Tucker Carlson and Ben Shapiro clash at Turning Point USA event
Conservative commentators Tucker Carlson and Ben Shapiro clashed publicly on stage at the annual Turning Point USA AmericaFest conference in Phoenix as deep divisions within the conservative movement took centre stage. What was meant to be a unifying event instead turned into a high-profile dispute between the two influencers as they criticised each other and debated the direction of the “Make America Great Again” and “America First” agenda.
Shapiro used his speaking slot to sharply criticise Carlson, accusing him of enabling controversial figures such as white nationalist Nick Fuentes and other divisive personalities by giving them a platform. Shapiro described these actions as undermining the conservative movement and called some fellow commentators “frauds” and “grifters” for spreading conspiracy theories and failing to condemn extremism. His remarks were part of a broader speech in which he warned that the movement was in serious danger from internal conflicts as much as from external opposition.
Later in the programme, Carlson responded from the same stage with a more dismissive tone, mocking what he called efforts to “deplatform and denounce” opposing views and defending his approach to open debate. He framed his remarks as a defence of free discourse and suggested that turning disagreements into calls for censorship was contrary to the principles of the movement’s late founder, Charlie Kirk. Carlson’s comments underscored the ideological rift between the two figures and highlighted the broader tensions at the event.
The clashes reflected a wider struggle within the conservative ranks over political strategy, media influence, and the boundaries of acceptable discourse following the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk earlier this year. Event attendees and social media users reacted strongly to the exchanges, noting that the incident revealed deep fractures in political alliances that had previously appeared more united. Organisers and other speakers sought to keep attention on the broader conference agenda, but the public disagreement between Carlson and Shapiro quickly became one of the most talked-about moments of the event.
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