OPINION:
Ben Shapiro’s recent speech at TPUSA’s AmFest 2025 rattled the branches of the American conservative tree, and down dropped the sweet and bitter varieties of each type (“Conservatives clash at Turning Point USA conference over MAGA movement’s direction,” Web, Dec. 19).
Differences were expected. Political trending in conservative orchards these days has become more variable, while liberals are trending toward consistency.
Vice President J.D. Vance’s conciliatory response to all this was the biggest surprise of the conference. Mr. Vance counseled against “deplatforming” contrarian conservative thinkers who have something worth saying, including antisemitic, anti-Israel opinions (perhaps he is thinking of his “good friend” Tucker Carlson, Israel hater Candace Owens or Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes). This stance might not help when Mr. Vance pursues his likely 2028 presidential bid.
In any case, not many conservatives were satisfied with the outcome of AmFest 2025, except, of course, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
NORTON RUBENSTEIN
Richmond, Virginia
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