Ben Shapiro calls out Tucker Carlson at TPUSA AMFest 2025

In his speech, conservative radio host Ben Shapiro called out those he described as “hustlers and grifters” who pose a threat to the conservative movement, including Tucker Carlson. AmerikaFest 2025 on Thursday.

Shapiro opened his speech at the Turning Point USA conference in Phoenix by condemning figures like Carlson and Candace Owens and accusing them of undermining conservative principles.

“Today, the conservative movement is in serious danger, not just from the left, which often makes excuses for anything up to murder,” Shapiro said. said Shapiro. “The conservative movement is also under threat from charlatans who claim to speak for principle but who actually traffic in conspiracies and dishonesty, who offer nothing but anger and despair and who seek to undermine the core tenets of conservatism by advocating outrage and grievance. These people are frauds and frauds and do not deserve your time.”

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While The Daily Wire co-founder acknowledged that Carlson was also scheduled to speak at the conference later that night, he said commentators like Carlson were “guilty of cowardice” for remaining silent while Owens spread conspiracy theories about the assassination of Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk.

“It’s equally cowardly for them to say nothing while Candace has been spewing all kinds of disgusting and conspiratorial nonsense into the public square for years,” Shapiro said.

He also criticized Carlson’s methods as “lazy, stupid and misleading” for implying inside knowledge but refusing to produce evidence under the guise of asking questions.

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People enter the main hall during AmericaFest, the first Turning Point USA summit since the death of Charlie Kirk on December 18, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Caitlin O’Hara/Reuters)

“Our duty to provide you with evidence means that we actually have to do more than just ask questions,” Shapiro said. “Just asking questions is something my five-year-old does. And it’s really nice coming from my five-year-old, but when grown men and women spend their days ‘just asking questions’ without looking for answers, they’re lying to you. They’re actually doing something worse. They’re sowing distrust in the world around you and weakening you in the process.”

He called on Carlson to take responsibility for bringing controversial guests like White nationalist Nick Fuentes onto the platform without condemning or questioning them.

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“There’s a reason why Charlie Kirk belittled Nick Fuentes and actually berated Dinesh D’Souza for arguing with him. He knew that Nick Fuentes was a bad troll and that empowering him was an act of moral stupidity. That’s exactly what Tucker Carlson did. He set up Nick Fuentes. And he needs to take responsibility for that,” Shapiro said, referring to the quote: Carlson’s interview with him In program X.

Both Ben Shapiro and Tucker Carlson were speakers at AmericaFest 2025. (Screenshot/TPUSA)

Shapiro had also criticized Carlson during his remarks the night before. at Heritage Foundation.

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“A conservatism that treats Tucker Carlson as a thought leader is not conservatism,” Shapiro said. “If conservatives don’t stand up and draw the line, conservatism and the American dream will be over.”