successor" of slain TPUSA founder

Could Nick Fuentes really emerge as a successor to Charlie Kirk in wake of the conservative influencer's brutal assassination?
posted by Akanksha Mishra
Tuesday 11/4/2025 at 3:14AM EST
  • WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: Co-founder Turning Point USA Charlie Kirk speaks following the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump during an event at Capital One Arena on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. Donald Trump takes office for his second term as the 47th president of the United States. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
    WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: Co-founder Turning Point USA Charlie Kirk speaks following the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump during an event at Capital One Arena on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. Donald Trump takes office for his second term as the 47th president of the United States. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

    On Monday, November 3, The New York Times published an op-ed about Nick Fuentes becoming Charlie Kirk's successor in the wake of the latter's killing (which took place nearly two months ago, on September 10).

    The op-ed, written by Michelle Goldberg, mentioned Fuentes's career reaching a high last week, when the far-right conservative was invited on Tucker Carlson's podcast. It also pointed out how Kirk's death marked the "final loosening" of the restraints on the right, reading:

    "Kirk, who came of age in the pre-Trump conservative movement, was still sometimes willing to police boundaries. But in the wake of his killing, there’s surprisingly little sense on the right that that part of his legacy should be upheld. Rather, prominent voices insist that Kirk’s murder necessitates the final loosening of all remaining restraints."

    In light of the op-ed being published, here's a closer look at the fued between Charlie Kirk and Nick Fuentes - both of whom have different ideologies despite being conservatives.

    Nick Fuentes' feud with Charlie Kirk started in 2019

    It all started six years ago, back when Charlike Kirk was on a college speaking tour - Culture War - organized by his company, TPUSA. 

    According to multiple media outlets, Fuentes orchestrated a disruption at these events by having his followers attend them to ask controversial questions from Kirk. These questions revolved around subjects like LGBTQ rights, immigration, and US relations with Israel, among others.

    With these questions, Nick's followers - who popularly call them "Groypers" - intend to expose Charlie Kirk as a fake conservative, as he wouldn't push a more extreme rightist agenda. 

    Nick Fuentes' 2019 stint ended up getting him and his supporters banned from most prominent conservative events. Ever since then, the two conservatives have never seen eye to eye. 

    Fast forward to 2025, after Kirk was shot at the Utah Valley University campus in September, speculations of his murderer being a Groyper started circulating online. Within days, the phrase started trending on social media, with Nick Fuentes addressing the rumors by tweeting:

    "My followers and I are currently being framed for the murder of Charlie Kirk by the mainstream media based on literally zero evidence. After the Left gunned him down, they celebrated and justified it. They said I was next. Now they are blaming me. These people are pure evil."

    Fuentes also said a monologue to acknowledge Kirk's death on his podcast, admitting that while the two have their own differences, he "would never wish death upon him". 

    He added that Charlie was ambitious, hardworking, and an undeniably "towering figure" in American conservatism. He went as far as to say that the late activist did things that Nick couldn't do, and that no one could fill his shoes.

     

    TOPICS: Charlie Kirk , Nick Fuentes


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