Shapiro Declares Carlson 'No Conservative' in Escalating Ideological Clash
Phoenix, Friday, 19 December 2025.
In a significant escalation of conservative infighting this December 2025, Ben Shapiro publicly denounced Tucker Carlson, declaring that anyone regarding Carlson as a thought leader practices “no conservatism.” Shapiro accused the populist pundit of peddling “anti-American” conspiracy theories—ranging from 9/11 revisionism to Mossad allegations—and utilizing “Marxist” rhetoric. This open warfare between two media titans signals a deepening ideological fracture within the Republican coalition, pitting traditional principles against the growing influence of the populist MAGA wing.
Defining the Schism
The confrontation crystallized over two days of high-profile appearances. On Wednesday, December 17, at the Heritage Foundation, and subsequently at the Turning Point USA conference, Shapiro argued that the conservative movement is threatened by “charlatans” who traffic in “conspiracism and dishonesty” [2][3]. Specifically, Shapiro targeted Carlson for promoting theories suggesting U.S. government involvement in the September 11 attacks and alleging a Mossad-run child sex trafficking ring [3]. Furthermore, Shapiro criticized Carlson’s decision to platform controversial figures such as Nick Fuentes and Andrew Tate, asserting that a movement embracing such voices “is no conservatism” [1][3].
The Metrics of Influence
The conflict plays out against a backdrop of massive digital influence, where both figures command audiences larger than many traditional media outlets. While Carlson currently dominates the audio landscape, ranking 6th on Spotify’s podcast charts compared to Shapiro’s 45th position, Shapiro holds a significant lead in video engagement [3]. On YouTube, Shapiro boasts 7.2 million subscribers versus Carlson’s 5.1 million, a difference of 2.1 million subscribers [3]. These metrics underscore the high stakes of this internecine conflict, as these platforms are primary drivers of sentiment within the Republican base.
Fractures in the 2028 Coalition
The timing of this rupture is critical, occurring at a Turning Point USA event in Phoenix attended by over 30,000 activists [2]. The conference serves as a proving ground for the post-Trump era. With Donald Trump having returned to the White House, maneuvering for the 2028 succession is already underway among figures like JD Vance, Pete Hegseth, and Marco Rubio [4]. TPUSA CEO Erika Kirk explicitly stated the organization’s goal is to elect JD Vance in 2028 “in the most resounding way possible” [2]. Vance is scheduled to close the conference on December 21 [2]. As the movement navigates these internal divisions—acknowledged by Erika Kirk on December 14 when she noted attendees would not agree with everyone on stage—the question remains whether the coalition can maintain the unity required for legislative success [2].