Charlie Kirk, founder and govt director of Turning Level USA, speaks on the Turning Level … [+]
Conspiracy theorists have gone viral with a declare the Israeli authorities knew prematurely that Hamas was going to launch a coordinated terrorist assault on October 7. And a few are even claiming, with out proof, that Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a so-called “stand-down” order for the Israeli army. However there’s nothing to point out the Israeli authorities knew of the shock assault, which killed over 1,300 individuals.
Customers on TikTok, Fb and X, the social media platform previously referred to as Twitter, have gone viral since Saturday with the declare Israel knew in regards to the assault prematurely, many with the hashtag #BibiKnew, a reference to Netanyahu.
The origin of this conspiracy concept seems to be Charlie Kirk, a far-right influencer and powerful supporter of former president Donald Trump. The 29-year-old Kirk, who leads a nationwide college-focused Republican group referred to as Turning Level USA, appeared on the PBD Podcast on Thursday and insisted he wasn’t spreading a conspiracy concept earlier than instantly serving to unfold an unsubstantiated conspiracy concept.
“I’m not keen to say, to go to date to say that Netanyahu knew or there was intelligence right here, however I believe some questions should be requested. Was there a stand down order? Was there a stand down order?” Kirk mentioned, repeating the rhetorical query for emphasis.
Kirk’s wild hypothesis doesn’t seem to have any foundation in reality however as an alternative hinges on the truth that he’s “been to Israel many instances” and “the entire nation is a fortress.”
Kirk urged that Netanyahu’s supposed “stand down” order was a bid to garner help because of the Israeli chief’s home political issues round controversial judicial reforms. Kirk insisted of the assault, “After I first heard this story, I nonetheless have the identical intestine intuition that I did initially: I discover this very onerous to consider.”
The clip first went viral on TikTok earlier than migrating to locations like X, the place the hashtag #BibiKnew gained steam on Monday. However, once more, there’s no proof Netanyahu knew of the assault prematurely, although many Israelis are understandably upset over the intelligence failure that noticed so many individuals slaughtered.
Kirk first gained nationwide consideration in 2017 when his group staged an occasion on the campus of Kent State College the place adults dressed up in diapers, an obvious protest of “protected areas,” that itself was broadly ridiculed for being extraordinarily bizarre.
However Kirk’s affect throughout the conservative motion has grown significantly over current years, with a report from the Related Press noting the MAGA Republican has since turn out to be a millionaire as CEO of Turning Level. Kirk’s wage went from $27,000 in 2016 to $407,000 by 2021, based on tax filings reviewed by the Related Press. Kirk has bought three high-end properties in Arizona and Florida, all north of $1 million, based on the information wire service.
Some fellow conservatives denounced Kirk over the weekend, together with Ben Domenech, a author married to Meghan McCain, the daughter of late Republican senator John McCain of Arizona.
“If Charlie Kirk stays the top of TPUSA, the correct has an anti-Semite downside that may observe them into the approaching elections,” Domenech tweeted on Sunday in a message that’s been considered over 3 million instances.
However different Trump-supporting media figures on the correct defended Kirk, together with Candace Owens, who referred to as Domenech’s feedback, “legitimately comical.”
“If you wish to measure simply how disingenuous neo-cons are being of their effort to demand warfare, look no additional than Charlie Kirk being labeled an antisemite. Charlie has endured YEARS of being confronted on faculty campuses from protesters accusing him of being a ‘Zionist shill,’” Owens tweeted on Sunday.
“[Kirk] is thought to be radically pro-Israel and minted numerous pro-Israel initiatives throughout faculty campuses. There are hours upon hours of footage accessible on the web or Charlie Kirk defending Israel—even from inside its borders,” Owens continued.
Kirk didn’t instantly reply to questions emailed Monday afternoon. I’ll replace this text if I hear again.
