Ben Shapiro at AmericaFest 2025 - News

On December 18, 2025, Ben Shapiro’s appearance at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest came at a moment of visible tension within the conservative movement. Speaking in Phoenix, Shapiro warned that the movement faced internal risks as well as external ones, criticizing what he described as “charlatans” and “grifters” who promote conspiratorial narratives. His remarks included pointed references to Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens, whom he accused of amplifying figures such as Nick Fuentes and contributing to what he framed as a drift away from principle‑driven conservatism. Shapiro’s speech quickly became one of the most discussed moments of the four‑day conference, prompting public responses from other speakers, including Megyn Kelly, who addressed his remarks the following evening. The exchange underscored a broader rift highlighted throughout the event, as multiple high‑profile personalities used the AmericaFest stage to challenge one another’s influence and direction within the post‑Charlie Kirk conservative landscape. These photographs document Shapiro’s appearance as it unfolded — the staging, the atmosphere, and the moment’s significance within a conference defined as much by internal debate as by its programming. (Credit Images: © Charles‑McClintock Wilson / ZUMA Press Wire)