The public feud within the American conservative movement intensified dramatically at the Turning Point USA (TPUSA) AmFest event, escalating into a full-blown media war with zealous pro-Israel neoconservatives like Ben Shapiro on one side, and on the other side, a growing number of conservatives like journalists and commentators Candace Owens, Steve Bannon and Tucker Carlson who oppose the costly U.S-Israel relationship.
During his aggressive speech at the four-day event, Thursday, pro-Israel activist Ben Shapiro claimed that Owens is promoting conspiracy theories about the assassination of TPUSA founder, and called other prominent voices like Carlson and SiriusXM host Megyn Kelly, "cowards" for not "denouncing" and excommunicating Owens. The speech sparked swift backlash online.
In a comprehensive response on her podcast, Owens noted that Shapiro was jealous of, and tried to undermine Charlie Kirk, and accused Shapiro of having no loyalty to Kirk or his widow, Erika Kirk who currently runs TPUSA.
Owens revealed that after her firing from The Daily Wire in March 2024, Shapiro personally sought to ruin her reputation. She alleged that Shapiro sent one of his interns to a TPUSA event where she was set to speak, with a malicious question, which she successfully exposed.
The conservative firebrand declared she was "done with" Shapiro. "Fuck you, Ben Shapiro, and the midget horse you rode in on," she said, and claimed Shapiro is fearful of what she might discover in her investigation of Charlie Kirk assassination, “It’s beyond obvious Ben Shapiro is fearful.”
During his own speech Friday, Bannon branded Shapiro a "cancer" and "a hardcore never-Trumper." He accused Shapiro of opposing Donald Trump during the 2016 campaign, attempting to shift support to Ted Cruz, and later jumping on the Ron DeSantis and "Israel First" train after Trump’s return to Mar-a-Lago.
Bannon linked Shapiro’s stance to a broader movement for "Greater Israel" agenda, which he claimed prioritizes Israeli expansionism over American interests, and named Shapiro alongside Jewish supremacist Mark Levin as key figures in this movement.
On her part, Kelly, speaking at the TPUSA event Friday, suggested she's severing ties with Shapiro.
Kelly, who had previously been close to Shapiro, publicly distanced herself from him, saying she was no longer his friend. She criticized both Shapiro and new Jewish CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss for attacking Owens without full context, saying they acted "w/o a damn clue" and failed to consult TPUSA or Erika Kirk before making public accusations.
The SiriusXM host revealed she had been working behind the scenes to mediate tensions between Owens and Erika Kirk and expressed embarrassment that the public attacks had worsened the situation. Erika and Owens met privately in Nashville, Tennessee earlier in the week.
The feud has become a symbolic battle within the MAGA movement, with figures like Shapiro leading the dwindling pro-Israel faction of the American right; while popular figures like Owens and Carlson represent the growing anti-war America First coalition.
Elected conservatives and Republicans have largely stayed out of the debates, except few zealous pro-Israel figures like Senator Cruz and controversial Congressman Randy Fine.
