“Frauds and grifters”: MAGA infighting on first day of TPUSA’s America Fest

Some right-wing commentators bitterly butted heads over the direction of President Donald Trump‘s MAGA movement on the first day of Turning Point USA’s America Fest, underscoring potential right-wing divides.

The gathering in Phoenix, Arizona is the largest of its kind since its founder, Charlie Kirk, was shot to death on a Utah campus in September. It is set to feature appearances from media personalities, Trump administration officials, and religious leaders.

Among those taking to the stage on the first day was longtime conservative commentator Ben Shapiro. In his speech, he warned the crowd about the future of American conservatism.

“The conservative movement is in serious danger,” Shaprio said, “from charlatans who claim to speak in the name of principle but actually traffic in conspiracism and dishonesty.” 

Shapiro tore into fellow conservative voices, including Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, Megyn Kelly, and Steve Bannon, calling them “frauds and grifters.” He called Bannon a “PR flack for Jeffrey Epstein” and blamed Carlson and Owens for hosting far-right-wing podcaster Nick Fuentes on their shows, whom he called a “Hitler apologist.”   

Carlson took to the stage soon after, calling Shapiro “pompous” and saying he “laughed” during Shaprio’s speech.

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“Calls to deplatform at a Charlie Kirk event? That’s hilarious,” Carlson said. He then defended himself, saying that he was not an anti-semite for hosting Fuentes, a Holocaust denier. 

“Anti-semitism is not just naughty, it’s immoral,” Carlson said. 

Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk’s widow who became CEO of TPUSA after his death, attempted to smooth things over during her own speech. “You won’t agree with everyone on this stage this weekend,” she said. “And that’s okay. Welcome to America.

Kirk also encouraged unity to prevent further divisions in the MAGA movement. “We’ve seen fractures, we’ve seen bridges being burnt that shouldn’t be burnt,” she said.