Candace Owens’s career has been defined by one of the most dramatic and controversial political transformations in modern media. In less than a decade, she transitioned from a liberal critic of the Republican Party to a leading voice of the American conservative movement, only to have her time at the top of established conservative media end over a final, divisive shift in rhetoric.
Here is a look at the journey that defined her political evolution, beginning with her initial opposition to Donald Trump.
Phase 1: The Anti-Trump Democrat (Pre-2017)
Before her political transformation, Candace Owens was known for holding typical liberal views and actively criticizing the Republican Party and its most controversial new figure.
Initial Stance: Owens was an outspoken critic of Donald Trump. She reportedly wrote for her website, Degree180, about the "bat-s**t crazy antics of the Republican Tea Party" and even published articles mocking Trump.
The Turning Point: This initial phase ended following a failed anti-cyberbullying initiative. After facing online harassment, she became convinced the abuse originated from the progressive left. This experience led to what she called an "overnight" conversion to conservatism.
Phase 2: The Trump Loyalist (2017–2023)
Owens quickly became a star in the conservative ecosystem by embracing the populist movement and becoming a staunch defender of President Trump.
Core Alliance: She pivoted to full-throated support of Trump, arguing that the left "hates America, and Trump loves it." She used the media criticism directed at Trump as evidence of a manipulative progressive agenda.
The Platform: Her activism led to key roles—Communications Director for Turning Point USA and founder of the BLEXIT Foundation—and eventually, her own show, Candace, at the prominent conservative company, The Daily Wire. Her brand was built on rejecting the notion of structural racism and the "victim mentality" of the left.
Phase 3: The Conspiracy Edge and The Break (2023–2024)
The final, decisive shift came as Owens moved away from established conservative positions on foreign policy, particularly regarding Israel, and embraced conspiratorial themes.
The New Focus: Her commentary increasingly concentrated on global corporate power and international conflicts. During the Israel-Hamas conflict, she became a prominent critic of Israel, placing her at odds with the near-unified, pro-Israel stance of American conservatism.
The Critical Error: The controversy culminated with her use of language which her critics, including former colleague and Daily Wire co-founder, Ben Shapiro, publicly contended invoked alleged antisemitic tropes about Jewish "control" of media and finance. The rhetoric is alleged to be associated with dangerous, historical conspiracy theories.
The Result: Her departure from The Daily Wire in March 2024 was alleged to be a corporate accountability measure because her employer allegedly determined that her continued use of language that invoked a divisive and historically loaded narrative was too great a professional liability.
Conclusion
Candace Owens's political shift is less a simple party conversion and more a cautionary tale about escalating rhetoric—a journey that began with opposition to Trump, morphed into influential support, and ultimately ended with her embracing themes that her conservative allies determined were simply beyond the pale.
Despite the controversy, I love Candace Owens's show and I respect her right to free speech. I can't wait to see where her journey takes her next.
Pro Israel or go to help
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