The Crack-Up
For a second day in a row, a long-brewing internal fight among MAGA influencers spilled onto the stage of Turning Point USA’s first annual conference since the September slaying of Charlie Kirk, the organization’s co-founder.
Podcaster Ben Shapiro, speaking on the AmericaFest convention’s opening night Thursday, ripped into right-wing broadcasters Tucker Carlson, Steve Bannon, Candace Owens and Megyn Kelly, as well as white nationalist Nick Fuentes.
At the core of his argument is a case that Owens has peddled conspiracy theories, without objection from Kelly and other prominent conservatives, about Kirk’s assassination. Those theories include suggestions that foreign governments — including Israel’s — and employees of Turning Point USA could have been involved. Prosecutors in Utah have charged Tyler Robinson, 22, in the killing and are seeking the death penalty. He has yet to enter a plea.
“The conservative movement is also in danger from charlatans who claim to speak in the name of principle but actually traffic in conspiracism and dishonesty,” Shapiro said. “Those of us with a microphone have a moral obligation to call that out by name.”
He condemned Carlson for hosting Fuentes — whom he called “a Hitler apologist, Nazi-loving, anti-American piece of refuse” — and Bannon for “maligning people that he disagrees with” by accusing them of “loyalty to a foreign country.”
Bannon fired back on Friday night from the same stage, accusing Shapiro of wanting to take over Turning Point USA and putting Israel’s interests ahead of the United States.
“Ben Shapiro is like a cancer, and that cancer spreads,” Bannon said to cheers from the crowd of thousands at the Phoenix Convention Center.
It’s actually much more dramatic than that. I collected some highlights that show it’s not just about Bannon and Shapiro. They are ALL at each others’ throats.
BREAKING: Total Fail Opener at Amfest – $200 Million Grifted and Geofencing Tech Partners, and TPUSA can't figure out an iPad or teleprompter or written paper backup when Erika's laptop won't turn on. Erika blames "the enemy" for making her iPad not work and claims her "entire… https://t.co/fP6RjN5YKE pic.twitter.com/k8QMedTA1e
— Sword Truth (@SwordTruth) December 19, 2025
Here is Ben Shapiro's full speech at Turning Point USA's AmericaFest where he slams Candace Owens, Tucker Carlson, Nick Fuentes, Steve Bannon, Alex Jones, and criticizes his friend Megyn Kelly.
Whether you agree with him or not, it's a must-watch…especially considering that… pic.twitter.com/fIHj4hxiL9
— Yashar Ali
(@yashar) December 19, 2025
Two things that are NOT MAGA:
1. Ben Shapiro attacking Tucker and speaking at TPUSA Amfest.
2. The heavily redacted Epstein files being released, failure to release them all by today’s lawful deadline, and redacting “politically exposed individuals and government officials.”…
— Marjorie Taylor Greene
(@mtgreenee) December 20, 2025
She really looked at the camera and screamed:
“Your people… contract lords”
“I’m off the mother-effing plantation”
“F**K YOU Ben Shapiro and the midget horse you rode in on”Then went full Kanye:
“Jews aren’t chosen anymore…… pic.twitter.com/UWQElMHGFk— Reverend Jordan Wells (@WellsJorda89710) December 20, 2025
Only cowards take to the national stage or X to attack their “friends” without so much as a phone call to discuss it. And also didn’t tag me bc she is afraid.
https://t.co/EkRLnKgJQr
— Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) December 19, 2025
Yeah…
Happy Hollandaise!
