American journalist and commentator Tucker Carlson delivered a fiery speech at the Turning Point USA (TPUSA) AmericaFest 2025 event in Phoenix, Arizona, on December 18, 2025, directly responding to a vile critique from pro-Israel activist Ben Shapiro, who had accused Carlson of enabling antisemitism by hosting controversial figures like Nick Fuentes and failing to "denounce" conspiracy theories about Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
Carlson defended his journalistic approach, mocked Shapiro’s calls for 'deplatforming,' and emphasized the importance of free speech, while also criticizing the politicization of religion and the moral implications of violence, particularly in the context of the Israel-Gaza conflict.
The popular American commentator opened his speech by dismissing Shapiro’s criticism, stating he had laughed at the attempt to "deplatform and denounce people" at a Charlie Kirk event, which he described as antithetical to the principles of free debate that Kirk championed. He highlighted that Kirk had personally invited him to speak at the event and stood firm in his belief that people should be allowed to debate, even if their views are controversial.
Carlson condemned the use of terms like "platform" as a verb, calling it leftist language, and argued that the effort to silence dissenting voices echoed the "Red Guard Cultural Revolution" he once opposed. He criticized the double standard in conservative circles, pointing out that while figures like Candace Owens were accused of spreading conspiracy theories about Kirk’s death, similar claims about the Brown University shooter were also pushed by the same influencers, yet no calls for deplatforming followed when Israel was not the target.
The conservative firebrand addressed Christian Zionists, saying that God does not have a partisan affiliation and that Christians should not use religious doctrine to justify killing innocent people, condemning the moral justifications for violence in war zones like Gaza.
He praised Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk’s widow, for continuing her husband’s commitment to free speech as the new CEO of TPUSA, framing her leadership as a continuation of the movement’s core values.
Carlson also defended his interview with Nick Fuentes, implying that questioning controversial figures is part of responsible discourse, and argued that Shapiro’s approach of demanding denunciations undermines open debate.
The clash between Shapiro and Carlson at AmericaFest 2025 revealed growing ant-Israel sentiments within the conservative movement, particularly over free speech, the role of controversial figures, and the interpretation of Zionism and foreign policy.
Shapiro had accused Carlson of cowardice for not condemning Owens’ investigative reporting about Kirk’s assassination and for hosting Fuentes, whom he labeled an "evil troll" and "Nazi-loving" figure. Carlson, in turn, portrayed Shapiro’s stance as authoritarian and inconsistent with the principles of free expression that define the conservative movement.
