'Ugly': MAGA's 'biggest weakness' revealed as movement grapples with civil war

After Turning Point USA's Charlie Kirk was fatally shot on Sept. 10, his widow, Erika Kirk, became the organization's new leader. Many MAGA Republicans were quick to blame liberals, progressives and Democrats for the killing — even though countless Democrats, from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York) to former Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama, wholeheartedly condemned it. But MAGA figures also attacked each other.

In an article published on Monday, Salon's Amanda Marcotte examines the feud between Erika Kirk and far-right MAGA podcaster Candace Owens.

"The swift anointing of Charlie Kirk's widow Erika as the new head of TPUSA did nothing to prevent the explosion of infighting that has been rapidly consuming the world of online MAGA media in the months since her husband's killing," Marcotte explains. "If anything, it's backfired. As I predicted, (Erika) Kirk is turning out to be a weak and ineffectual leader, persuading even more people in the very online right that now is their moment to get ahead in a crowded field. The rhetorical slugfest is growing increasingly ugly to watch. But in the process, MAGA is revealing what is likely the movement's biggest weakness: It's dominated by hustlers who are more interested in making money and growing their brand than they are in MAGA as a political project."

Owens is a major conspiracy theorist, and Marcotte notes that she has been "generating a seemingly endless number of conspiracy theories" about Kirk's death.

"Owens' rhetoric about Erika Kirk has grown increasingly personal," the Salon journalist observes. "Most shockingly, she keeps implying Kirk was involved in her husband's murder, and accusing her of defrauding TPUSA donors. Last week, Owens released a video saying Kirk doesn't have the strength to lead TPUSA, which follows pointed comments she made in early December about how 'in love' Charlie Kirk had been with a woman she says he dated before meeting his wife. The success Owens is having with this behavior is causing a lot of rifts."

Marcotte continues, "Tucker Carlson, who has long believed the future of MAGA is in getting ever-nuttier, has sided with Owens, going on the popular show hosted by Theo Von to insinuate the FBI is lying about who killed Charlie Kirk…. Right-wing podcaster Tim Pool, who typically loves spreading disinformation, turned on Owens, calling her a 'degenerate C-word' and an 'evil scumbag.' Even white nationalist Nick Fuentes, who hated Kirk when he was alive, has claimed he wants to 'expose' Owens, and has unleashed racist and misogynist abuse at her."

Marcotte argues that the "blizzard of conspiracy theories pushed by Owens and Carlson" has "destroyed the ability of GOP leaders to exploit Kirk's death in the manner they had intended."

"Owens is a classic case of a Frankenstein's monster, turning on the very people who created her," Marcotte writes. "Although it's a shame to see so many Americans continue to follow her down the rabbit hole, if it's causing the MAGA movement to turn on each other, then that’s a result all democracy-lovers can cheer."

Amanda Marcotte's full article for Salon is available at this link.