What's happened
As of late December 2025, the American conservative movement is embroiled in a deepening civil war centered on antisemitism and Israel policy. Key figures like Tucker Carlson face condemnation for platforming extremists such as Nick Fuentes, while Ben Shapiro and Candace Owens clash over conspiracy theories about the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. The Heritage Foundation suffers resignations amid controversy, and Vice President JD Vance gains support as a potential 2028 GOP leader.
What's behind the headline?
Deepening Divisions in the Conservative Movement
The ongoing MAGA civil war reveals a profound ideological and moral crisis within American conservatism. The fault lines run primarily along attitudes toward Israel and antisemitism, with younger activists increasingly skeptical of unconditional US support for Israel, while established figures like Ben Shapiro defend a pro-Israel stance.
The Role of Media Personalities
Tucker Carlson's platforming of extremist figures such as Nick Fuentes has catalyzed backlash, highlighting the tension between free speech advocacy and the normalization of hate speech. Carlson's refusal to denounce antisemitic tropes contrasts sharply with Shapiro's vocal opposition, underscoring a generational and strategic divide.
Impact on Conservative Institutions
The Heritage Foundation's internal crisis, marked by resignations and defections to Vice President Mike Pence's Advancing American Freedom, signals institutional instability. The think tank's leadership's defense of Carlson alienated key donors and scholars, weakening its influence.
Political Implications
Vice President JD Vance's rising profile and endorsement by Erika Kirk position him as a unifying figure for some factions, potentially shaping the GOP's future direction. However, the persistence of conspiracy theories and antisemitic rhetoric threatens electoral prospects and party cohesion.
Forecast
The conservative movement will likely continue to fracture unless it confronts antisemitism and clarifies its stance on Israel. Media figures will remain pivotal battlegrounds for influence, and institutional realignments may reshape the GOP's ideological landscape ahead of the 2028 presidential race.
Relevance to Readers
This conflict affects US domestic politics and foreign policy, influencing the tone and direction of conservative discourse. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for anticipating shifts in political alliances and policy priorities.
What the papers say
The Independent highlights the escalating feud within MAGA, focusing on Tucker Carlson's controversial interview with Nick Fuentes and Candace Owens' conspiracy theories about Charlie Kirk's assassination. It details the public clashes between Megyn Kelly, Ben Shapiro, and other conservatives, illustrating the movement's fragmentation. The Times of Israel provides a detailed account of Ben Shapiro's denunciation of Carlson and Owens at the Heritage Foundation and Turning Point USA events, emphasizing the moral stakes and ideological battles over antisemitism and Israel. It also reports on the resignations from Heritage and the rise of Vice President JD Vance as a potential GOP leader. The New York Post offers insight into the Anti-Defamation League's condemnation of Megyn Kelly's rhetoric and StopAntisemitism's designation of Carlson as 'Antisemite of the Year,' underscoring the broader societal concerns about hate speech normalization. France 24 and The Times of Israel cover the political implications of the intra-MAGA conflict, including endorsements and the struggle for control of the conservative movement post-Trump. These sources collectively reveal a conservative movement at a crossroads, torn between competing visions and the challenge of addressing antisemitism while maintaining political unity.
How we got here
The conservative movement in the US has fractured over issues including support for Israel, antisemitism, and internal disputes following the assassination of Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA. Tucker Carlson's interview with white nationalist Nick Fuentes and Candace Owens' conspiracy theories about Kirk's death have intensified divisions. Prominent conservatives like Ben Shapiro have publicly condemned these developments, while organizations like the Heritage Foundation face internal turmoil.
Go deeper
- What caused the split in the conservative movement over Israel?
- How has Tucker Carlson's interview with Nick Fuentes affected MAGA?
- What role does Ben Shapiro play in addressing antisemitism in conservatism?
More on these topics
-
Tucker Swanson McNear Carlson is an American television presenter, political commentator, author, and columnist who has hosted the nightly political talk show Tucker Carlson Tonight on Fox News since 2016.
-
Benjamin Aaron Shapiro is an American conservative political commentator, media host, and attorney. At age 17, he became the youngest nationally syndicated columnist in the United States.
-
Nicholas Joseph Fuentes is an American far-right political commentator and podcaster. He was formerly a YouTuber before his channel was permanently suspended in February 2020 for violating YouTube's hate speech policy.
-
Charlie Kirk is an American conservative activist. He founded Turning Point USA with William T. Montgomery in 2012.
-
Candace Amber Owens Farmer is an American conservative author, commentator, and political activist. Initially critical of President Donald Trump and the Republican Party, Owens has become known for her increasingly pro-Trump activism as a black woman, in
-
Megyn Marie Kelly (; born November 18, 1970) is an American journalist, attorney, political commentator, and media personality. She currently hosts The Megyn Kelly Show, a talk show and podcast that airs daily on Sirius XM's Triumph channel and has over..
-
James David Vance is an American author and venture capitalist. He is best known for his memoir Hillbilly Elegy, about Appalachian values and their relation to the social problems of his hometown, which attracted significant media attention during the 201
-
Emmanuel Jean-Michel Frédéric Macron is a French politician who has been President of France and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra since 14 May 2017.
-
Stephen Kevin Bannon is an American media executive, political strategist, former investment banker, and the former executive chairman of Breitbart News. He served as White House Chief Strategist in the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump during
-
Bari Weiss is an American opinion writer and editor. From 2013 until 2017 she was an op-ed and book review editor at The Wall Street Journal. From 2017 to 2020, Weiss was an op-ed staff editor and writer about culture and politics at The New York Times.
-
Marjorie Taylor Greene (born May 27, 1974), also known by her initials MTG, is an American politician, businesswoman, and conspiracy theorist who has served as the U.S. representative for Georgia's 14th congressional district since 2021. A member of the..
-
Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
-
Michael Richard Pence is an American politician and lawyer serving as the 48th vice president of the United States, since 2017.