Ben Shapiro Slams Tucker Carlson as 'Enemy of Conservatism' at Heritage Foundation Speech

A Heated Debate at the Heritage Foundation

During a recent speech at the Heritage Foundation, Ben Shapiro, founder of The Daily Wire, delivered a strong critique of Tucker Carlson, a prominent right-wing podcaster. Shapiro labeled Carlson as "an opponent of conservatism" and accused him of promoting various conspiracy theories. This speech took place during an event where Shapiro was supposed to discuss his new book, "Lions and Scavengers: The True Story of America (and Her Critics)."

Shapiro used the platform to address what he called "the elephant in the room." He emphasized that if conservatives truly care about their movement, they must stand against those who distort conservative principles. He listed key values such as free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense.

For approximately 15 minutes, Shapiro criticized Carlson's influence on the conservative movement. He accused Carlson of flirting with socialism, conducting interviews with authoritarian leaders like Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Iran’s president, and hosting individuals who spread conspiracy theories without scrutiny. Shapiro also pointed out that Carlson had accused the Trump administration of covering up a child sex trafficking ring linked to Jeffrey Epstein, but never mentioned Donald Trump by name.

He further noted that Carlson has a particular focus on Israel, which he described as a "peculiar obsession." Shapiro also highlighted that Carlson has hosted Nick Fuentes, a figure known for his admiration of Adolf Hitler. According to Shapiro, a movement that accepts Carlson as a thought leader is not true conservatism.

This verbal attack came after Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts expressed support for Carlson following an interview with Fuentes. In an October 30 statement, Roberts declared that Carlson would always be a close friend of the Heritage Foundation.

When asked for a comment, Carlson responded with humor, saying, "Too funny." However, the Heritage Foundation faced internal backlash over Roberts' statement. Last month, the foundation lost a board member and top scholar, Stephen Moore, who served as an economic adviser to President Trump. Moore resigned due to the controversy surrounding Roberts' support for Carlson.

Fuentes, who praised Soviet dictator Josef Stalin and criticized the influence of what he called "organized Jewry" in American politics, was featured in a two-hour interview with Carlson. The episode received millions of views and sparked significant criticism.

Carlson's show remains one of the most-streamed podcasts on Spotify. Despite the backlash, Roberts defended Carlson initially but later apologized after facing pressure from staff and scholars within the think tank.

Two more members of the Heritage Foundation's Board of Trustees left the organization, according to Mediaite. One of them criticized the foundation for failing to condemn antisemitism and hatred, while the other expressed concern over a perceived shift away from the principles that once defined its leadership.

During the event, Shapiro joked about Roberts' failure to mention details from his new book. Roberts acknowledged the importance of robust debates at the Heritage Foundation, and Shapiro added that the foundation also appreciates surprises. Roberts concluded the event by expressing confidence in the foundation's commitment to supporting its allies.