Fox News hosts have publicly rebuked Tucker Carlson and other conspiracy theorists spreading unsubstantiated claims about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, marking a rare public split between the network and its former primetime star.
During a Dec. 11, 2025 broadcast of “Fox & Friends,” host Brian Kilmeade sharply criticized those profiting from conspiracy theories surrounding Kirk’s death. The 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA was fatally shot in the neck on Sept. 10 during an event at Utah Valley University. The FBI identified a 22-year-old Utah man, Tyler Robinson, as the shooter.
Kilmeade cut off his co-host as she listed various baseless theories circulating online, including suggestions that Israel or internal Turning Point USA leadership orchestrated the killing. “People are making money off the fact that they have unsubstantiated theories, and they’re running with it,” he stated during the segment.
Co-host Ainsley Earhardt reinforced this point, emphasizing that investigators never supported these claims. “Yeah, these are these have not been proven. The FBI has never said this is an inside job,” she said.
The criticism appeared aimed particularly at Carlson, 56, who was pushed out of Fox News in 2023. While the former cable news host has not explicitly accused Israel of involvement, he has repeatedly suggested foreign actors may have played a role in silencing Kirk. Most controversially, Carlson made veiled references during a eulogy he delivered at Kirk’s memorial service.
At the memorial, Carlson compared Kirk to Jesus, describing someone who shows up and starts talking about the people in power, and starts doing the worst thing you can do, which is tell the truth. And they hate it, and they just go bonkers. And they become obsessed with making him stop.
The Anti-Defamation League condemned the remarks, stating they dangerously reinforced the belief that Jews killed Jesus, an antisemitic myth that has led to expulsions and murders of Jews for centuries.
In recent public statements, Carlson expressed distrust of federal investigators handling the case. He said he does not have a ton of confidence in the FBI or the men who run it. His skepticism echoes broader conspiracy narratives that have gained traction among some conservative commentators since Kirk’s death.
Conservative podcaster Candace Owens has been among the most vocal proponents of alternative theories, suggesting involvement by Turning Point USA’s internal leadership and even the U.S. Military. Her claims have directly clashed with Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, 37, who now leads the organization her husband founded.
Erika Kirk addressed the conspiracy theories during her own Fox News appearance this week, expressing frustration at the ongoing speculation. She described it as righteous anger and called the theories a mind virus, saying she believes in the judicial system and has a strong team working on the case. She emphasized that her team members are not machines or robots, but human beings.
She revealed serious consequences from the conspiracy theories, stating her team has received numerous death threats. She said they have more death threats than she has ever seen, including kidnapping threats, and that her team is exhausted. She questioned what they are supposed to do when conspiracy theorists bring this back up, forcing them to relive the trauma of watching her husband get murdered.
Erika Kirk has faced criticism for her public profile since her husband’s death. She defended her decision to remain visible and continue leading Turning Point USA, which she said has been wrongly dragged through the mud and hyper-analyzed by critics. She stated that if people think she was just going to wilt away, they are mistaken, saying she is not going to sit in the corner and cry and be in a fetal position.
The split between Fox News and conspiracy theorists represents an unusual moment of tension within conservative media circles. Carlson, who once commanded the network’s highest-rated evening program, now finds himself at odds with his former employer over his handling of Kirk’s assassination.
Tyler Robinson is set to appear in court. Meanwhile, Carlson replaced Kirk at an Indiana University event on October 21 as part of Turning Point USA’s American Comeback Tour, underscoring his continued influence within conservative activism despite the controversy surrounding his recent statements.
