In the wake of the passing of Freedom Center founder David Horowitz, tributes are pouring in from everyone from world leaders and politicians to activists and thought leaders, attesting to the former-radical-Marxist-turned-conservative firebrand’s courage, vision, and inestimable influence on conservatism.

Newly installed United States ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee wrote, “Heartbreaking news. David was one of the most brilliant minds in the conservative movement & came to his convictions by intellectual honesty. We will miss you my friend! David Horowitz R.I.P.”

Heartbreaking news. David was one of the most brilliant minds in the conservative movement & came to his convictions by intellectual honesty. We will miss you my friend!

David Horowitz R.I.P. https://t.co/Fa4Ub0yqfC

— Ambassador Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) April 30, 2025

Dutch politician and freedom fighter Geert Wilders tweeted, “David Horowitz, my dear friend and ally, passed away. David was an American hero, a giant, a warrior for freedom, one of the bravest patriots I have ever met. We will miss you David. Condolences to his family, friends and to America. May his memory be a blessing.”

David Horowitz, my dear friend and ally, passed away.

David was an American hero, a giant, a warrior for freedom, one of the bravest patriots I have ever met.

We will miss you David.

Condolences to his family, friends and to America.

May his memory be a blessing. https://t.co/Guv0kJhsZO pic.twitter.com/943m5gyG9A

— Geert Wilders (@geertwilderspvv) April 30, 2025

Senator Ted Cruz lamented on X, “So very sad. @horowitz39 was a friend & an extraordinary voice for Liberty. A former Marxist, he powerfully understood the evil of the radical Left. He loved America. And he was utterly unafraid to speak the Truth. Rest in Peace.”

“David inspired generations of bold conservative leaders, building a lasting legacy,” stated Stephen Miller, the White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy, U.S. Homeland Security Advisor, and Horowitz protégé. “He selflessly gave his time, energy, support and mentorship to young patriots fighting a corrupt and oppressive system. I will always be grateful to him and will never forget his kindness.”

Former Congressman Louie Gohmert tweeted,

David Horowitz’s passing today is an irreplaceable loss for America. I’m heartbroken. Raised a Marxist, led as a Marxist, but self-discerned the pure evils of Marxism as clearly as Solzhenitsyn & Sharansky by pure intellect. Rest In Peace David, my friend. Honored to be a Senior Fellow under you.

Bill Donohue, head of the Catholic League, the nation’s largest Catholic civil rights organization, posted a eulogy on their website in which he concluded,

David was fond of saying that many conservatives don’t get it. They are so nice. The problem with that is they seriously underestimate how vicious the Left is. They need to toughen up. They don’t understand how driven and malicious radicals are.

[…]

As he grew intellectually, David, who was Jewish, became a staunch advocate of Christianity. He saw the cultural rot that militant secularism wrought, concluding that an ascendant Christianity was badly needed.

Not surprisingly, the Left turned on him, hating his slide to conservatism. But he didn’t care—all he cared about was telling the truth.

America has lost a great one. I was honored to have known David Horowitz as a friend. May he rest in peace.

Radio giant Mark Levin wrote,

I’m so sorry to hear that David Horowitz has passed away.  He was a great advocate for our country and a brave voice against the Left.  He spent most of his remarkable and consequential life battling the communists, Islamists, and radicals. He knew how dangerous they are as he was one of them early in his life. RIP, David Horowitz. Thank you for your patriotism.

Caroline Glick, author and International Affairs Advisor to the Prime Minister of Israel, declared, “David Horowitz was a great mentor and friend to me and to thousands of conservatives in the United States and around the world. He illuminated the path to freedom with his awesome courage, intellectual brilliance and commitment to bring us together. May his memory be blessed.”

Author and activist Jack Posobiec called David “the Godfather of the New Right.” He added, “I worked with David Horowitz in college back in 2005 with Students for Academic Freedom at U putting our professors on trial. Then we brought Geert Wilders to campus. Will always appreciate the opportunities he gave me and all he did for the movement. David was a titan”

The good folks at PragerU posted, “All of us at PragerU mourn the passing of David Horowitz. David’s influence on the conservative movement was profound and will be long lasting. So many people and organizations owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude. PragerU is certainly included in that group. May his memory be a blessing.”

All of us at PragerU mourn the passing of David Horowitz.

David’s influence on the conservative movement was profound and will be long lasting. So many people and organizations owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude. PragerU is certainly included in that group. May his memory… pic.twitter.com/zoPf03WFMp

— PragerU (@prageru) April 30, 2025

Filmmaker Eli Steele (What Killed Michael Brown?), son of black conservative Shelby Steele (The Content of Our Character), wrote in part on X, “David Horowitz was a good man. A fighter who believed in America. I know my father is touched by his passing for they crossed paths many times.”

David Horowitz was a good man. A fighter who believed in America. I know my father is touched by his passing for they crossed paths many times. When I first moved to Los Angeles, I regularly attended Horowitz’s Wednesday Morning Club which allowed me to hear speakers from all…

— Eli Steele (@Hebro_Steele) April 30, 2025

Filmmaker Robert Davi tweeted, “Heartbroken to hear of one of my political mentors the Great David Horowitz has died – he was a Conservative Giant !! He should get the coverage his passing deserves – if he were a Hollywood star or liberal this would be a major news story !!! My condolences to his family and friends.”

Black conservative professor and author Carol Swain wrote, “I will deeply miss David Horowitz. I have known David since the 1999s and he has encouraged and supported throughout my career. He was a great American who influenced millions around the world. Rest in Peace! Comfort and prayers for family and loved ones.”

“A true giant,” wrote historian Larry Schweikart. “David Horowitz was on the front line fighting communism for decades.”

Perhaps the most effusive praise came from Turning Point USA founder and conservative activist Charlie Kirk, another Horowitz protégé, who posted a lengthy tribute on X. It’s worth posting below in its entirety. Be sure to read it all:

Rest in peace to my friend and mentor David Horowitz, who has just passed away. A fearless truth-teller, David was a titan in the battle of ideas and a warrior for Western civilization.

David grew up on the hard Left and remained a committed Marxist into his 30s. But he had the rare courage to question everything, and ultimately reject the radicalism of his youth to become one of the most influential conservative thinkers of our time.

Without David Horowitz, I’m not sure Turning Point USA would exist. David was a lifelong crusader and maverick for the conservative cause. A former communist turned fierce anti-left advocate, he dedicated his life to confronting the ideologies he once embraced.

Over 90% of our earliest major donors were introduced at a David Horowitz event—thanks to his warm endorsements and generous introductions. His support opened doors that would have otherwise remained closed.

David always believed in me and in Turning Point USA. He saw our campus movement as a rebirth of freedom—the kind of revival he long hoped to see. We spoke often by phone, and he remained a trusted teacher and mentor throughout my journey.

David understood the Left—not just its surface slogans, but its underlying motivations, its tactics, and most importantly, how to effectively confront and defeat it. His life was a testament to courage, intellectual clarity, and unwavering moral conviction. He showed that truth—once found—demands action, no matter the personal cost.

His David Horowitz Freedom Center was a launchpad for so many voices on the Right—including mine. In 2014, he invited me to speak at his Restoration Weekend, one of the first big breaks of my career. He believed in young leaders long before the world did.

Twenty-five years ago, David mentored a high school student named Stephen Miller. He supported him through Duke, through the Senate, and into the Trump White House. Today, Stephen is one of the most impactful architects of America First immigration policy. A legend thanks to David’s mentorship.

As Politico wrote, “If you want to understand the immigration policies [Trump] has put into place, you have to also understand Horowitz.” David’s fingerprints are all over the populist revival of the last decade.

David saw the Left clearly—and early. His books Indoctrination U and One Party Classroom were prophetic, exposing the rot on college campuses years before most conservatives dared to speak up. They helped inspire my own book The College Scam and much of Turning Point USA’s campus strategy.

But David didn’t just write. He debated. He showed up. He walked into hostile auditoriums and faced down Marxist professors, Islamist apologists, and race hustlers—armed only with truth, moral clarity, and a sharp tongue.

Back in 1999, David called out the Left’s weaponization of civil rights and its growing hatred of white people—a topic so radioactive that most conservatives avoided it for two more decades. He said what others were afraid to even whisper.

He published over 50 books, debated thousands, mentored dozens, and shaped the ideological terrain we now fight on. His final book was published in 2023—at the age of 84. He worked until his last breath.

David Horowitz was a lion. A fighter. A father of modern conservatism. He was a teacher to me, a mentor, and a friend. Turning Point USA will continue its successful movement in your honor, and thanks to your help. We miss you David, god bless you. Thank you

David Horowitz is gone, but his passion for freedom and American greatness changed countless lives, empowered conservativism, and laid the groundwork for the MAGA movement. And yet to the end he believed he had not done enough. Would that the rest of us could have even a fraction of his impact on behalf of helping make America great again.