A growing rift in the MAGA coalition erupted publicly at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest conference in Phoenix this week, featuring sharp exchanges between prominent conservative figures including Ben Shapiro, Tucker Carlson, and Megyn Kelly.

On Thursday, Ben Shapiro took the stage and sharply criticized Tucker Carlson for platforming controversial guests, particularly white nationalist Nick Fuentes. Shapiro argued that hosts bear responsibility for their interviewees and accused Carlson of elevating “evil” figures that the late TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk had rejected.

“There is a reason that Charlie Kirk despised Nick Fuentes… Building him up is an act of moral imbecility,” Shapiro said, calling on Carlson to take accountability.

Shortly after, Tucker Carlson appeared and appeared to mock Shapiro’s approach without naming him directly. He quipped about missing nothing “meaningful” and laughed at calls for deplatforming at an event hosted by Kirk, who championed open debate.

Carlson defended free speech, rejected accusations of antisemitism as immoral, and dismissed talk of a “civil war” within the Trump coalition as “fake.”

The next day, Megyn Kelly, in conversation with TPUSA’s Jack Posobiec, criticized Shapiro for attempting to gatekeep the movement and exclude Carlson. She recounted a recent friendly appearance by Shapiro on her tour but said their disagreement over Carlson had strained relations.

“I don’t think we are friends anymore,” Kelly stated, while noting they align on Israel policy.

Vivek Ramaswamy also addressed the conference, condemning focus on “heritage” or lineage in the “online right” and specifically rejecting Fuentes’ influence, emphasizing American identity as binary.

The event opened with remarks from Erika Kirk, widow of Charlie Kirk (who was assassinated in September), urging unity and recalling her husband’s role as a coalition builder amid recent infighting.