Conservative commentator Tucker Carlson issued a sharp rebuke of fellow Republicans at Turning Point USA's America Fest conference Thursday, calling their targeting of Muslim Americans "disgusting" and accusing them of attempting to fracture the nation along religious lines.
Conference Criticism Exposes GOP Divisions
Speaking before conservative activists in Phoenix, Arizona, Carlson specifically condemned Republicans for “attacking millions of Americans because they’re Muslims”. The former Fox News host declared, “It’s disgusting. And I’m a Christian,” adding that “you should not attack individuals on those grounds, but you’re witnessing it from Republicans”. He emphasized that such rhetoric represents a deliberate effort to “fracture the nation” through manufactured racial and religious conflicts that have persisted for decades.
Carlson’s remarks targeted recent anti-Muslim statements from Republican lawmakers, including Florida Representative Randy Fine, who suggested America should “kick them out,” referring to Muslims. The criticism comes as the Republican Party and the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement face significant internal strife, with public disputes emerging among key leaders over strategy and the party’s future direction.
America Fest Gathering Reflects Conservative Movement Tensions
The annual America Fest conference, organized by Turning Point USA, attracts prominent conservative commentators, elected officials, and media personalities. This year's event marks the first gathering since the tragic assassination of TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk in September. The conference has become a flashpoint for competing visions within the conservative movement, with Ben Shapiro directing criticism at both Candace Owens and Carlson during his opening remarks, which Carlson briefly addressed during his speech.
Pattern of Republican Party Criticism
Carlson’s Thursday rebuke follows months of escalating criticism toward Republican leadership. In November 2025, during a three-hour conversation with podcaster Shawn Ryan, Carlson declared the Republican Party “almost to the point where it’s just useless” and stated he would “have to oppose it because I hate them too much”. He accused party leaders of being “such betrayers” who prioritize corrupt purposes over serving voters.
According to Yahoo News, Carlson told Ryan that GOP leadership represents a “donor and political class” that is “corrupt” and doesn’t “care that much or enough or at all about you”. He questioned whether the Republican Party exists to serve its voters and all citizens or functions for “other corrupt purposes, like serving foreign interests or catering to donors”.
MAGA Movement Fractures Over Foreign Policy
The internal Republican divisions extend beyond domestic rhetoric to foreign policy debates. Context Corner reported that 60% of Americans, including 53% of Trump voters, oppose U.S. military involvement in the Middle East crisis surrounding the Israel-Iran conflict. Carlson emerged as a vocal critic of potential military involvement, arguing that the U.S. should not support what he characterized as Israel's "war-driven government.
President Trump directly responded to Carlson's position, writing on social media: "Somebody please tell Tucker Carlson that IRAN CANNOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON". Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene defended Carlson "in an uncommon departure from the president's stance," telling Newsweek that "a majority of Republicans oppose U.S. intervention in Israel's war with Iran" because voters "decisively indicated their desire to end perpetual wars".
Republican Party Identity Crisis
The tensions between Carlson and Republican establishment figures reflect more profound questions about the party’s core mission and future direction. As Internews group reported, Carlson positioned himself as someone who believes the party has betrayed its original Trump-era “America First” message in favor of special interests. These internal conflicts are likely to shape how candidates define their vision for American conservatism as the 2028 election approaches.
The controversy surrounding Carlson’s statements has intensified debates within Republican circles over whether the party should prioritize quality-of-life issues and serve ordinary Americans rather than traditional conservative economic orthodoxy and interventionist foreign policy. According to an unnamed senior Republican quoted by Punchbowl News, congressional morale “has never been this low,” with “more shocking early resignations on the horizon”.