Soon after Charlie Kirk's assassination, some on the political left quickly spread a baseless theory that the conservative podcaster was killed by a follower of the ultra-right-wing group called Groypers.
The big picture: Internet searches for Groypers skyrocketed last week as critics tried to connect Kirk's suspected shooter, Tyler Robinson, and the group's leader, Nick Fuentes, a podcaster known for edgy, racist and socially transgressive content.
The suspect who allegedly killed conservative activist Charlie Kirk targeted him for "spreading hate," police said while announcing the arrest Friday.
The latest: President Trump announced the arrest on "Fox & Friends" Friday morning, and Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) identified the suspect, who he said confessed to the shooting.
Authorities are investigating whether Tyler Robinson, suspected of killing Charlie Kirk, believed Kirk's views on gender identity were "hateful" to people like Robinson's transgender roommate, six sources familiar with the case tell Axios.
Why it matters: Investigators believe Robinson's anger at Kirk's views could be a key to establishing a motive for the slaying of the controversial activist whose death sent shockwaves through American politics.
The heinous killing of Charlie Kirk shocked the nation's conscience at a moment of searing political tension.
- In an Oval Office address, President Trump called for Americans to unite in the memory of the 31-year-old conservative titan. He then on the "radical left."
The big picture: Kirk — the singular leader of MAGA's next generation, who is survived by his wife and two young children — was a fierce champion of the right to free expression. His voice was silenced Wednesday by an assassin's bullet.
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