By late 2025, the Republican coalition looks less united than it did a few years ago. The populist America First wing has gained more control, and older establishment-style conservatives keep losing ground. Ben Shapiro, long tied to The Daily Wire and a familiar name in conservative media, sits right in the middle of that fight.

Across X, Reddit, and other online communities, America First voices often describe Ben Shapiro as out of step. Critics say he cares more about foreign priorities than problems at home. Posts and threads regularly call him “irrelevant” and tell him to fade away, as younger audiences rally around louder nationalist influencers.

Much of the frustration comes from sharp disagreements on foreign policy, especially in the Middle East. Shapiro’s strong pro-Israel position and his support for military action have pushed away parts of the MAGA base that want a more restrained approach.

In these circles, he’s often grouped with an older neoconservative style that doesn’t match today’s focus on border security, economic nationalism, and ending long overseas conflicts.

A Public Blowup at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest

Those tensions spilled into the open at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest in December 2025. The event drew extra attention because it was the first one held without founder Charlie Kirk, following widely shared reports about his death.

Ben Shapiro took the stage with a combative message, calling out “charlatans and grifters” and taking aim at people he claimed were pushing conspiracy theories or giving a platform to extreme voices.

Tucker Carlson mocked the idea of pushing dissenters off platforms, framing Shapiro’s stance as a way to shut down arguments about Israel. Megyn Kelly hit even harder, accusing Shapiro of putting Israel ahead of American conservatives. She also said their friendship was finished, and argued that heavy-handed censorship campaigns from pro-Israel activists can fuel antisemitism instead of stopping it.

Steve Bannon went the farthest, calling Shapiro “a cancer that spreads and metastasizes.” He claimed Shapiro was jealous of Kirk and said Shapiro promotes an “Israel First” agenda that clashes with US interests.

Candace Owens, already in a long-running feud with Ben Shapiro, tied to Israel, escalated the dispute again. She suggested his remarks carried implications about foreign involvement in Kirk’s death. Nick Fuentes added his own attacks, calling Shapiro an outsider with shrinking influence in a movement that emphasizes white Christian identity. Alex Jones and Shapiro have clashed in the past as well, even if Jones was not as central to this specific moment.

Taken together, the pile-on from Carlson, Kelly, Owens, Bannon, Fuentes, and past friction with Jones showed how wide the backlash has become, especially around Shapiro’s hawkish views and support for Israel.

Ben Shapiro’s Push to Stay Close to MAGA and Turning Point

Shapiro has spent years trying to stay connected to the broader MAGA scene. He has shown up at major events, spoken to younger conservative audiences, and built relationships with groups that shape the next generation of Republican activists.

His ties to Turning Point USA became more visible in recent years. Reports and commentary have pointed to large donations connected to promoting biblical values, an area that fits well with Kirk’s public message. In America First spaces, critics claim Shapiro has tried to plant himself inside the organization to steer it toward pro-Israel politics.

Bannon warned publicly that Ben Shapiro would “make a move” on TPUSA after Kirk, reflecting fears about internal power plays. Supporters of Shapiro frame his actions as a line in the sand against extremism. Detractors see something else, a bid to stay influential while the movement shifts away from open-ended Middle East intervention.

The core issue keeps circling back to Israel and US involvement overseas. Shapiro has defended Israel strongly and has criticized conservatives who question US aid or military support tied to the region. He has also brushed off historical controversies like the USS Liberty incident as not relevant to today’s alliance, a stance that angers isolationist-leaning voters who see these debates as part of a larger pattern.

America First advocates argue that constant focus on the Middle East comes at a cost. They say it drains money and attention that should go toward the border, inflation, jobs, and public safety. In many online arguments, Shapiro gets labeled as a throwback who still supports the same “forever wars” mindset that Trump-era populists promised to reject.

Signs of Shrinking Reach on Social Media

Ben Shapiro’s critics also point to social media numbers as proof that his influence is slipping. They argue that his YouTube growth has slowed in 2025, with subscriber counts leveling off or dipping. Some claim his views are down sharply compared to past peaks, while other conservative personalities, including Carlson and Owens, have gained ground with big audience jumps.

There are also ongoing accusations aimed at The Daily Wire, with critics claiming the network props up performance using paid views or bots. These claims often focus on what they see as a mismatch between large view counts and weaker engagement, like fewer comments or likes.

These allegations remain contested, but they continue to spread, and they feed distrust inside grassroots conservative communities.

As the GOP tightens around a more populist Trump-style core, voices like Shapiro’s face a tougher road. His brand of conservatism, built on strong foreign alliances and a more traditional approach to policy, has less room in a party that prizes America First loyalty.

After AmericaFest, the shift looked even clearer. A movement that once held a wider mix of right-wing views now demands tighter agreement on priorities, especially on war, borders, and national identity.

Ben Shapiro’s pushback against antisemitism and conspiracy culture still earns respect from some conservatives, but it also draws anger from a base that distrusts institutions and resents being policed by media figures.

Shapiro still speaks loudly and often. The bigger issue is whether the loudest part of the MAGA wing still cares to listen. The calls for him to step back keep growing, and they point to a real change in who holds power in conservative media.

Related News:

Candace Owens Alleges FBI Was Involved in Kirk Assassination Coverup

Tucker Carlson Presses Qatari PM on the Shifting Power and Gaza

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A Republican member of Congress is weighing an unusual step, forcing a House vote to expel Rep. Ilhan Omar (D, Minn.) while pointing to long-running claims about her immigration history and criticisms of her views on national security.

The talk comes as federal investigators keep widening their net around large fraud cases tied to Minnesota social service programmes, cases that have drawn heavy political attention and intense media coverage.

Rep. Randy Fine (R, Fla.), a strong supporter of Israel known for blunt remarks, told reporters in mid-December that he is “actively considering” filing an expulsion resolution against Omar. He pointed to allegations, which remain unproven and which Omar has repeatedly denied, that she married her brother to help with immigration. He also accused her of sympathising with extremist violence.

Fine said he would not use the issue as a fundraising hook. He said that if he moves forward, he will put it in writing and push it on the House floor rather than through partisan messaging.

Expelling a House member takes a two-thirds majority, which is a steep hurdle. The House has used expulsion only a handful of times in US history, most often during the Civil War period over loyalty.

Observers say Fine would need major bipartisan backing for the effort to go anywhere in today’s divided Congress. Omar brushed off the threat, saying, “I don’t think anybody takes that man seriously.” Her office did not respond to further requests for comment.

Omar and the Minnesota Somali Corruption

Fine’s remarks landed as Republicans renewed attacks on Omar and on Minnesota’s Somali community, following repeated comments from President Trump. Trump has insulted Somali residents in the state and has claimed Omar should be deported, while repeating old accusations about immigration fraud.

The claims trace back to reporting and commentary that surfaced years ago about Omar’s marriage history, including a short marriage to a man some conservatives alleged was her brother. Omar has described those allegations as “absurd and offensive,” and no charges have been brought.

The latest push also follows earlier GOP attempts that did not succeed. In September 2025, Rep. Nancy Mace (R, S.C.) filed a resolution to censure Omar and strip her of committee roles over comments aimed at conservative activist Charlie Kirk shortly after his assassination. The House set that measure aside in a close vote.

Omar also lost her seat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee in 2023, after critics said past remarks about Israel were antisemitic.

Minnesota fraud investigations keep expanding

The expulsion talk has spread at the same time as major developments in Minnesota, where federal prosecutors are pursuing what they have described as large-scale fraud involving public funds.

Several investigations focus on schemes that authorities say add up to nearly $1 billion. The best-known is the Feeding Our Future case, in which a non-profit organisation allegedly took more than $250 million that was meant to feed children during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dozens of people have been convicted. Prosecutors say some defendants spent money on luxury cars, property abroad, and transfers overseas.

Many of those charged are of Somali background, reflecting Minnesota’s large Somali diaspora, the biggest in the United States. Other active probes involve autism services and housing programmes, and prosecutors have suggested total losses could pass $1 billion.

Omar has called the fraud “reprehensible” and has said Somali residents are victims too, since the programmes often served their neighbourhoods. Critics have highlighted limited links around her orbit. Some people later convicted donated to her campaigns, and those donations were returned. A former campaign worker also pleaded guilty in a related scheme.

Omar has pointed to her own past actions, including a 2022 letter to federal officials urging an investigation into suspected misuse of funds.

The US Treasury Department is also reviewing whether any stolen money ended up abroad. Some allegations have hinted at possible ties to Somali militant groups, although federal sources have said there is no evidence of that so far.

Political backlash and impact on the community

Republicans, including Trump, have tied the fraud cases to broader attacks on immigration policy and have accused Democratic Governor Tim Walz of weak oversight. House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R, Ky.) has opened a federal review of how the state handled the programmes.

Omar and community leaders say the rhetoric fuels stigma and can raise the risk of threats against Somali-Americans. Omar has criticised Trump’s language and said it targets people who are US citizens and long-term residents.

Immigration enforcement has also picked up in the Twin Cities area, with ICE operations aimed at undocumented people. Omar has said her US-born son was briefly stopped, and she described it as retaliation.

Expulsion is rare. The most recent case was in 2002, when a member was removed over ethics violations. If Fine files a resolution, it would raise the stakes in a Congress already locked in fights over committee seats, public statements, and partisan discipline.

As the new session nears, it is unclear whether the effort will move beyond talk. Even with shifting power in Washington, the two-thirds vote requirement makes it difficult for any one party to remove a sitting member without broad support.

Omar, elected in 2018 as one of the first Muslim women in Congress, has built a national profile through progressive positions on foreign policy and refugee issues. Supporters see the attacks on her as rooted in prejudice. Critics argue that they are a response to her statements and conduct.

With federal fraud probes still growing, and immigration politics still heated, Minnesota’s Somali community and its most high-profile elected official are again at the centre of a national fight.

Related News:

Omar Faces Renewed Firestorm Over Resurfaced Video

Ilhan Omar Defends Pushing Legislation Tied to Minnesota Fraud

MINNEAPOLIS — Representative Ilhan Omar is facing a fresh wave of criticism after 2024 campaign videos began circulating online again. These clips are gaining attention just as federal investigators reveal more details about a massive fraud crisis within Minnesota social service programs.

The timing has prompted critics to question whether Omar’s focus lies with her constituents or foreign interests. Figures like Elon Musk have weighed in, suggesting her previous comments border on treason.

The videos in question come from a January 2024 event in Minneapolis. Omar spoke to a Somali-American audience in their native language, and the translated captions have sparked a massive debate. In one clip, Omar says that the U.S. government will follow the lead of Somali-Americans. She also reassures her audience that Somalia will stay safe as long as she holds a seat in Congress.

Controversy Over Omar’s Campaign Speeches

Another segment shows her promising to protect Somalia’s territorial goals from within the American political system. These remarks specifically seem to address a dispute between Ethiopia and the region of Somaliland. Opponents argue that she is using her office to help a foreign nation instead of focusing on the United States.

The backlash grew after Donald Trump mentioned the clips during a December 2025 campaign stop in Pennsylvania. He used the stage to mock Omar and claim she puts Somalia first. Elon Musk shared the video with his millions of followers on X, calling the statements treasonous. Local leaders, including Representative Tom Emmer, joined the chorus of voices demanding her resignation or an official investigation.

Omar maintains that the translations are inaccurate and slanted. Some local linguists have supported her side, claiming she was actually talking about civic participation and supporting Somali unity within the bounds of U.S. policy. Despite these explanations, the political pressure continues to mount.

Massive Fraud Scandal Hits Minnesota Taxpayers

The renewed focus on Ilhan Omar coincides with a billion-dollar fraud scandal hitting Minnesota’s social services. Federal prosecutors believe different schemes have stolen between $1 billion and $9 billion from taxpayers. The most famous case, known as “Feeding Our Future,” involved people taking $300 million by claiming they fed thousands of children who didn’t exist.

Authorities are now looking into other areas like housing help and autism therapy. By late 2025, more than 78 people had been charged, most of them from the Somali diaspora community.

Prosecutors have already won 59 convictions. Investigators are tracking stolen money used for luxury items and transfers to Kenya. Some officials are even looking for possible links to extremist groups like al-Shabaab.

Donald Trump has used these crimes to paint Minnesota as a center for money laundering. He ended Temporary Protected Status for many Somali refugees because of the fraud. Some local critics believe that officials under Governor Tim Walz failed to stop the theft because they were afraid of being called racist.

Omar represents the district with the highest Somali-American population and has spoken out against the thieves. She says the community members are victims too, since they lost out on real services. She also noted that she gave back donations from people tied to the fraud years ago.

Questions on Clan Interests and Representation

Other video segments show Omar talking about Somali clan politics. Critics view this as proof that she is lobbying based on old ethnic ties. This has raised questions about her loyalty, as she was born in Somalia and became a U.S. citizen in 2000. Her supporters point out that many ethnic groups in the U.S. lobby for their home countries, and her views match official U.S. support for Somali sovereignty.

The mix of old videos and new fraud cases has fueled a heated debate over immigration. Trump’s allies are pushing to kick Omar out of Congress, and the involvement of billionaires like Musk shows how much the political stakes have risen.

Omar defended herself on CBS, calling the attacks xenophobic and hurtful. She told reporters that her community members are proud Americans and warned that harsh political talk could lead to violence.

As more trials begin and deportations increase in the Twin Cities, the local Somali community faces a difficult future. This situation highlights the deep divisions in the country regarding how immigrants assimilate and where their loyalties lie. With more arrests expected, the pressure on Omar and her district will likely grow.

Related News:

Ilhan Omar Defends Pushing Legislation Tied to Minnesota Fraud