TPUSA’s First Major Event After Charlie Kirk’s Murder Marred By Shapiro–Carlson Spat

Last Updated:December 21, 2025, 16:12 IST

Ben Shapiro and Tucker Carlson clashed over values, Israel, and free speech at AmericaFest, revealing deep rifts in US conservatism after Kirk’s death.

Ben Shapiro and Tucker Carlson clashed over values, Israel, and free speech at AmericaFest, revealing deep rifts in US conservatism after Kirk’s death. (Pic: Wikipedia)

Phoenix:  What was meant to be a memorial-filled show of unity at Turning Point USA’s annual AmericaFest instead turned into a rare, unscripted display of open warfare within America’s conservative movement.

Midway through the four-day convention, Erika Kirk, who now heads Turning Point USA after the assassination of her husband and founder Charlie Kirk in September, tried to put a brave face on the growing tensions.

“Say what you want about AmFest, but it’s definitely not boring," she said. “It feels like a Thanksgiving dinner where your family’s hashing out the family business."

The comparison proved apt. On the main stage, some of the biggest names in conservative media spent more time attacking one another than their traditional political opponents, laying bare ideological rifts that now run through President Donald Trump’s political coalition.

Shapiro draws the first blood

The confrontation erupted on the very first day when Ben Shapiro, co-founder of the Daily Wire, delivered a fiery speech warning that the conservative movement itself was under threat not from liberals, but from voices within.

“The conservative movement is also in danger," Shapiro said, “from charlatans who claim to speak in the name of principle, but actually traffic in conspiracism and dishonesty."

Without naming them initially, Shapiro accused certain right-wing influencers of exploiting Charlie Kirk’s murder to push baseless theories. He then called out a fellow conservative commentator, Candace Owens, directly, accusing her of spreading unfounded allegations involving foreign intelligence agencies and Turning Point USA itself.

Shapiro argued that prominent conservatives had a responsibility to respond.

“We, as people with a microphone, have a moral obligation to call that out by name," he said. Turning to Tucker Carlson, Shapiro added pointedly: “So no, Tucker Carlson, it is not an excuse to go silent."

Carlson fires back with mockery

Carlson responded barely an hour later, taking the same stage to ridicule Shapiro’s remarks and the idea of “deplatforming" dissenting voices at a Turning Point event.

“I just got here," Carlson said, opening his speech with heavy sarcasm. “I feel like I missed the first part of the program. I hope I didn’t miss anything meaningful."

After a pause, he added: “No, I’m just kidding. I watched it. I laughed."

Carlson described what he saw as an upside-down moment for the conservative movement. “That kind of bitter, sardonic laugh," he said, “when Upside Down World arrives. When your dog starts doing your taxes and you’re like, wait, it’s not supposed to work this way."

Calling it “hilarious" that there were calls to denounce fellow conservatives at an event founded on free speech, Carlson dismissed Shapiro’s criticism as self-defeating.

A deeper split over Israel and Gaza

Beneath the personal attacks lay a more serious ideological divide, especially over Israel and the war in Gaza.

Several speakers, including Carlson, questioned whether America’s long-standing, unconditional support for Israel aligns with Trump’s “America First" philosophy. Carlson’s remarks on civilian casualties in Gaza struck a tone rarely heard at conservative gatherings.

“Forgive me," Carlson said, “because killing people who committed no crime is immoral. It will always be immoral."

He warned of what he described as a coordinated effort to normalise civilian deaths, arguing that nations that endorse such actions ultimately face consequences.

These comments resonated with a younger segment of Republicans at the conference, many of whom are increasingly vocal in questioning whether Trump’s close alliance with Israel truly reflects an America-first agenda.

Memorial event overtaken by infighting

The clashes threatened to overshadow what was meant to be a convention focused on remembering Charlie Kirk and consolidating conservative unity ahead of the next election cycle.

Other speakers escalated the feud in the days that followed. Steve Bannon, former White House Executive, denounced Shapiro in harsh terms, while Megyn Kelly, senior political commentator, publicly declared that her friendship with him was over.

Owens, who was not invited to the convention, responded from outside the venue, further fuelling the dispute.

Why this matters beyond America

The episode offers insight into how American politics now functions, where media personalities rival elected leaders in influence, and ideological battles play out live before cheering crowds.

More importantly, the showdown between Shapiro and Carlson reflects a larger struggle within the US conservative movement between institutional conservatives and a newer, more populist, sceptical base. As the Republican Party looks toward a post-Trump future, these divisions could shape not just American elections but US foreign policy positions that directly affect countries like India.

News world TPUSA’s First Major Event After Charlie Kirk’s Murder Marred By Shapiro–Carlson Spat

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