Erika Kirk, widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, and podcaster Candace Owens emerged from their lengthy meeting on Monday describing the conversation as “productive” and suggesting tensions had eased.
“Had a very productive conversation with @RealCandaceO. More to come from both of us. Looking forward to AmFest this week. Time to get back to work,” said Kirk, who took over as Turning Point USA’s CEO after her husband was assassinated in September, in a post on X on Monday.
Owens — who has publicly criticized the new CEO and pushed conspiracy theories about her husband’s death in recent months — said she was surprised by how well the meeting went and said “tensions were thawed” between them.
“Erika and I had an extremely productive 4 1/2 hour meeting that I think we both feel should have taken place a lot earlier than it did,” Owens posted on X.
“We agreed much more than I had anticipated. Of course, we also disagreed on various points and people as well. Most importantly, we were able to share intel and clarify intent,” she continued.
Owens said she would share more at a future date, noting she’s “currently exhausted,” but added, “I wanted to quickly let you guys know that absolutely nothing was held back and the immediate result was that tensions were thawed.”
Owens has emerged as a prominent proponent of conspiracy theories that seek to provide an alternative explanation for Charlie Kirk’s Sept. 10 death. FBI officials have charged 22-year-old Tyler Robinson in the fatal shooting.
Prosecutors say Robinson confessed to his romantic partner and appeared to confess in group messages on the Discord app. Robinson’s parents are said to have recognized their son in images authorities released of the suspected shooter and convinced their son to turn himself into police.
But Owens has doubted the explanation given by FBI officials and has frequently promoted theories about the incident without providing proof for the claims, causing friction among groups on the political right.
In a CBS News town hall last week, Erika Kirk was asked about conspiracy theories promoted by Owens and others and dismissed them as baseless, noting she’s seen FBI evidence linking the accused assassin to the shooting.