Months before his assassination, conservative activist Charlie Kirk delivered comprehensive advice to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding strategies to address rising opposition to the Jewish state among Americans, The Post has learned from a letter obtained by the outlet.
Netanyahu received Kirk's May 2 correspondence expressing alarm about mounting "anti-Israel and antisemitic trends" reaching unprecedented heights across social platforms, according to The New York Post, with the Turning Point USA founder explaining that defending Israel represented one of his "greatest joys as a Christian is advocating for Israel and forming alliances with Jews in the fight to protect Judeo-Christian civilization."
"My team and I have spent months analyzing these trends and debating ideas that could help you and your country pushback [sic] against these disturbing developments," the letter stated. "Anti-Israel sentiment can undermine American support for Israel."
Kirk continued in the correspondence, published in its entirety for the first time, stating "The purpose of this letter is to lay out our concerns and outline potential remedies. Everything written here is from a place of deep love for Israel and the Jewish people," while noting his campus advocacy work defending Israel through his leadership of Turning Point USA, among America's largest conservative youth organizations.
The activist wrote frankly in the letter that he thinks "it's important to be brutally honest with those you love. In my opinion, Israel is losing the information war and needs a 'communications intervention.'"
In a Sept. 18 video statement, Netanyahu referenced Kirk's letter eight days following the 31-year-old activist's fatal shooting at Utah Valley University, seeking to counter what he termed "monstrous" accusations suggesting Israeli involvement in the killing.
Candace Owens and additional right-wing commentators have asserted Kirk faced blackmail compelling him toward public support of Israel while privately questioning American backing for the Jewish state, though Pershing Square Capital Management CEO Bill Ackman subsequently released private messages challenging this characterization.
The correspondence shows Kirk pressing Netanyahu's administration to cease "subcontracting" Israel's rhetorical defense to American advocates, pointing out that his role as TPUSA's primary campus representative left him feeling he was "defending Israel in public" more vigorously than the prime minister's office when confronting accusations and inquiries. Kirk elaborated in his letter, stating, "I'm accused of being a paid apologist for Israel when I defend her; however, if I don't defend Israel strongly enough, I'm accused of being antisemitic."
The late activist wrote that "I know you've got a 7-front war and my kvetching pales in comparison. But I'm trying to convey to you that Israel is losing support even in conservative circles. This should be a 5-alarm fire."
Seven specific recommendations for shifting public opinion filled Kirk's letter, including establishing rapid response capabilities on X and additional platforms mirroring President Donald Trump's White House operation, developing pro-Israel specialists for real-time fact-checking of Gaza war misinformation, and launching an "Israel Truth Network" serving as an information clearinghouse.
Kirk warned in the correspondence that "When you don't push back, antisemitism and anti-Israel propaganda fill the void," while noting a pro-Israel associate recently questioned, "Do Israelis even care how the world perceives their country?"
American speaking tours featuring the released Gaza hostages would provide a "very effective messaging," Kirk suggested in the letter obtained by The New York Post.
Kirk added that "Also, these hostages and all your spokespersons should be arguing it's Hamas that is committing genocide on their own people by using civilians as human shields and storing weapons in schools, hospitals, etc," noting such information receives minimal social media attention despite occasional mainstream coverage.
The letter proposed "Interview Jews, Israeli Arabs, Druze, Orthodox, secular, etc. Ask Israelis what do they wish the world knew about Israel," with Kirk suggesting respondents address social media misinformation through a campaign potentially titled "Dude, you got us wrong!" featuring Israelis from diverse backgrounds.
Better communication regarding Iranian nuclear weapon threats drew Kirk's attention in the letter, given that "there is a concern that America could become entangled in a quagmire in Iran." Kirk's final suggestion involved cultivating additional "first-person" social media advocates from younger Israelis defending the Jewish state.
The activist observed that "I've seen your IDF spokesman defend Israel standing at a dimly lit podium," continuing that "This looks like a scene out of the 1970s – like some old Walter Cronkite clips of the TV news. You need to tear down your old ways of communicating and start over from scratch." Kirk concluded the letter by stating, "In my opinion, you are losing the information war which will eventually translate into less political and military support from America," adding "The Holy Land is so important to my life, and it pains me to see support for Israel slip away."
