Candace Owens has publicly escalated her dispute with Erika Kirk, widow of late Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, alleging what she described as a "pattern" of associations tied to areas known for child trafficking-claims for which no law enforcement agency has announced charges or investigations.
In a series of posts on X dated Feb. 17, 2026, Owens described a "wild update" regarding what she called the "Erika Kirk/Jillian story," asserting she had received a tip about a teenage girl allegedly connected to Kirk through a personal friendship. According to Owens, the tip claimed that "at the time of her textual relationship with Erika, Jillian lived in a trailer park within a neighbourhood that is known for the highest incidence of child sex trafficking."
Owens said she forwarded that information to the teen, who she claimed confirmed the location detail. She then summarized what she portrayed as a troubling narrative, writing that after Erika allegedly befriended a 15-year-old girl "living without a father in a trailer park," the then-25-year-old Charlie Kirk "proceeds to love-bomb Jillian by telling her how beautiful she is." Owens further alleged that Erika requested the girl's address to send chocolate-covered strawberries and "knew she was a minor." She added that anyone defending such conduct "is demented."
No public record shows any criminal investigation or charges against Erika Kirk stemming from those allegations. Owens herself has stated she is not formally accusing Kirk of a crime.
Owens broadened her claims beyond the alleged personal interactions, arguing that certain professional decisions reflected a concerning proximity to trafficking hotspots. She wrote that "at the insistence of Tyler Bowyer who introduced Erika to Charlie," Turning Point USA opened facilities near Arizona Mills, which she described as "one of the highest places for child sex trafficking in the state."
Owens also referenced Erika Kirk's nonprofit work with Romanian Angels and her involvement in the "Make Heaven Crowded" tour alongside Pastor Greg Laurie of Harvest Christian Fellowship. Owens questioned the context of those associations and cited U.S. State Department data describing trafficking concerns in Chongqing, China, where she said Kirk had previously claimed to work with trafficking victims. Owens characterized these elements collectively as a "pattern."
Fact-checking organizations and prior media reporting have stated that earlier allegations linking Charlie Kirk's Romanian charity work to trafficking are unsubstantiated. Publicly available records describe Romanian Angels as focused on gift sponsorship for orphans, and no official findings have connected Erika Kirk to criminal wrongdoing.
The feud unfolds against the backdrop of internal divisions within conservative circles following Charlie Kirk's assassination in September 2025. Owens, who previously served as communications director at Turning Point USA, has since criticized aspects of the organization's leadership and publicly questioned narratives surrounding his death. Erika Kirk has pushed back against what she has described as unfounded speculation.
Legal experts note that allegations involving trafficking carry serious reputational consequences, particularly when made absent verified evidence. Critics of Owens argue that invoking trafficking language without official corroboration risks amplifying misinformation. Supporters counter that her posts represent a call for transparency.
