David Horowitz, Muslim-hating conservative, dies at 86

David Horowitz, a conservative commentator and founder of the David Horowitz Freedom Center who spent decades promoting anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian rhetoric, died Tuesday at age 86 after a long battle with cancer.

Though once a Marxist in his youth, Horowitz became better known in his later years for what critics widely condemned as Islamophobic activism, incendiary writings, and a central role in pushing far-right ideological narratives across college campuses and media platforms.

Horowitz’s Freedom Center, originally established to combat what he described as “leftist indoctrination,” evolved into a hub for conspiracy-driven, anti-Muslim content.

The Southern Poverty Law Center has labeled the organization an 'anti-Muslim' hate group, citing its persistent campaigns against Muslim student organizations and its propagation of discredited claims about Islamic law infiltrating the U.S. legal system.

One of Horowitz’s most controversial initiatives was his “Islamofascism Awareness Week,” which he promoted on college campuses, warning students of what he alleged was a jihadist threat from Muslim student groups like Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP).

Civil rights organisations, Muslim advocacy groups, and university communities roundly rejected the campaign as fear-mongering and hate speech.

He was also an outspoken opponent of Palestinian rights, frequently describing pro-Palestinian activists as apologists for terrorism and openly opposing any political recognition of Palestinian grievances.

His center’s publications often vilified Palestinian advocacy and dismissed critiques of Israeli state violence as anti-Semitic.

Over the years, Horowitz was a polarising figure, receiving sharp criticism from academics, civil rights groups, and interfaith coalitions for contributing to what many viewed as a climate of rising Islamophobia in the US.

His rhetoric was cited as part of a broader effort to mainstream anti-Muslim sentiment in conservative politics, particularly during the post-9/11 era.

Despite this, Horowitz remained an influential figure in far-right circles, penning multiple books and endorsing Donald Trump, who he spoke with from his hospital bed, according to his son Benjamin Horowitz.

Trump, the family said, was eager to speak with him during a hospital visit, a testament to Horowitz’s ongoing influence among Republican elites.

Horowitz’s legacy is one marked by deep division. While supporters praised his commitment to opposing what he saw as leftist extremism, his critics argue he spent his later life fueling bigotry under the guise of free speech.

He is survived by his wife April Mullvain, children Benjamin, Jonathan, and Anne. His daughter Sarah Rose died in 2008.