Ben Shapiro Launches Scathing Attack on JD Vance Over MAGA Strategy
Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro has launched a blistering attack on Vice President JD Vance, suggesting he has been "relegated to placating the crazies" within the MAGA movement, specifically targeting figures like Tucker Carlson. The criticism came during Shapiro's latest podcast episode, where he addressed Vance's recent political maneuvers concerning the ongoing U.S. conflict with Iran.
Vance's Attempt to Navigate MAGA Divisions
Shapiro's comments followed Vance's appearance at a Turning Point USA event at the University of Georgia, where the vice president faced heckling from attendees displeased with former President Donald Trump's public dispute with Pope Leo XIV over Middle Eastern policy. At the event, Vance acknowledged that "a lot of young voters don't love the policy that we have in the Middle East" and urged them to remain politically engaged rather than disengaging.
The conservative pundit played a clip of Vance's remarks and delivered a stark warning: any assumption that Vance could simply inherit Trump's coalition if he becomes the Republican presidential nominee in 2028 is "deeply flawed." Shapiro pointed to Hillary Clinton's failed attempt to replicate Barack Obama's coalition in 2016 as a cautionary example.
Shapiro's Critique of Vance's Alliances
Shapiro then turned his attention to Vance's relationship with Tucker Carlson, criticizing what he called Vance's "consistent defense" of Carlson's "disgusting demoralization op" - referring to Carlson's opposition to the Iran war and U.S. support for Israel. "You have to feel a little bit bad for Vice President Vance," Shapiro remarked. "Tucker helped him become vice president. The VP appreciates it, as he should."
"But now, because of his connections to Tucker or his desire to maintain Trump's coalition, a coalition that is broad and complex, he's been relegated to placating the crazies, assuming he doesn't actually agree with them," Shapiro continued, delivering one of his most pointed criticisms.
The Consequences of 'Honoring Garbage'
Shapiro elaborated on what he sees as the dangerous consequences of Vance's approach: "Here's the bottom line. It is not possible to humor low IQ slop [like Carlson] and then assume it will not have consequences. Honoring garbage is exacerbating garbage."
"Laughing along with the purveyors of bulls*** while occasionally tut-tutting, and then when push comes to shove, defending the overall importance of grifters and nuts and even endorsing them, popularizes the worst ideas and that matters," Shapiro argued. He warned that such behavior "makes American politics worse, and that does make the world a worse place."
Broader Conservative Infighting
Shapiro's criticism extended beyond Vance and Carlson to include popular podcaster Theo Von, whom he dismissed as "just a Bernie Sanders leftist who does not like the censorious impulses of the left and engages in all the same conspiracy theories." Shapiro accused Vance of kissing Von's "half-r*****ed a**," demonstrating the depth of his frustration with what he perceives as ideological compromises.
This isn't Shapiro's first foray into intra-conservative conflict. In December, he took to the TPUSA stage to accuse Carlson, Nick Fuentes, and Candace Owens of antisemitism and spreading baseless conspiracy theories, establishing a pattern of calling out fellow conservatives he views as problematic.
Vance's Challenging Political Week
The TPUSA incident capped a difficult week for Vice President Vance, who has faced multiple political setbacks. He led failed peace talks with Iran in Pakistan, saw his endorsement of Viktor Orban in Hungary's elections backfire spectacularly, and had to defend President Trump's attack on the pope while preparing to release a memoir about his conversion to Catholicism.
Shapiro concluded his critique with a direct message to Vance: "Terrible low IQ slop ideas have consequences. Stop burnishing them." The commentary highlights deepening divisions within conservative circles as figures jockey for position ahead of the 2028 presidential election cycle.
