Nick Fuentes is back in the spotlight after The New York Times published an op-ed on November 3 calling him the possible “successor” of late conservative leader Charlie Kirk. The piece, written by columnist Michelle Goldberg, came almost two months after Kirk was killed in a shooting at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025. The op-ed said Kirk’s death removed one of the last “restraints” on the right. Goldberg wrote that while Charlie Kirk once tried to set limits inside conservative circles, after his murder “there’s little sense that part of his legacy should be upheld.” The story added that Nick Fuentes’s profile rose sharply last week when he appeared on Tucker Carlson’s podcast. This has made many people ask: could Fuentes really take Kirk’s place in the conservative movement?
Charlie Kirk and Nick Fuentes: How their feud began
The tension between Charlie Kirk and Nick Fuentes started back in 2019. At that time, Kirk was leading his group Turning Point USA and was on a college tour called “Culture War.” Fuentes, who runs his own far-right following called the “Groypers,” sent his supporters to those events. They came to ask tough and often controversial questions about LGBTQ rights, immigration, and U.S. ties with Israel. Their goal was to make Kirk look like a fake conservative who avoided the extreme views they supported.Because of these disruptions, Nick Fuentes and many of his fans were later banned from major conservative events. Since then, both men stayed on opposite sides of the right-wing world. Fuentes often mocked Kirk online, calling him weak and too friendly with mainstream politics.When Charlie Kirk was shot dead in Utah, rumors spread that one of Fuentes’s followers was behind the killing. But Axios and Reuters reported there was no proof linking the Groypers to the murder. Fuentes quickly denied the claims on X, writing, “My followers and I are being framed for the murder of Charlie Kirk based on zero evidence. The Left did this, and now they are blaming me.”Also Read: YouTuber Kyle Kulinski Sparks Backlash After Meme On Erika Kirk Amid JD Vance Viral Moment And Resurfaced Charlie Kirk Photo OnlineAfter Charlie Kirk’s death, Nick Fuentes talked about him on his show. He said that even though they disagreed, he “would never wish death on him.” He also called Kirk a hardworking and ambitious man who built a movement no one else could replace.Now, with the NYT op-ed calling Fuentes the “successor,” debate is growing about who will lead the conservative youth base Kirk once inspired.
