The American right is witnessing a rift that few could have predicted even a decade ago. The MAGA movement—once a seemingly unified juggernaut—now stands divided, not by the usual suspects of tax policy or immigration, but by a fault line running straight through the heart of its foreign policy: the question of Israel. At the center of this ideological earthquake are two of its most prominent voices, Steve Bannon and Ben Shapiro, whose public feud at the Turning Point USA conference in Phoenix last week has exposed a raw and growing schism within the movement.
It began as a moment that should have brought the movement together. The first Turning Point USA conference since the assassination of Charlie Kirk had all the makings of a solemn gathering—a time for unity, reflection, and perhaps a renewed sense of purpose. Instead, attendees were treated to a spectacle of accusations and ideological warfare. According to Middle East Monitor, Ben Shapiro, long considered a cultural enforcer of unwavering support for Israel, took the stage first. He did not mince words, launching into a tirade that targeted not only Steve Bannon but also Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, and Candace Owens. Shapiro labeled them “charlatans” and accused them of extremism, but his real grievance was clear: these figures had dared to question whether uncritical American loyalty to Israel should remain sacrosanct.
Shapiro’s attack was not left unanswered. Steve Bannon, in a performance as raw as it was furious, responded by calling Shapiro “a cancer spreading through the body” of conservative politics. The phrase, echoed by several outlets, was more than a personal insult—it was a declaration that the old consensus was dead. Bannon argued, as reported by Middle East Monitor and corroborated by other sources, that Israel no longer holds sway over American foreign policy. “Israel does not own American foreign policy anymore,” he declared, sending shockwaves through a movement long defined by its pro-Israel orthodoxy.
This wasn’t just about a conference spat. The battle lines drawn on that Phoenix stage reflect a deeper, existential struggle for the soul of the American right. On one side are the “America First” nationalists, led by Bannon and amplified by voices like Tucker Carlson. On the other are the “Israel First” loyalists, personified by Shapiro, who see unwavering support for Israel as a non-negotiable pillar of conservative identity. The split is so pronounced that, as Middle East Monitor put it, “the eighty-year consensus that Israel dictates the boundaries of conservative politics is cracking apart.”
The conflict has already spilled beyond the confines of the conference hall. According to reporting from Middle East Monitor and other sources, Bannon claims that former President Trump’s inner circle—including Jared Kushner, Steven Witkoff, J.D. Vance, and Marco Rubio—are now negotiating with Qatar, Turkey, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates over the future of Gaza, all without seeking Tel Aviv’s approval. Bannon’s assertion is nothing short of a bombshell: “Trump’s inner circle is already acting accordingly,” he said, suggesting a dramatic shift in the balance of power in the Middle East.
Bannon’s vision for the region is even more audacious. He predicts what he calls a “tectonic reversal” in Middle Eastern geopolitics, with Turkey, Egypt, the UAE, and possibly even Saudi Arabia poised to shape Gaza’s future while Hamas fades into irrelevance. In a move that is sure to spark controversy, Bannon has floated the idea of a three-state solution that would include a Christian sovereign stake in Jerusalem—a proposal that neither Israeli nor Palestinian leaders seem eager to entertain. “Not symbolism. Not rhetoric. Power. Security. Permanence,” Bannon insisted, arguing that the world is now poised to impose solutions rather than simply mediate them.
Meanwhile, the backlash against those questioning the traditional U.S.-Israel alliance has grown more intense. Tucker Carlson, for example, took his skepticism to the global stage earlier this month at the Doha Forum, an event funded by the Qatari government. There, he dismissed Israel as “a completely insignificant country” with “no resources,” bluntly asking, “What are we getting out of this?” The rhetorical question, as reported by several outlets, has become a rallying cry for those in the MAGA movement who now see Israel as more of a liability than an ally.
The reaction from pro-Israel groups has been swift and unforgiving. StopAntisemitism, a prominent watchdog, labeled Carlson “Antisemite of the Year” in what some have described as a desperate attempt to enforce ideological discipline through public shaming. But, as Middle East Monitor notes, the label has lost much of its power within the America First camp. Instead of cowing dissenters, it has become a badge of honor—a symbol of defiance against what many see as an outdated orthodoxy.
What’s driving this dramatic realignment? According to Bannon and his supporters, it’s about sovereignty. “Is America sovereign, or is Israel sacred?” asks Middle East Monitor, capturing the essence of the debate. For decades, even raising such questions was considered political suicide. Now, however, the taboo has been broken, and the movement is being forced to confront uncomfortable truths about its identity and priorities.
At stake is not just the future of the MAGA movement, but the direction of American conservatism as a whole. Will the right return to the politics of automatic military aid and diplomatic protection for Israel, or will it embrace a more nationalist, self-interested approach that puts America’s interests above all else? As Bannon put it, “America First, without disclaimers. America First, without foreign veto. America First, without fear.”
The split is not merely political—it’s cultural, theological, even civilizational. Bannon argues that the United States is unwinding, in a matter of months, what previous empires took decades to build in the Middle East. The implications for Israel are profound: “Israeli exceptionalism—once unquestioned gospel in Washington—now may become a relic with time,” he warned.
None of this is happening in a vacuum. The assassination of Charlie Kirk, whose whispers of dissent now haunt the movement he helped build, has only intensified the sense of crisis. The MAGA empire, once a monolith, now resembles a collection of rival warlords, each convinced they alone hold the mandate of destiny. As the knives come out and the battle lines harden, one thing is clear: American conservatism will never return to what it was, and Israel’s once-unquestioned hold over the American right may be gone for good.
As the dust settles from Phoenix to Washington, the world is left to watch as a new chapter unfolds—one where old certainties are up for grabs and the future of the American right is anything but certain.
