By Trendsetter Tribune 
The launch of Operation Epic Fury has triggered a massive rift within the conservative media landscape, pitting “America First” isolationists against hawkish pro-interventionists. On Friday, March 6, 2026, this tension boiled over into personal insults and “open warfare” among some of the right’s most influential voices.
The “Coward” Incident: Shapiro vs. Kelly
The most viral moment of the infighting occurred when Daily Wire co-founder Ben Shapiro launched a scathing attack on Megyn Kelly during his podcast.
- The Trigger: Kelly had previously argued that American service members were dying not for the U.S., but for “Iran or for Israel.” She specifically named Shapiro and Mark Levin as figures who had lobbied for the war.
- Shapiro’s Retort: Shapiro called Kelly an “unbelievable coward” for refusing to criticize President Trump directly, instead blaming his advisors and donors.
“You don’t like President Trump? You don’t like what he’s saying? Just say his name, you coward… Tucker and Megyn both—unbelievable cowardice.” — Ben Shapiro
The Isolationist Wing: Carlson and Kelly
Tucker Carlson and Megyn Kelly have emerged as the leading conservative critics of the war, framing it as a betrayal of the MAGA movement’s anti-interventionist roots.
- The “Netanyahu” Charge: Carlson told ABC News that the attack on Tehran was “absolutely disgusting and evil,” and provocatively claimed that “the United States didn’t make the decision here. Benjamin Netanyahu did.”
- “Open Betrayal”: This wing of the media argues that Trump’s shift toward regime change in Iran mirrors the “neocon” policies of the George W. Bush era—the very thing many of his supporters believed he had repudiated.
The Hawkish Wing: Levin and Hannity
On the other side, establishment voices and long-time hawks have rallied behind the President, characterizing the strikes as a necessary “peace mission.”
- Mark Levin: The Fox News host has been one of the most vociferous supporters of the strikes, calling them “just and imperative.” The tension between Levin and Carlson dates back to late 2025, when Carlson accused Levin of “lobbying for war” during a private White House lunch.+1
- Sean Hannity: While Hannity has stayed out of the direct mudslinging, he stated this week that he “completely disagrees” with Carlson, remarking that Carlson is “not the person that [he] knew” during their time together at Fox.
The “Maga Divide”
Political analysts, including Jonah Goldberg, describe the vitriol as the “unraveling of the Trump/MAGA coalition.” While about 95% of conservative websites still officially back the President, the 5% in opposition represent a highly engaged and influential younger “populist” demographic that is increasingly skeptical of foreign entanglement.