Conservative Feud
Ben Shapiro Fires Back at Megyn Kelly's Criticism, Denies AmFest Speech Was About Israel | WATCH
Like all America Last commentators these days, Kelly tries to make everything about Israel, even when it has nothing to do with Israel and everything to do with the rot overtaking the conservative movement.
Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro addressed recent backlash from Megyn Kelly and other figures in a newly surfaced clip, dismissing their responses as "collateral attacks" that falsely tied his remarks to Israel. The comments stem from ongoing tensions within the conservative movement over antisemitism, free speech, and U.S. foreign policy.
Shapiro reflects on the fallout from his speech at Turning Point USA's AmericaFest in December 2025. "The sort of blowback that came afterward was really interesting," Shapiro says. "I don't think any of them actually argued with the point I was making. They seemed to make collateral attacks... imputing intents suggesting my speech had something to do with Israel, which is funny since I did not mention Israel one time."
The dispute traces back to AmericaFest, where Shapiro criticized Tucker Carlson for interviewing far-right activist Nick Fuentes, known for antisemitic views, and accused figures like Candace Owens and Kelly of enabling or not sufficiently condemning such rhetoric.
Kelly, in response during the event and subsequent appearances, accused Shapiro of being "Israel first" and suggested the conflict was rooted in pro-Israel activism rather than broader conservative principles. "It’s about Israel. Those two are very pro-, ardent Israel activists, which is fine, but they don’t get to dictate how the rest of us feel about Israel," Kelly said at the time, referring to Shapiro and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.
Shapiro, who co-founded The Daily Wire, emphasized in the clip that his original speech focused on rejecting conspiracy theories and divisive figures, not foreign policy. He invoked radio host Dennis Prager's phrase, "clarity before agreement," to underscore his call for honest debate over personal attacks.
The feud has highlighted deep rifts in conservative media, with some accusing Shapiro of "gatekeeping" and others praising him for confronting antisemitism. Kelly has doubled down, stating on platforms like Valuetainment that she found it "funny" Shapiro positioned himself as an arbiter of the movement, while rejecting his criticisms as overreach.
This exchange comes amid reports of ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt collaborating with figures like Shapiro to target perceived antisemites, including Fuentes, further fueling debates over influence and free speech in conservative circles.
Neither Shapiro nor Kelly has issued additional statements today, but the clip's viral spread suggests the infighting is far from over.