WASHINGTON D.C. – After reports of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination in September 2025, public debate on the right turned into an open fight. Big conservative voices began trading accusations over what some describe as a “Zionist attempt” to gain influence inside Turning Point USA (TPUSA), the youth group Kirk founded.
The claims have focused on Ben Shapiro, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), and radio host Mark Levin. Critics say a behind-the-scenes push is underway, tied to long-running arguments about Israel and “America First” priorities. The feud has pulled in well-known names like Tucker Carlson, Steve Bannon, Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens, and Nick Fuentes, showing divisions that could reshape conservative politics.
According to early reporting and online discussion, Kirk was shot on September 10, 2025, during a speech at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. Authorities reportedly arrested 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, pointing to recent radicalization as part of the motive. Since then, rumors and conspiracy claims have spread fast, and some conservatives have questioned official accounts while blaming outside forces.
The Assassination and Its Aftermath
Kirk’s reported death triggered a wave of reactions across conservative media, along with public statements from elected officials, including talk of a Senate resolution honoring him. The mourning period did not last long online. Posts on X (formerly Twitter) quickly shifted to suspicion.
Some accounts blamed Israeli interests, pointing to claims that Kirk had refused funding connected to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Others said Kirk had been placing more focus on “America First” policies instead of automatic support for Israel.
In that climate, critics argue that pro-Israel voices moved quickly to gain ground inside TPUSA. Ben Shapiro, the Daily Wire co-founder and a strong supporter of Israel, gave $1 million to TPUSA soon after the reported assassination and later guest-hosted Kirk’s podcast.
Opponents framed those moves as a “hostile takeover.” On X, users claimed Shapiro, along with the ADL and Levin, was working to steer TPUSA toward a more Israel-focused direction.
The ADL, a Jewish group known for tracking antisemitism, has also taken heat from critics who say it labels too many voices as bigoted. Mark Levin has publicly defended Shapiro as the backlash grew, which added fuel to the argument.
Shapiro’s AmericaFest Speech Sets Off a Firestorm
The conflict hit a new peak at TPUSA’s AmericaFest conference in December 2025, described as the first major TPUSA event after Kirk’s death. Shapiro, who was not listed on an earlier speaker lineup Kirk had announced in August, took the stage and criticized conservatives he said were refusing to call out antisemitism. He singled out Candace Owens and others, and he argued that parts of the movement were giving space to ugly ideas.
Shapiro also criticized Tucker Carlson for interviewing Nick Fuentes, a self-described white nationalist, and said the platforming of Fuentes helped normalize extremist views.
The response was immediate. Steve Bannon, the former Trump strategist and host of War Room, hit back in his own remarks, calling Shapiro a “cancer” and accusing him of putting Israel ahead of the United States.
Bannon said Shapiro’s influence reflected a return to neoconservative foreign policy, which he argued the MAGA base has rejected. He also claimed Shapiro and allies were trying to pull TPUSA toward “greater Israel” priorities. Bannon suggested the fight could shape the road to 2028, calling it “a proxy on ’28.”
Influencers Go All In
Candace Owens, who previously worked with The Daily Wire and later split with Shapiro amid accusations of antisemitism, has stayed near the center of the storm. On her show, Owens accused Shapiro of misrepresenting her comments about Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk.
She also suggested Shapiro’s actions showed he had insight into TPUSA’s internal plans. Owens praised Megyn Kelly for pushing back on what she called Shapiro’s misleading claims. She has described the broader fight as resistance to “moral blackmail” aimed at forcing strict pro-Israel messaging.
Megyn Kelly has echoed that theme, blasting what she calls “Israel purity tests” tied to figures like Shapiro and the ADL. In recent comments, Kelly described Shapiro’s behavior as a “betrayal” and said AmericaFest highlighted deep cracks in the MAGA coalition. She wrote on X that, instead of staying focused on the country’s problems, people were turning on each other.
Tucker Carlson, after leaving Fox News and building an independent platform, has become a main target in the dispute. Shapiro’s criticism of Carlson for interviewing Fuentes and Holocaust revisionists has sharpened the divide.
Carlson has defended the interviews as free speech and open debate, and his supporters say Shapiro’s approach looks like cancel culture.
Nick Fuentes has used the chaos to build attention. He has mocked Shapiro, claimed his career is “finished,” and urged supporters to oppose what he calls “ZioConservatism.” Fuentes also went live on Rumble to respond, rejecting Shapiro’s “no to the groypers” stance and pushing a hardline “America First” message.
What It Could Mean for TSUSA and the GOP
The fight reflects a wider split in the Republican Party. Traditional pro-Israel hawks are clashing with a louder “America First” wing that wants less foreign involvement. The ADL has pointed to rising antisemitic incidents in the United States, which has increased tension around these debates. Critics of the ADL argue that the group uses that data to shut down legitimate criticism of foreign policy.
Some conservative institutions have taken sides. Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts defended Carlson during the controversy, which added another layer to the divide.
Erika Kirk, described by supporters as stepping into a leadership role at TPUSA after her husband’s reported death, has faced online pressure as well. Viral posts have demanded transparency, tied to the takeover claims.
Allies like Joel Berry praised Shapiro’s AmericaFest speech as “moral courage.” Detractors saw the moment as opportunistic, and one popular line on X summed up the mood: “TPUSA as we knew it died with Charlie.”
With Trump back in the White House, this kind of infighting could shape debates on Israel, foreign aid, and domestic priorities. For now, the scorched-earth tone has not cooled. Influencers are fighting for control of the message, and the unity Kirk once promoted looks harder to maintain.
