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By Jesus Mesa
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The killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has reignited attention on a long-simmering feud within elements of the far right, particularly between Kirk and the so-called "Groyper" movement led by white nationalist Nick Fuentes.
Kirk was shot and killed on September 10 during an appearance at Utah Valley University. As authorities investigate the motive, online speculation has turned toward extremist factions that once targeted Kirk—specifically, Fuentes' "Groyper Army," which has long accused him of being insufficiently radical.
Despite his confrontational style, Kirk was frequently attacked from the right for being too moderate. During the 2019 "Groyper Wars," Fuentes' supporters disrupted Turning Point USA events, challenging Kirk on immigration and LGBTQ rights while labeling him a "gatekeeper" of establishment conservatism.
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Now, as the public searches for answers in Kirk's assassination, that conflict within far-right is back in the spotlight—with renewed scrutiny on the rhetoric and influence of Fuentes and his followers.
Social media users have also questioned whether early claims by officials that the suspect, apprehended late Thursday, was tied to left-wing extremism were premature, pointing instead to possible links to the far-right.
As of Friday afternoon, it remained unclear what the motive was in the Kirk shooting, or the political ideology of the alleged gunman. Robinson's family said he had become "more political" in recent years, according to police. The markings on the bullet casings suggest the subject was steeped in meme culture and made references to online taunts and anti-fascist messages.
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What Is the Groyper Army?
The Groyper Army is a far-right, online-based movement organized around white nationalist and "America First" advocate Nick Fuentes. According to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), the group consists of "alt-right, white nationalist, and Christian nationalist activists" who hold virulently antisemitic, racist, and homophobic views, often cloaked in rhetoric about traditional values and family.
Their mascot is a cartoon frog called "Groyper," a variant of the "Pepe" meme used widely among extremist groups.
When Did the Term 'Groyper' Begin?
The term "Groyper" began circulating widely in 2019 during a public feud inside the conservative movement. That year, followers of Nick Fuentes disrupted college events hosted by Charlie Kirk and his group, Turning Point USA, accusing Kirk of watering down Donald Trump's message.
The clash, later referred to as the "Groyper Wars," drew national attention for its confrontational tactics and for pushing white nationalist ideas into more mainstream conservative circles.
Kirk responded by calling the Groypers extremists. He defended his approach to conservatism as inclusive, saying the movement should be open to people of all backgrounds and reject racism and homophobia.
What Has Nick Fuentes Said About the Charlie Kirk Killing?
Fuentes has made several public statements about Kirk's assassination. Shortly after the killing, Fuentes posted, "I am devastated. It feels like a nightmare that we'll never wake up from," and called for unity, writing, "The violence and hatred has to stop. Our country needs Christ now more than ever."
On September 12, Fuentes directed his comments at the Trump administration. "We need more from the Trump administration than what we're getting," he wrote on X. "Release all the information about the assassin and his Discord contacts. Everyone must be investigated. Tell us the plan. How will the government stop this from ever happening again? Where is the leadership???"
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Update 9/12/25 8:25 p.m. ET: This story has been updated with more information.
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