"MAGA third-generation leader" in the US stabbed: The attacker turned out to be "far-right"? Behind it is a hidden struggle over "who will inherit Trump."

A major twist has emerged in the case of the shooting and death of American conservative activist and Trump political ally Charlie Kirk in Utah: although the suspect has been arrested, shockingly, the perpetrator may not be from the "radical left," but rather from the far right. Behind this shocking assassination that has rocked the U.S. political scene appears a far more complex political picture than previously imagined.

On September 13, according to CCTV News reports, the Governor of Utah and the Director of the FBI confirmed on the 12th local time that Tyler Robinson, the suspect in the assassination of well-known conservative activist and President Trump’s ally Charlie Kirk, has been arrested. His father called the police after the son admitted to "committing the act."

According to media reports, Trump immediately blamed Kirk's death on "radical left maniacs," and Vice President Vance personally used the Air Force Two special plane to escort Kirk’s remains home. However, as the investigation deepened, suspect Robinson’s political stance became the subject of widespread questioning — There is a large amount of speculation online that he may be associated with the far-right "Groyper" movement.

This discovery casts a shadow over the entire event. Although Kirk was a staunch ally of Trump during his lifetime, he was long the target of attacks from far-right factions led by Fuentes (Nick Fuentes), accused of being a "moderate gatekeeper." Some analysts point out this reveals deep fissures within America’s conservative movement:

Ideological clashes between the extreme right forces led by Fuentes and the mainstream conservatives represented by Kirk. As Trump's political career enters its twilight, the power struggle over "who will inherit Trumpism" is intensifying. This dark struggle may reshape the landscape of right-wing American politics.

Suspect’s Political Orientation Sparks Controversy: From "Leftist Maniac" to "Far-right" Speculation

Kirk was considered one of the most charismatic of the "third generation MAGA leaders." He is the founder of the conservative youth organization "Turning Point USA," long active on campuses, TV, and social media, and was an important public opinion ally for Trump’s return to the White House.

But this right-wing political star’s assassination has triggered a complex "ideological tracing" — because the perpetrator may not be, as Trump said, from the radical left.

It is reported that Trump immediately pointed the blame at "radical left maniacs," saying America "has a group of far-left lunatics who must be made to pay," and posthumously awarded Kirk the “Medal of Freedom.”

According to Economic Times, after 22-year-old Tyler Robinson was arrested, his political orientation became a focal point.

Internet users found that Robinson had posed in a squat wearing a black Adidas tracksuit, a posture likened to a meme widely used by the "Groyper" movement—a variant of the Pepe the Frog meme wearing similar attire and squatting.

This image, known as the "black Adidas hoodie squat meme," originated on the 4chan forum and is widely spread in far-right and satirical online circles.

Social media users claim that photos of Robinson indicate a connection with Fuentes’s "Groyper Army," a group that has long been at odds with mainstream conservatives such as Kirk and Turning Point USA.

Some posts even claim that Robinson once dressed up as a Groyper meme for Halloween, further fueling speculation that he identifies with far-right internet culture.

However, authorities have not yet confirmed whether Robinson is a Groyper member or involved in any far-right organizations.

Investigators revealed that shell casings found at the scene had anti-fascist messages inscribed, and public records show Robinson is a non-party registered voter and did not vote in the last presidential election.

Law enforcement also found unusual markings on Robinson’s rifle ammunition—arrows pointing up, right, and three downward. These arrows match input commands from the popular video game "Helldivers 2," corresponding to the game's most destructive "Eagle 500kg Bomb" strategy.

Who are the "Groyper Army"? An Emerging Far-right Force That Publicly Warred with Kirk

According to News Week, "Groyper" refers to followers of white nationalist and "America First" advocate Fuentes.

(Photo: Fuentes)

According to the Anti-Defamation League, the group consists of "alt-right, white nationalist, and Christian nationalist activists," holding strong anti-Semitic, racist, and homophobic views, often using traditional values and family rhetoric as a cover.

Their mascot is a cartoon frog named "Groyper," a variant of the widely used "Pepe" meme in extremist groups.

The term "Groyper" began to spread widely in 2019, during a public split inside the conservative movement. That year, Fuentes’s followers disrupted university events organized by Kirk and Turning Point USA, accusing Kirk of diluting Trump’s message.

This conflict, later called the "Groyper War," drew national attention for its confrontational tactics and for pushing white nationalist ideas into mainstream conservative circles.

Kirk responded by labeling the Groypers as extremists and defended his own brand of conservatism, stating the movement should be open to everyone and rejecting racism and homophobia.

After Kirk’s assassination, Fuentes made several public statements. Shortly after the shooting, he posted: "I am shocked. This feels like a nightmare I can’t wake up from," and called for unity, writing: "Violence and hatred must stop. Our country needs Christ now more than ever."

However, the outside world seems unconvinced. Some analysts suggest that this "contrition" is more about political calculation than genuine reflection.

With increasing speculation that the suspect came from the right, Fuentes recently hit back on social media platform X: "The left is now shamelessly trying to blame the murder of Charlie Kirk on the right, when for days they have been publicly celebrating and defending this murder."

Deep Divisions Between the Far Right and Moderate Conservatives

According to News Week’s analysis, although Kirk was known for a combative style, he was often attacked from the right for being too moderate.

During the 2019 "Groyper War," Fuentes's supporters disrupted Turning Point USA’s events and challenged Kirk on issues of immigration and LGBTQ rights, labeling him an establishment conservative "gatekeeper."

Some disagreements are based on policy positions. Kirk once stated that highly skilled international students who graduate from U.S. colleges should receive a "green card stapled to their diploma," a stance seen by hardliners as a betrayal of "America First" principles.

Conservative columnist Michelle Malkin publicly condemned this position, accusing Kirk of betraying core nationalist values. Others objected to his support for openly gay conservatives or his reluctance to fully embrace white identity politics.

During his lifetime, Kirk’s critics often portrayed him as effective yet compromising. In his death, these distinctions have vanished. Luke Baumgartner, a researcher at George Washington University’s extremism project, said:

"Kirk cast himself as a relatively approachable voice. Whoever succeeds him is unlikely to be a moderating force. Instead, they will likely favor more anger-driven and radical commentary, not less."

Who Will Inherit Trump’s Political Legacy

According to the New York Times, Fuentes has become one of the right’s loudest anti-Trump voices. The 27-year-old livestream host has tens or hundreds of thousands of alienated young male conservative followers known as "Groypers."

"When I was a teenager, I thought he was a Caesar-like figure who would save Western civilization," Fuentes said in an interview. "Now I think he’s incompetent, corrupt, and compromised." He criticized Trump for siding with Israel in the Gaza war and refusing to release the Epstein files.

But Fuentes has yet to prove he can influence U.S. politics electorally. He has declared his determination to obstruct the vice president’s presidential ambitions, describing Vance as "the ultimate state of Trumpism, a completely fictional character created in a lab by Peter Thiel." If Vance wins the Republican nomination in 2028, Fuentes said he’ll urge his followers "either stay home or vote for a protest candidate."

Matt Dallek, a political historian at George Washington University, said Fuentes’s hostility toward the vice president is obvious. Dallek commented:

"Trump is likely in the twilight of his political career, yet he’s attacking Vance at this moment. What we’re seeing is Fuentes, Carlson (Tucker Carlson, American conservative political journalist), Vance and others all battling to be the legitimate heir to Trumpism."

Notably, the battle for Trump’s political legacy has gone public. This summer, Carlson questioned on his podcast how the "weird little gay kid living in a Chicago basement," referring to Fuentes, could have any influence. Fuentes characteristically exaggerated his response on the show, generally regarded as having had the upper hand in their exchange.

With the disappearance of Kirk’s relatively moderate voice, experts worry that more radical and violent rhetoric will take its place. As terrorism expert Bruce Hoffman remarked:

"When relatively moderate and debate-willing voices like Kirk are silenced, they are usually replaced by louder and more radical ones."

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