A major split has erupted inside Turning Point USA as Charlie Kirk loyalists confront escalating allegations from Candace Owens.
Owens has questioned whether Kirk was betrayed by people within the organization before he was assassinated, fueling a wave of controversy that is now dividing conservative activists.
Tim Pool told the Daily Mail he has watched the narrative intensify for weeks and said he finally decided to publicly respond because of the impact her claims are having on Turning Point staff and supporters.
Pool said he was approached on the street by young men asking about rumors that Owens uncovered an assassination plot tied to foreign operatives. He warned them that the internet was manipulating the story.
When Owens returned from Thanksgiving break, she declared with “full confidence” that Kirk had been betrayed and urged Turning Point donors to demand refunds.
“I am making a personal plea to every well-meaning person who donated to this Godforsaken organization to request a refund,” Owens told her audience. “You were lied to. And leadership knew.”
Pool said the statement crossed a line because it directly implies that Turning Point leaders knew betrayal surrounding Kirk’s killing, as reported by the Daily Mail.
“She is telling people to take action against the organization Charlie built,” Pool said, arguing that her comments have consequences even if she believes she is seeking the truth.
Sources told the Daily Mail that Turning Point staff decided to publicly challenge Owens by inviting her to The Charlie Kirk Show so she could lay out her allegations face-to-face, on record.
Producers read her statements live and asked her to defend them in person in Phoenix.
“It is not funny and it is not insignificant. It is evil,” producer Blake Neff said, emphasizing that Owens’ supporters have been aggressively targeting Turning Point employees.
Some insiders warned that confronting Owens publicly could intensify the feud and pointed out that she has a strong influence and a loyal audience willing to follow her investigation.
“You cannot go to war with Candace Owens,” one insider said, warning that a public clash has unpredictable consequences in today’s media environment.
Others argued that silence would only allow speculation to grow and risk further damaging Kirk’s legacy and Turning Point’s future.
Turning Point sources say they tried contacting Owens privately to de-escalate the situation, but did not receive a response.
Owens accepted the public challenge and called it a “major win,” offering to debate anywhere and at any time, before later proposing a remote appearance instead of traveling to Phoenix.
Neff responded by announcing a livestream on December 15 where Kirk’s friends will answer each allegation and again invited Owens to join them if she chooses.
Owens told her audience she will continue investigating and will address the controversy on her own platform.
Both sides now appear prepared to present their cases, signaling a confrontation that could reshape Turning Point USA and Charlie Kirk’s legacy.
