NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Conservative radio host Ben Shapiro denounced what he described as “frauds and scammers” who pose a threat to the conservative movement, including Tucker Carlson, during his speech at AmericaFest 2025 on Thursday.
Shapiro opened his speech at the Turning Point USA conference in Phoenix by denouncing figures like Carlson and Candace Owens, accusing them of undermining conservative principles.
“Today the conservative movement is in grave danger, and not just from the left, which too often excuses everything to the point of murder,” Shapiro said. “The conservative movement is also threatened by charlatans who claim to speak for principle but who actually engage in conspiracy and dishonesty, who offer nothing but hatred and despair, who seek to undermine the fundamental principles of conservatism by advocating aggravation and grievance. These people are frauds, con artists, and they do not deserve your time.”
ERIKA KIRK AGREES TO “PRIVATE DISCUSSION” WITH CANDACE OWENS AMID RAISED TENSIONS
“The Ben Shapiro Show” host Ben Shapiro called out Tucker Carlson during his comments at AmericaFest 2025. (Brendan McDermid/Reuters)
While acknowledging that Carlson was also scheduled to speak at the conference later that night, the Daily Wire co-founder said commentators such as Carlson were “guilty of cowardice” for remaining silent while Owens spread conspiracy theories regarding the assassination of Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk.
“The fact that they said nothing while Candace has been spewing all kinds of hideous and conspiratorial nonsense in the public square for years is equally cowardly,” Shapiro said.
He also criticized Carlson’s methods as “lazy, stupid and deceptive” because they involve insider knowledge but refuse to show evidence under the guise of asking questions.
BILL MAHER AND BEN SHAPIRO SPAR ON THE POLITICS OF SUSPECTED ASSASSIN CHARLIE KIRK
People enter the main hall during AmericaFest, the first Turning Point USA summit since the death of Charlie Kirk, in Phoenix, Arizona, United States, December 18, 2025. (Caitlin O’Hara/Reuters)
“Our duty to provide you with evidence means we must do more than just ask questions,” Shapiro said. “Asking questions is something my five-year-old does. And it’s really cute when it comes from my five-year-old, but when grown men and women spend their days ‘just asking questions’ without, you know, looking for answers, they’re lying to you. In fact, they’re doing something even worse. They’re sowing distrust in the world around you and pissing you off in the process.”
He urged Carlson to take responsibility for introducing controversial guests like white nationalist Nick Fuentes without condemning or questioning their positions.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE MEDIA AND CULTURE COVERAGE
“There’s a reason why Charlie Kirk despised Nick Fuentes and blamed Dinesh D’Souza for debating him. He knew that Nick Fuentes is an evil troll and that building him up is an act of moral imbecility. And that’s precisely what Tucker Carlson did. He built Nick Fuentes. And he should take responsibility for that,” Shapiro said, referring to Carlson’s interview on his X show.
Ben Shapiro and Tucker Carlson were both speakers at AmericaFest 2025. (Screenshot/TPUSA)
Shapiro had also criticized Carlson the night before during a speech at the Heritage Foundation.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
“A conservatism that treats Tucker Carlson as a thought leader is not conservatism,” Shapiro said. “If conservatives don’t stand up and draw boundaries, conservatism and the American dream itself will cease to exist.”
