Megyn Kelly: Ben Shapiro, not Tucker Carlson, to blame for rising antisemitism

Right-wing pundit Megyn Kelly calls Ben Shapiro “Israel First,” claims the Jewish commentator betrayed her by criticizing her publicly, and accuses pro-Israel conservatives of dividing the American right.

By World Israel News Staff

Right-wing commentator Megyn Kelly said that prominent pro-Israel voices criticizing far-right figures like Tucker Carlson are responsible for the rise in antisemitism on the American right, dismissing accusations against Carlson, Candace Owens, and other controversial populist pundits.

In an interview conducted on the sidelines of a Turning Point USA event in Arizona and published by Vanity Fair on Monday, Kelly lashed out at The Daily Wire co-founder Ben Shapiro, saying that his criticism of her a day earlier “felt like a betrayal by a friend.”

Shapiro addressed the Turning Point USA event on Thursday, hammering Carlson and Owens while chiding Kelly for maintaining ties with the two far-right online influencers.

“Friendship with public figures who say or do evil things is not an excuse for silence on the matter,” Shapiro said.

“The same holds true of Megyn Kelly, a person I consider a friend, characterizing Candace as a young mother and shying away from her actions… that is a nonstarter.”

Kelly, 55, rejected claims that false statements by Owens and Carlson regarding Israel or Carlson’s sympathetic interview with Hitler apologist Nick Fuentes had contributed to antisemitism in the US, instead blaming Shapiro and CBS News chief editor Bari Weiss.

“They are making antisemites,” Kelly said. “Tucker is not making antisemites. They are.”

“It’s this very loud group of pro-Israel activists that is trying to make this the litmus test about whether you get to call yourself a conservative, and they lack standing to do that.”

Shapiro’s critiques on Thursday of his opponents, including Carlson and Owens, focused not only on their positions regarding Israel but also on their rejection of traditional conservative positions, including support for free markets and limited government.

However, Kelly argued that Shapiro’s speech revealed that he is “Israel First” and claimed the American Jewish pundit was dividing the right exclusively over US policy on Israel.

“And I’m sorry, but his behavior has proven that charge to be correct. Why would you divide the American conservative movement—which was gelling, which was becoming much more cohesive for a moment after Charlie died—over Israel?”