NYT issues correction after falsely claiming Charlie Kirk made antisemitic remark on podcast

OREM, UTAH: The New York Times was forced to publish a correction on Thursday, September 11, after falsely attributing an antisemitic statement to conservative commentator and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.

The Times initially claimed that Kirk had said on his podcast in 2023 that Jewish communities were “pushing the exact kind of hatred against Whites” they sought to prevent.

NYT issues correction after misreporting Charlie Kirk’s comments on antisemitism

In reality, Kirk had been quoting a controversial tweet during the episode and proceeded to critique it. “An earlier version of this article described incorrectly an antisemitic statement that Charlie Kirk had made on an episode of his podcast,” the correction read. “He was quoting a statement from a post on social media and went on to critique it. It was not his own statement.”

On the podcast in question, Kirk clarified that while some Jewish organizations and individuals have supported progressive causes he opposes, such as Black Lives Matter, he rejected sweeping generalizations.

“Now let me just say, this is not a very well-written tweet. It’s very confusing. I’ll go through what they’re basically saying here. Half of this tweet is true, half of it, I don’t like. You want the truth said to your face. There it is. Elon responds, and he says you have said the actual truth … But the first part is absolutely true. Let’s go to this. Jewish communities have been pushing the exact kind of hatred against Whites that they claim to want people to stop using against them,” he said.

“Now I don’t like generalizations. Not every Jewish person believes that,” Kirk said during the episode. “But it is true, the Anti-Defamation League was part and parcel with Black Lives Matter. It is true that some of the largest financiers of left-wing anti-white causes have been Jewish Americans.”

The broader New York Times article was largely critical of Kirk’s political stances, highlighting his rejection of climate change as an “existential threat” and his arguments against introducing gender ideology to schoolchildren. It also noted Kirk’s sharp criticism of the public narrative around George Floyd, pointing out his criminal record before he died in 2020.

The correction comes amid global mourning following Kirk’s assassination earlier this week during his American Comeback Tour stop in Utah.

Israeli Prime Minister hails Charlie Kirk as fearless ally of Israel

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu paid tribute to him as a “lionhearted friend of Israel” who “stood tall for Judeo-Christian civilization.”

He wrote, “Charlie Kirk was murdered for speaking truth and defending freedom. A lion-hearted friend of Israel, he fought the lies and stood tall for Judeo-Christian civilization. I spoke to him only two weeks ago and invited him to Israel. Sadly, that visit will not take place. We lost an incredible human being. His boundless pride in America and his valiant belief in free speech will leave a lasting impact. Rest in peace, Charlie Kirk.”

Netanyahu followed up with another post, sharing a Fox News segment highlighting Charlie Kirk’s support for Israel. “Charlie Kirk was a defender of our common Judeo-Christian civilization,” he wrote. “Charlie was more than a friend of Israel. He was a great champion of our shared roots and values. May his memory be a blessing.”

Meanwhile, US authorities announced the arrest of 22-year-old Tyler Robinson in connection with Kirk’s killing. The FBI confirmed Robinson’s capture on Friday after a nationwide manhunt. President Donald Trump, speaking on Fox & Friends, revealed that “someone very close” turned him in, leading to his arrest.

Kirk, who built Turning Point USA into a powerful force in conservative youth politics, is survived by his wife, Erika, and their two young children.