The first major Turning Point USA conference since the death of its founder, Charlie Kirk, descended into open infighting, exposing significant fractures within the American conservative movement. The AmericaFest event in Phoenix, Arizona, on Thursday night saw prominent headliners Ben Shapiro and Tucker Carlson publicly attack each other from the stage.
A Plea for Unity Ignored
Erika Kirk, the widow of Charlie Kirk and the organisation's new CEO, attempted to set a tone of unity by taking the stage first. Her plea for solidarity, however, was swiftly overshadowed by the acrimony that followed. The event quickly veered off course as two of its biggest draws launched into a war of words, battling over conspiracy theories that have circulated since Kirk's assassination in September.
Shapiro's Broadside Against 'Frauds and Grifters'
Ben Shapiro initiated the conflict by delivering a stark warning. He declared that the conservative movement is in serious danger from what he termed 'charlatans' who prioritise conspiracy and dishonesty. He specifically criticised Tucker Carlson for hosting far-right commentator Nick Fuentes on his show in October, labelling Fuentes a 'Hitler apologist, Nazi-loving, anti-American piece of refuse.'
Shapiro also took aim at a slate of other figures, including Candace Owens, Megyn Kelly, and Steve Bannon, calling them 'frauds' and 'grifters.' He condemned Owens for her repeated suggestions that Israel may have been involved in Kirk's death, stating that those who refused to condemn her 'vicious attacks' were guilty of cowardice. Shapiro emphasised the need for clarity, arguing against vague conspiratorial language. He pointedly referenced the 22-year-old suspect in Kirk's killing, Tyler Robinson, describing him as 'a gay trans-loving furry.'
Carlson's Dismissive Retort
Tucker Carlson responded from the same stage with dismissive scorn. He called Shapiro 'pompous' and said he had laughed while watching parts of his speech backstage. 'Calls to deplatform at a Charlie Kirk event? That’s hilarious,' Carlson remarked, defending his right to host controversial figures and question narratives.
He firmly denied accusations of antisemitism related to the Fuentes interview, stating, 'Antisemitism is not just naughty, it’s immoral.' Carlson framed the dispute as a matter of free inquiry, criticising what he saw as a leftist tactic of forcing 'ritual denunciations.' He asserted, 'It is okay to ask questions. And I thought that was, like, the whole reason we were against the left.'
Widening Rifts and Ongoing Fallout
The public spat marks a dramatic shift from the unified tone of last year's conference, which celebrated Republican electoral wins. The cracks continued to show after the event, with Candace Owens responding to Shapiro on social media platform X, writing, 'Ben only cares about Israel’s interests. So Israel is involved.' Days earlier, Erika Kirk had publicly begged Owens to stop spreading conspiracy theories about her husband's death.
The conference is set to continue through the weekend with speeches from figures including Vice President JD Vance, Fox News' Jesse Watters, Tulsi Gabbard, and House Speaker Mike Johnson. However, the opening night's discord has already defined the gathering, highlighting the intense ideological and personal battles raging within the movement Charlie Kirk helped build.
