In a dramatic escalation of a public feud within far-right and “America First” online circles, influencers Nick Fuentes and Lucas Gage have accused poker player and social media personality Dan Bilzerian of privately discussing plans to assassinate conservative commentator Ben Shapiro and Israeli government officials.
The allegations surfaced on X (formerly Twitter) in recent days. According to Gage, Bilzerian invited him and mixed martial artist Jake Shields to his home, instructed them to leave their phones on a couch, and then led them to a secluded room containing a batting cage and large TVs. There, Bilzerian allegedly inquired about Ben Shapiro’s residence and “how he could be taken out.”
Fuentes made similar claims, stating that during a meeting at Bilzerian’s residence, phones were removed before Bilzerian asked how difficult it would be to assassinate Israeli government ministers. Fuentes also alleged that Bilzerian later invited him to travel to Dubai or Qatar, invitations he declined.
Both men described the “no phones” precaution as suspicious in hindsight. Supporters have pointed to the consistency in their accounts as evidence of credibility, while critics have dismissed the claims as part of ongoing infighting, with mutual accusations of being federal informants or provocateurs.
Bilzerian has strongly denied the allegations, calling them fabrications intended to damage his reputation amid his public criticism of Israel and political ambitions. Jake Shields has also pushed back against elements of the story. No audio recordings, corroborating witnesses beyond the parties involved, or official law enforcement statements have been publicly released.
