Israel First's Influence on Turning Point USA
Turning Point USA has swung hard back toward pro-Israel messaging since Charlie Kirk's assassination, raising uncomfortable questions for young conservatives who had followed his growing skepticism of the US-Israel alliance.
- In his final months, Kirk publicly questioned Israel's sway over the conservative movement and strongly opposed war with Iran.
- Reporter Max Blumenthal, on Tucker Carlson's podcast, says top donor Robert Shillman pulled a $2 million pledge days before Kirk's death over his Iran stance.
- Kirk was also reportedly berated at a Bill Ackman-hosted Hamptons summit for refusing to center his conferences on Israel and for hosting Tucker Carlson.
- The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, a major funder of Israel with an Israel-based president, has a $700,000 contract with TPUSA that Kirk did not sign and that has continued under Erika Kirk.
- Erika Kirk backed out of accepting an IFCJ award for Charlie in Jerusalem after criticism, and TPUSA faith events in churches now feature Israeli flags.
Outlook: Expect more scrutiny of TPUSA's donors and direction, and continued distrust among younger conservatives over the official account of Kirk's death.