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David Horowitz, former marxist turned Donald Trump supporter, dies at 86; family recalls last phone call with president

David Horowitz, the conservative writer and activist, has died at 86 after a long battle with cancer. Known for his sharp political shifts, his family and center paid final tributes to his life in activism, writing, and conservative thought.
Nancy Jaiswal Updated on Apr 30, 2025, 15:01 IST

David Horowitz, a well-known conservative activist, writer, and speaker, has died at the age of 86. His death was announced by the David Horowitz Freedom Center, the conservative think tank he founded. The center confirmed that Horowitz passed away after a long battle with cancer.

Death confirmed by freedom center

The announcement of his death was made on Tuesday on the social media platform X. The David Horowitz Freedom Center said, ¡°We are very saddened to announce the passing of the Center¡¯s founder, David Horowitz.¡±


Son shares personal tribute

As per the reports, his son, Benjamin Horowitz, co-founder of the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, shared an obituary online. In it, he reflected on his father¡¯s long career in activism and writing. The tribute also mentioned Horowitz¡¯s support for President Donald Trump.

A memorable call with Trump

Benjamin shared that when he met Trump last year, he spoke to the president about his father. Trump¡¯s response was immediate. ¡°President Trump¡¯s face immediately lit up and he insisted that Benjamin get David on the phone immediately,¡± the obituary read. Though David was in the hospital and not well, he was still happy to speak with the president.


A shift from Marxism to conservatism

Horowitz¡¯s political journey was notable. He was once a Marxist, but later became a prominent voice in the conservative space. He was born in Queens, New York, and pursued his education at respected institutions. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Columbia University and later earned a Master¡¯s degree from the University of California, Berkeley.

Remembering his family

David Horowitz is survived by his wife, April Mullvain. She was his fourth wife. He also leaves behind his sons, Benjamin and Jonathan, and a daughter, Anne. Another daughter, Sarah Rose, died in 2008.

Final words from the family

The obituary shared by Benjamin described how much his father meant to those closest to him. ¡°In the end, David helped countless people and expended every fiber of his being pushing society towards freedom,¡± the family wrote. ¡°He may not have saved the world, but he most certainly made it a better place ¨C especially for us. He was our super hero and we will love him forever.¡±

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Nancy Jaiswal

Nancy Jaiswal is a journalist who started her career in reporting and has covered both hard and soft news. From serious city news developments to lighthearted lifestyle pieces, she has written on almost everything hapenning in India (except maybe alien invasions¡ªyet!). For her, writing isn¡¯t just work; it¡¯s a passion, an obsession, and sometimes the reason she forgets to reply to texts.

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