Turning Point USA is holding its first AmericaFest (AmFest) conference since the assassination of founder Charlie Kirk, and the fireworks aren't just contained to the massive sparklers exploding as the speakers walk onstage at the Phoenix Convention Center. No, some of the speeches are white-hot in content, and it all kicked off with Daily Wire's Ben Shapiro, who spoke directly after TPUSA CEO Erika Kirk. (Sister Toldjah did a great write-up of Erika's opening remarks here.)
Ben kicked off his remarks Thursday evening by saying it was a "massive honor" to be speaking at the event, calling Erika a "heroic figure and true American patriot." He also spoke of the bittersweet moment of gathering without Charlie – calling Charlie "an irreplaceable human being" – and noting that it was heartwarming to see so many activists gathered to carry on Charlie's mission.
When he got to the heart of his speech, Ben certainly did not hold back – with pointed comments directed at fellow podcasters Candace Owens, Tucker Carlson, and Megyn Kelly – and spoke of his fears for the health of the conservative movement due to "charlatans who claim to speak in the name of principle but actually traffic in conspiracism and dishonesty."
"Today the conservative movement is in serious danger, not just from the left that all too frequently excuses everything up to and including murder," Shapiro said. "The conservative movement is also in danger from charlatans who claim to speak in the name of principle but actually traffic in conspiracism and dishonesty, who offer nothing but bile and despair, who seek to undermine fundamental principles of conservatism by championing aggravation and grievance. These people are frauds, and they are grifters, and they do not deserve your time."
Ben spoke very passionately about the need for truth being emphasized in the fight for our country, which led him to his former employee, Candace Owens. Candace, he said, had spent the three months since Charlie's murder "casting aspersions" against Erika Kirk and the TPUSA leadership team, thus using her podcast to "spew baseless trash."
OMIGOSH!!! Ben Shapiro just absolutely unleashed on Candace Owens from the AMFEST stage for attacking TPUSA & Erika Kirk over Charlie's death, and shamed everyone too afraid to stand up to her. pic.twitter.com/S25156VkYg
— Britta | NoSoup4Knowles (@nosoup4knowles) December 19, 2025
Ben derided Tucker Carlson for hosting controversial figures like Nick Fuentes, whom Ben called a "Hitler-loving, Nazi-apologist, anti-American piece of refuse," and not pushing back against their ideas, instead relying on the "just asking questions" excuse when pressed for why he didn't challenge his guests. Ben commented that "just asking questions" was cute from 5-year-olds, but not from grown men.
Ben Shapiro destroys Tucker Carlson at AmFest, pointing out that Tucker has repeatedly platformed sick little freaks like Fuentes and Nazi apologist pseudo historians like Darryl Cooper.
— 𝔸η𝐓 (@AntSpeaks) December 19, 2025
I can only imagine how enraged and red faced Tucker must have been backstage, finally facing… pic.twitter.com/ss9BbR7NcP
As for Megyn Kelly, whom he said he considered a friend, Ben torched her for characterizing Candace Owens as "a young mother and, thus, shying away from condemning her actions." He also said Megyn's "I'm just trying to understand Candace" defense from earlier this week was "a moral and logical absurdity."
Slamming the Door Shut on the Grief-Shaming of Erika Kirk
Honestly, the most interesting part of the entire thing may be the reaction from the crowd. Where you might expect the audience to be on its feet cheering Ben, they, instead, seemed stunned and unsure how to react. It could have been that Ben touched a nerve, or perhaps they ardently disagreed with his assessments.
AmFest continues through Sunday, with Tulsi Gabbard, Tom Homan and Vice President JD Vance still to speak. You can watch Ben Shapiro's entire AmFest speech here:
🚨 Ben Shapiro goes SCORCHED EARTH at TPUSA on “frauds”, “grifters”, and “charlatans” Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens
— Ryan Saavedra (@RyanSaavedra) December 19, 2025
He blasts Megyn Kelly for her “cowardice” for refusing to stand up for the truth and condemn Candace’s conspiracy theories and lies
Watch every second of this pic.twitter.com/j7LvZFBDJN
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