Josh Hammer Breaks Silence on Charlie Kirk’s Murder and Reacts to Candace Owens | HO~

Washington D.C., October 15, 2025 — In one of the first extended public interviews since the shocking assassination of his close friend Charlie Kirk, conservative commentator Josh Hammer described his grief, defended himself against accusations, and sought to set the record straight about the late Kirk’s legacy and private messages. The interview, conducted this week by political host Billy Grant, allowed Hammer to address the swirling controversy around leaked WhatsApp chats and Candace Owens’s criticisms.

A Friend Murdered, a Movement Shaken

Hammer began the interview with raw emotion. “It’s horrific. It’s unconscionable,” he said, referring to Kirk’s death. According to Hammer, Kirk was more than a political ally — he was someone he spoke with daily, someone whose murder struck him at the most personal level. Hammer compared the killing to the assassinations of Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr., calling Kirk’s death “the most high-profile political assassination in America since 1968.”

In the weeks following the killing, Hammer said his grief has been compounded by what he described as a rush to politicize the event. “The most disturbing aspect is seeing terrible people seize on this moment to push agendas that aren’t rooted in truth,” he told Grant.

Leaked WhatsApp Chats & Candace Owens

At the heart of recent controversy are private WhatsApp messages between Kirk and a small circle — including Hammer — which were later published by media personality Candace Owens. The messages included frustrated comments from Kirk about Jewish donors allegedly pressuring him over his relationship with Tucker Carlson, and he wrote at one point that he had “just lost another huge Jewish donor — $2 million a year — because we won’t cancel Tucker.”

Owens used the texts to claim that Kirk was “turning on Israel,” and implied that Hammer may have had prior knowledge or involvement. Hammer pushed back hard. He said he was “reluctant” to share screenshots of his final conversations with Kirk, but did so only to counter false narratives. He asserted that Kirk’s comments in the chat should be understood as a private vent rather than a public 180-degree shift.

“These were private group chat moments where Charlie was blowing off steam,” Hammer said. “Two hours later, he organized a Zoom call with us to prep his messaging about Jewish–Christian relations on college campuses.” He maintained that Kirk was not “turning” against Israel, but rather frustrated in private while still deeply committed publicly to pro-Israel advocacy.

The Timeline & Public Messaging

Hammer and Kirk had reportedly spoken less than 24 hours before the shooting. Hammer recalled that Kirk had organized a Zoom session the night before his death, specifically to hone his responses regarding Israel and Jewish–Christian relations, especially amid rising tensions on college campuses.

According to Hammer, more than half of the questions Kirk faced on campus in the months leading to his death were about Israel. He said Kirk asked for feedback on messaging tailored to Gen Z audiences.

In response to Owens’s claims that Kirk had “betrayed” pro-Israel donors, Hammer framed the WhatsApp messages as a private emotional release, not a change of fundamental belief.

“Donors have every right to withhold donations,” Hammer said. “And CEOs or organizers have every right to be upset when that happens. The idea that Kirk was turning against the Jewish people is a lie contradicted by his public record.”

Accusations of Complicity, Threats, and Legal Posture

Owens’s insinuations raised the stakes. She did more than criticize Kirk’s views — she suggested Hammer might have foreknowledge or involvement in the assassination itself. Hammer described the accusations as “deranged” and “baseless.” He said he is consulting lawyers and may pursue legal action for defamation if necessary.

“I have been accused of complicity in my friend’s murder. Of having foreknowledge. That is a monstrous claim,” he told Grant. “I have to clear my name.”

Hammer said the deluge of messages, mentions, and harassment on social media has been nonstop. Though he largely avoids engaging with direct messages and “quote tweets,” he said the burden of reputation and truth demands he respond.

Protecting his family is his principal priority, he said. Living in Florida, Hammer noted that local law enforcement is aware of various threats and statements. He vowed that “this sort of stuff will never shut me up.”

“I will not concede to those who want me to admit something I did not do,” he said. “I will keep speaking out.”

Who Was Charlie Kirk? A Legacy Beyond the Chats

Hammer offered a heartfelt eulogy of Kirk’s faith, worldview, and public mission. He described Kirk as someone whose Christian convictions deeply shaped his perspectives on Jewish–Christian alliance, Israel, and civic identity. Even in private, Hammer said, Kirk observed the Jewish Sabbath in his own way, turning off his phone from Friday night to Saturday night — a detail Hammer claimed underscored Kirk’s sincerity.
He also contended that Kirk’s public writings and speeches remained consistent with Israel advocacy, arguing that private frustrations did not signal ideological betrayal.

“Charlie never turned on Israel,” Hammer asserted. “He may have vented in private, but his public life told a much different story — one rooted in friendship, faith, and conviction.”

Broader Implications and Continuing Investigations

While Hammer works to defend his reputation, the investigation into Kirk’s murder continues. Authorities arrested Tyler Robinson, 22, and charged him with the shooting.

Though Robinson is the lone suspect so far, conspiracy theories and fringe narratives have proliferated in the absence of full clarity about motive.

Some legal observers say that while individuals are free to interpret private texts, they must be cautious before tying those texts to criminal culpability without evidence — especially in such a charged environment.

Community reactions have been mixed. Conservative voices rallied around Kirk as a martyr. Some on the left and within conservative circles warned of the dangers of extremism and conspiratorial thinking. Others expressed concern about the weaponization of pain and narrative in the aftermath of a political killing.

Conclusion: Grief, Truth, and the Burden of Narrative

As the conservatism community grapples with the loss of a youth-driven icon, Hammer now finds himself in the crosshairs — not as a suspect, but as an unwilling narrator of his friend’s final hours. He argues that his decision to release private messages was not driven by vanity or provocation, but by necessity: to push back against what he sees as false storytelling.

“Even in his frustrations, in private, Charlie remained who he was,” Hammer said. “The attempt to twist private words into public betrayal is shameful. I’ll defend the truth — no matter how painful.”

If further leaks, interviews, or forensic evidence emerges, Hammer and his allies will have more to address. But for now, his public stance is clear: he mourns a friend murdered far too young, and he will resist any version of the story that makes Kirk’s final narrative one of betrayal rather than conviction.