David Horowitz, Right-Wing Commentator and Activist, Dies at 86
David Horowitz, a prominent conservative voice and founder of the David Horowitz Freedom Center, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 86 after battling cancer for several years.
Once aligned with Marxist ideals in his youth, Horowitz underwent a dramatic ideological shift, becoming known later in life for his staunch right-wing views. He gained notoriety for his strong opposition to Muslim and Palestinian advocacy, a stance that drew widespread criticism from civil rights organizations and advocacy groups.
Horowitz launched the Freedom Center to counter what he perceived as “liberal dominance” in academia. Over time, the center became associated with divisive rhetoric, including conspiracy theories and criticism of Islamic organizations. The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) classified the Freedom Center as a hate group due to its consistent targeting of Muslim student associations and its promotion of misinformation regarding Islamic influence in American law and society.
One of Horowitz’s most contentious efforts was organizing “Islamofascism Awareness Week” across U.S. college campuses. The campaign accused Muslim student groups, such as Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), of ties to extremism—a claim widely dismissed by academic institutions and human rights groups as inflammatory and baseless.
He was also a vocal opponent of Palestinian rights and regularly portrayed Palestinian advocates as aligned with extremist ideologies. His writings and the center’s content frequently framed criticism of Israeli policies as anti-Semitic, further intensifying backlash from interfaith and academic communities.
Despite being a deeply polarizing figure, Horowitz remained influential in conservative media and political circles. He authored numerous books and remained active in political discourse until his final days. According to his son Benjamin Horowitz, former President Donald Trump contacted Horowitz during a hospital visit shortly before his death, reflecting the high regard in which he was held by many on the political right.
Horowitz’s legacy remains sharply contested—admired by some for his unwavering defense of conservative values and condemned by others for promoting what they describe as bigotry under the guise of free expression.
He is survived by his wife, April Mullvain, and his children Benjamin, Jonathan, and Anne. His daughter, Sarah Rose, passed away in 2008.
