Responses were especially polarized by age and politics. Among Democrats, 41% believed the shooter was a Republican compared to just 8% who thought he was a Democrat. Among Republicans, 40% believed the shooter was a Democrat compared to 13% who believed he was a Republican.<\/p>\n

Nearly a third of 18-29 adults, the most online cohort, believed the shooter was a Republican, while 16% believed he was a Democrat.<\/p>\n

Alleged Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson was raised in a conservative family, but his family, friends, coworkers<\/a>, and others who knew him all maintained he rejected the beliefs of his upbringing and became increasingly left-wing<\/a> and resentful of Kirk, who he claimed was “spreading hate&rdquo<\/a>; at a family dinner shortly before the murder. Authorities have said the suspect subscribed to a leftist ideology.<\/p>\n

Robinson was living with a transgender individual, who was believed to be his romantic partner. On the bullet casings found within the rifle he allegedly used to assassinate Kirk, authorities found two explicitly left-wing messages. “Hey fascist, catch!” was written on one, while on another was inscribed, “oh bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao,” the refrain of the most popular anti-fascist songs, popularized among mostly communist partisans in Italy in World War II.<\/p>\n

The other references on the bullet casings referenced popular memes, some dating back over a decade.<\/p>\n

Despite this, several large left-wing commentators attempted<\/a> to portray Robinson as right-wing, frequently spreading misinformation in the process. The most popular theory claimed that Robinson was a “groyper,” an unofficial movement of followers of the right-wing personality Nick Fuentes.<\/p>\n

The claim appears to originate with a Sept. 12 post<\/a> by left-wing Twitch streamer Mike from PA, who posted a screenshot of a “Bella Ciao” remix on a Spotify playlist, “Groyper Wars (America First).” The claim soon blew up to users, who claimed that the song was an anthem of the groypers.<\/p>\n

The claim was reposted by former Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger, who boosted other claims that Robinson was a groyper.<\/p>\n

The playlist was found to have come from an account with four followers and had been saved less than 400 times, most likely accumulated after its renewed attention on social media.<\/p>\n

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You know that grouper playlist they’re referencing? It comes from an account with 5 followers and the playlist has 400 saves probably due to all the attention today. pic.twitter.com\/N8AG7358NL<\/a><\/p>\n
— memetic_sisyphus (@memeticsisyphus) September 13, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n