Fake photos, false claims, and wild conspiracy theories have proliferated following the public murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Utah. The gruesome footage of the incident quickly spread across the globe, triggering a wave of misinformation. These bogus assertions are being circulated on social media by Americans across the political spectrum, as well as by foreign adversaries.
Prominent members of former President Donald Trump’s administration have made statements that verge on conspiratorial. While these claims cannot currently be labeled as false due to the ongoing investigation, they extend far beyond the evidence that has been publicly disclosed. This article examines some of the inaccurate or unsupported claims that have emerged.
The Suspect’s Political Affiliations: Myths and Facts
Shortly after Tyler Robinson was identified as the suspect in Kirk’s murder, social media users on the political left claimed he was a donor to Trump. They cited federal election records showing a Utah man named Tyler Robinson had contributed to Trump’s 2020 campaign. However, this was a different individual. The 22-year-old charged with the murder has no record of federal election donations.
Other users falsely described Robinson as a registered Republican. In reality, Robinson is registered as unaffiliated with any political party and is listed as “inactive,” meaning he did not vote in the last two general elections. Utah Governor Spencer Cox, a Republican, noted that while Robinson comes from a conservative family, his ideology differed significantly from theirs. Cox told The Wall Street Journal that Robinson was “deeply indoctrinated with leftist ideology.”
Robinson’s Alleged Right-Wing Connections
Despite allegations that Robinson leaned to the left, some left-leaning observers suggested he was affiliated with the “groypers,” a group of White nationalists often antagonistic toward Kirk. However, no evidence has emerged to substantiate this claim. A 2018 Halloween photo of Robinson, where he wore a dark tracksuit, was cited as proof of his affiliation. His mother described his costume as “some guy from a meme,” which could refer to a non-political meme rather than the groyper symbol.
The squatting-frog meme is a parody of the “squatting Slav” meme, which depicts men in Eastern Europe in squatting positions. Robinson’s outfit, including a newsboy-style cap, resembles those worn in “squatting Slav” images, unrelated to far-right symbolism. Additionally, this photo was taken nearly seven years ago, long before the political shift described by prosecutors.
Manipulated Images and False Identifications
As both sides of the political spectrum attempted to leverage Robinson’s case, doctored images surfaced on social media. These images purportedly showed Robinson wearing political t-shirts supporting either Trump or his Democratic opponent, Kamala Harris. In reality, these political messages were photoshopped onto images of Robinson wearing plain t-shirts.
In other instances, Robinson was mistakenly identified in photos of other individuals. For example, some right-leaning users incorrectly claimed Robinson was the person in a photo wearing a Democratic Socialists of America shirt, while others inaccurately identified him as a man wearing a keffiyeh in a 2019 photo. There is no evidence that Robinson wore political messages or symbols as claimed.
Unfounded Allegations of Broader Conspiracies
Prosecutors have charged only Robinson with the murder, and Governor Cox has stated that Robinson acted alone. Despite this, some senior Trump administration officials and online commentators have suggested without evidence that other entities were involved. White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller and Vice President JD Vance have made insinuations about left-wing organizations and networks being connected to the murder, but have not provided evidence to support these claims.
Influential far-right Trump ally Laura Loomer speculated about a “trans terror cell,” but no evidence supports this conclusion. Cox emphasized that Robinson’s partner has been cooperative and unaware of the planned attack.
Conspiracy Theories Extend Beyond U.S. Borders
International conspiracy theories have also emerged, with some social media accounts suggesting Israeli involvement in Kirk’s murder. Despite Kirk’s long-standing support for Israel, there is no evidence to support these claims, which have been propagated by entities linked to the Iranian government. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned these accusations as “insane” and “outrageous.”
Some commentators have pointed to a condolence letter from Israel’s Sephardic chief rabbi with a date error as suspicious, but this was a simple clerical mistake. Additionally, claims about Kirk’s shifting views on Israel lack evidence of any connection to his murder.
Unfounded Speculations About Bystanders
As with other high-profile crimes, some observers have drawn unfounded conclusions about bystanders present at Kirk’s shooting. Allegations surfaced about a man in a white baseball cap sending signals to the shooter. However, this individual, Christian radio host Frank Turek, was a close friend of Kirk and traveled with him to the hospital.
Turek’s social media account categorically denied these accusations, affirming his role as a supportive friend and mentor to Kirk.
As the investigation continues, it remains crucial to rely on verified information and avoid spreading misinformation that can further complicate the public understanding of this tragic event.
