A prominent conservative convention in the United States has erupted in internal conflict as leading figures within the Make America Great Again movement clash sharply over American foreign policy toward Israel.
The Turning Point USA organization is currently hosting its America Fest event, marking its first major assembly since the passing of founder Charlie Kirk earlier this year. The gathering has become a stage for increasingly public divisions among right-wing commentators regarding the extent of U.S. support for Israel.
During his address, conservative commentator Ben Shapiro launched a vehement attack against former Fox News host Tucker Carlson for his recent interview with right-wing influencer Nick Fuentes. Shapiro characterized Fuentes as ‘a Hitler apologist, Nazi-loving, anti-American piece of refuse’ and condemned Carlson’s decision to platform him as ‘an act of moral imbecility.’
Carlson responded forcefully in his own speech, criticizing what he described as attempts to suppress legitimate criticism of Israel. ‘Most Americans have more in common with each other than they disagree on,’ Carlson asserted. ‘And almost everybody agrees on that. And almost everybody is willing to tolerate a good-faith argument about how to get there.’
The former television host directly challenged Israel’s military actions, stating: ‘If a man commits a crime, do we kill his kids? I don’t care if it’s in Minneapolis or Gaza City. No, we don’t.’ He further emphasized that ‘God is not on any country’s side’ and condemned anti-Muslim bigotry as ‘disgusting.’
Adding to the controversy, former White House strategist Steve Bannon declared that the late Charlie Kirk had opposed ‘this concept of greater Israel and Israel first.’ Bannon launched his own attack against Shapiro, describing him as ‘like a cancer, and that cancer spreads.’ In remarks that drew cheers from the audience, Bannon controversially claimed that ‘the number one enemy to the people in Israel are American Jews that do not support Israel and do not support Maga.’
Broadcaster Megan Kelly observed that ‘there was a rift within the Maga movement even before we lost Charlie… and it revolves around Israel,’ indicating these divisions predate the current conflict.
The event also featured political endorsements, with Charlie Kirk’s widow Erica Kirk, now leading Turning Point USA, publicly supporting US Vice President JD Vance for a potential 2028 presidential run.