Ben Shapiro

{{Infobox person

| name = Ben Shapiro

| image = Ben Shapiro (54232922251) (cropped).jpg

| caption = Shapiro in 2024

| education = University of California, Los Angeles (BA)
Harvard University (JD)

| birth_name = Benjamin Aaron Shapiro

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|1|15}}

| birth_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.

| occupation = {{hlist|Political commentator|media host|attorney|columnist|businessman}}

| party = Republican

| spouse = {{marriage|Mor Toledano|2008}}

| children = 4

| relatives = Mara Wilson (cousin)

| module = {{Listen |embed= yes |filename= BenShapiroDonaldTrump.ogg |title= Shapiro's voice |type= speech |description= His opinions on the first presidency and personality of Donald Trump}}

| signature = Ben Shapiro Signature.svg

}}

Benjamin Aaron Shapiro (born January 15, 1984) is an American conservative political commentator, media proprietor, and attorney. He writes columns for Creators Syndicate, Newsweek, and Ami Magazine, and serves as editor emeritus for The Daily Wire, which he co-founded in 2015. Shapiro is the host of The Ben Shapiro Show, a daily political podcast and live radio show. He was editor-at-large of Breitbart News from 2012 until his resignation in 2016. Shapiro has also authored sixteen non-fiction books.

He was born in Los Angeles and studied political science at the University of California. He later became a doctor of law at Harvard University. His political views include supporting an abortion ban, capital punishment and gun ownership rights. He initially opposed Donald Trump but gradually supported him during his first presidency and endorsed him in 2020 and 2024.

Personal life

= Early life and education =

Shapiro was born on January 15, 1984,{{cite news |url=https://www.dailywire.com/tags/ben-shapiro |title=Spotlight: Ben Shapiro |work=Daily Wire |access-date=January 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321112046/https://www.dailywire.com/tags/ben-shapiro |archive-date=March 21, 2019 |url-status=dead}} in Los Angeles, California, to a Conservative Jewish family. He is Ashkenazi Jewish.{{Cite web |last=Levitt |first=Tani |date=May 12, 2023 |title=Ben Shapiro called Bernie Sanders a ham sandwich — what kind of sandwich would he be? |url=https://forward.com/culture/546820/ben-shapiro-bernie-sanders-ham-sandwich-what-kind-of-sandwich-would-he-be/ |access-date=September 9, 2023 |website=Forward}}{{cite tweet |user=benshapiro |number=690678513976799232 |access-date=October 14, 2020 |language=en |archive-date=December 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230004328/https://twitter.com/benshapiro/status/690678513976799232 |url-status=live |title=My ancestors were in Russia and Lithuania at the time. Try again.}}{{cite news |last1=Tavernise |first1=Sabrina |title=Ben Shapiro, A Provocative 'Gladiator,' Battles to Win Young Conservatives |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/23/us/ben-shapiro-conservative.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=November 23, 2017 |access-date=February 12, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208085657/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/23/us/ben-shapiro-conservative.html |archive-date=February 8, 2018}}{{cite web|title=Ben Shapiro on Religion|url=https://scholarfactcheck.com/ben-shapiro-on-religion/|access-date=January 20, 2021|website=The Online Scholar Fact Check|language=en-US|archive-date=October 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028202644/https://scholarfactcheck.com/ben-shapiro-on-religion/|url-status=live}} When he was 9 years old, his family began to observe Orthodox Judaism. He started playing violin at a young age{{cite news |last1=Matt |first1=McDonald |title=Ben Shapiro, the child prodigy gone right |url=https://spectator.us/2018/05/ben-shapiro/ |access-date=September 10, 2018 |publisher=The Spectator |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180927122252/https://spectator.us/2018/05/ben-shapiro/ |archive-date=September 27, 2018 |url-status=live}} and performed at the Israel Bonds Banquet in 1996 at age 12.{{cite news |last1=Perri |first1=Erin |title=At 12-Years-Old, Ben Shapiro Blew The Crowd Away With His Violin |url=https://www.tmn.today/2018/07/ben-shapiro-violin-schindlers-list/ |access-date=September 10, 2018 |publisher=TellMeNow, LLC |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403021930/https://www.tmn.today/2018/07/ben-shapiro-violin-schindlers-list/ |archive-date=April 3, 2019 |url-status=dead}} His parents both worked in Hollywood. His mother was a TV company executive, and his father, David Shapiro, worked as a composer.

Skipping two grades (third and ninth), Shapiro went from Walter Reed Middle School in The Valley to Yeshiva University High School of Los Angeles in Westside, Los Angeles, where he graduated in 2000 at age 16.{{cite news |last=Pope |first=Justin |title=School liberalism blasted |url=https://www.deseret.com/2004/8/10/19844383/school-liberalism-blasted |work=Deseret News |agency=Associated Press |date=August 10, 2004 |access-date=June 27, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150604071152/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/print/595082988/School-liberalism-blasted.html |archive-date=June 4, 2015 }} He studied political science at the University of California, Los Angeles, graduating in 2004 at age 20 with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree, summa cum laude, and membership in Phi Beta Kappa. He then attended Harvard Law School, where he studied under liberal law professors Lani Guinier and Randall Kennedy.{{Cite news |last=Mystal |first=Elie |date=2022-01-12 |title=Lani Guinier Taught Me Almost Everything I Know About Voting Rights |url=https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/lani-guinier-voting-rights/ |access-date=2024-10-27 |work=The Nation |language=en-US |issn=0027-8378}}{{Cite web |last=Fridman |first=Lex |author-link=Lex Fridman |date=2024-01-22 |title=Transcript for Ben Shapiro vs Destiny Debate: Politics, Jan 6, Israel, Ukraine & Wokeism |url=https://lexfridman.com/ben-shapiro-destiny-debate-transcript/ |access-date=2024-10-27 |website= |publisher=Lex Fridman Podcast |language=en-US}} In 2007, Shapiro graduated from Harvard with a Juris Doctor, cum laude.{{cite news |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/09/14/berkeley-braces-for-ben-who-is-ben-shapiro/ |title=Who is Ben Shapiro? |work=The Mercury News |first=Patrick |last=May |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506174421/https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/09/14/berkeley-braces-for-ben-who-is-ben-shapiro/ |archive-date=May 6, 2021 |date=September 14, 2017 |access-date=June 28, 2021}}

= Adult life and independence =

In 2008, Shapiro married Mor Toledano, an Israeli medical doctor of Moroccan descent,{{Citation |url=https://twitter.com/benshapiro/status/656207278899499008 |author-link=Ben Shapiro |last=Shapiro |first=Ben |title=Twitter |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180308215502/https://twitter.com/benshapiro/status/656207278899499008 |archive-date=March 8, 2018 |date=October 19, 2015}}{{cite news |last=Shapiro |first=Ben |title=10 Lessons in 10 Years – What Marriage Has Taught Me |url=http://www.newsweek.com/ben-shapiro-marriage-lessons-10-years-1022975 |publisher=Newsweek |date=July 13, 2018 |access-date=July 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403080045/https://www.newsweek.com/ben-shapiro-marriage-lessons-10-years-1022975 |archive-date=April 3, 2019 |url-status=live}} and they lived in Los Angeles. The couple have two daughters and two sons.{{cite web |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/B9UowqIgXTW/ |title=Ben Shapiro on Instagram: "I don't post pics of my family to social media because of the nature of my work, but I just couldn't help sharing the news. So excited for…" |website=Instagram |language=en |access-date=March 14, 2020 |archive-date=August 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200822230439/https://www.instagram.com/accounts/login/ |url-status=live}}{{Cite tweet|number=1660358496234209286|user=benshapiro|title=Welcome to the world, Baby Shapiro #4, a big handsome boy! Both baby and mommy are doing great. Thanks to God, the medical staff, and of course, the world's best wife for this miraculous gift!|author=Ben Shapiro|date=May 21, 2023|access-date=May 21, 2023}} They practice Orthodox Judaism.{{Citation|url=http://my.hsj.org/Schools/Newspaper/tabid/100/view/frontpage/schoolid/642/articleid/221315/newspaperid/618/Mor_Toledano_3905_first_in_class_to_find_perfect_match.aspx |publisher=HSJ |title=Mor Toledano, first in class to find perfect match |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130128164530/http://my.hsj.org/Schools/Newspaper/tabid/100/view/frontpage/schoolid/642/articleid/221315/newspaperid/618/Mor_Toledano_3905_first_in_class_to_find_perfect_match.aspx |archive-date=January 28, 2013}}

In September 2020, Shapiro announced that he and his family were leaving California.{{cite web |url=https://townhall.com/columnists/benshapiro/2020/09/30/why-im-leaving-california-n2577179 |title=Why I'm Leaving California |first=Ben |last=Shapiro |website=Townhall |date=September 30, 2020 |access-date=October 1, 2020 |archive-date=October 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201002121522/https://townhall.com/columnists/benshapiro/2020/09/30/why-im-leaving-california-n2577179 |url-status=live}} While he relocated the headquarters of his Daily Wire enterprise to Nashville, Tennessee, he and his family resettled in Florida.{{cite web |last=Mcgraw |first=Meridith |title=The new center of Trump's political world: Palm Beach |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/12/31/trump-palm-beach-florida-453216 |access-date=January 20, 2021 |website=POLITICO |date=December 31, 2020 |language=en |archive-date=January 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122042549/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/12/31/trump-palm-beach-florida-453216 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |date=September 16, 2020|title=Ben Shapiro thinks he's welcome in Nashville, bless his heart |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/ben-shapiro-daily-wire-nashville-tennessee-move-california-silicon-valley-b456594.html |access-date=January 20, 2021|website=The Independent |language=en |archive-date=November 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122030354/https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/ben-shapiro-daily-wire-nashville-tennessee-move-california-silicon-valley-b456594.html |url-status=live}}

Shapiro's sister, Abigail Shapiro, who studied operatic singing, is a conservative media influencer who posts videos on her YouTube channel "Classically Abby".{{cite web |author1=Us Weekly Staff |title=Who Is Ben Shapiro's Sister? Everything to Know About Abigail Shapiro |url=https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/pictures/abigail-shapiro-everything-to-know-about-ben-shapiros-sister/ |access-date=December 11, 2022 |date=October 5, 2022 |archive-date=December 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221211174014/https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/pictures/abigail-shapiro-everything-to-know-about-ben-shapiros-sister/ |url-status=dead }} She has been subjected to online antisemitic trolling due to her brother's high public profile.Pink, Aiden (October 30, 2017) [https://forward.com/fast-forward/386447/anti-semitic-trolls-attack-conservative-commentator-ben-shapiros-sister/ "Anti-Semitic Trolls Attack Conservative Commentator Ben Shapiro's Sister"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829110611/https://forward.com/fast-forward/386447/anti-semitic-trolls-attack-conservative-commentator-ben-shapiros-sister/ |date=August 29, 2019 }} The Forward

Shapiro is a cousin of Mara Wilson,{{cite web|last=McNamara|first=Neal|date=January 24, 2014|title=Justin Bieber a symptom of a big problem|work=KTTH |url=http://www.ktth.com/2014/01/24/justin-bieber-symptom-big-problem/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703191405/http://www.ktth.com/2014/01/24/justin-bieber-symptom-big-problem/|archive-date=July 3, 2015|access-date=September 20, 2017}} who has disavowed him due to their differing political beliefs: Shapiro has conservative views, while Wilson has left-wing beliefs.{{cite web |last=Klion |first=David |date=August 28, 2020 |title=Q&A with Mara Wilson |url=https://jewishcurrents.org/qa-with-mara-wilson/ |access-date=December 15, 2020 |website=Jewish Currents}} The two have not contacted each other for several years.{{Cite web |last=Maxwell Yezpitelok |date=April 3, 2020 |title=Celebs With (Surprising) Famous Relatives |url=https://www.cracked.com/article_27368_14-notable-names-nobody-realizes-are-related.html |access-date=July 23, 2020 |website=cracked.com}}

Career

=Law=

After graduating from law school, Shapiro entered private practice at the law firm Goodwin Procter but left after 10 months.{{cite news |last1=Abrahamowitz |first1=Zach |title=A Conversation with Ben Shapiro |url=https://www.replyall.me/zach-talks/a-conversation-with-ben-shapiro/ |access-date=April 13, 2023 |work=ReplyAll |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201102152806/https://www.replyall.me/zach-talks/a-conversation-with-ben-shapiro/|archive-date=November 2, 2020}} {{As of|March 2012}}, he ran an independent legal consultancy firm, Benjamin Shapiro Legal Consulting, in Los Angeles.

= Author =

Shapiro became interested in politics at a young age. He started a nationally syndicated column when he was 17, becoming the youngest nationally syndicated columnist in the United States,{{cite magazine |ref={{Harvid | Zman | 2012}} |title=Ben Shapiro: Proud Torah-Observant Jew and Rising Star in America's Conservative Movement |url=http://www.zmanmagazine.com/PDF/Shapiro.pdf |magazine=Zman Magazine |date=March 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170201053614/http://www.zmanmagazine.com/PDF/Shapiro.pdf |archive-date=February 1, 2017 }} and had written two books by age 21.{{cite web |last1=Harris |first1=Dan |last2=Torres |first2=Ignacio |last3=Effron |first3=Lauren |title=Conservative commentator on future of free speech on campus |work=ABC News |date=October 21, 2017 |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/outspoken-conservative-ben-shapiro-free-speech-place-college/story?id=50610394 |access-date=April 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180429222314/http://abcnews.go.com/US/outspoken-conservative-ben-shapiro-free-speech-place-college/story?id=50610394 |archive-date=April 29, 2018 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Is this baby-faced blogger the next Andrew Breitbart? |url=https://www.salon.com/2013/04/03/the_next_andrew_breitbart/ |first=Alex |last=Seitz-Wald |date=April 3, 2013 |website=Salon |access-date=July 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180727024357/https://www.salon.com/2013/04/03/the_next_andrew_breitbart/ |archive-date=July 27, 2018 |url-status=live}}

In his first book Brainwashed: How Universities Indoctrinate America's Youth (2004), Shapiro argues that the American Left has ideological dominance over universities and that professors do not tolerate non-left opinions.{{Cite news|last=Gray|first=Eliza|date=July 16, 2018|title=How Trumpian is the GOP's next generation? I talked to 52 young conservatives to find out.|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/style/wp/2018/07/16/feature/the-next-generation-of-republicans-do-they-stand-with-trump/|access-date=June 29, 2021|newspaper=The Washington Post|archive-date=April 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416180449/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/style/wp/2018/07/16/feature/the-next-generation-of-republicans-do-they-stand-with-trump/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last=Feiger|first=Leah|date=May 3, 2019|title=A Few Things To Know About Ben Shapiro|url=https://forward.com/news/422141/who-is-ben-shapiro/|url-status=live|access-date=June 29, 2021|newspaper=The Forward|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190503175551/https://forward.com/news/422141/who-is-ben-shapiro/ |archive-date=May 3, 2019}}

In 2011, HarperCollins published Shapiro's fourth book, Primetime Propaganda: The True Hollywood Story of How the Left Took Over Your TV, in which Shapiro argues that Hollywood has a left-wing agenda that it actively promotes through prime-time entertainment programming. In the book, the producers of Happy Days and M*A*S*H say they pursued a pro-pacifist, anti-Vietnam-War agenda in those series.{{cite news |last=Lawson |first=Mark |title=Is US TV too leftwing? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2011/jun/29/is-us-tv-too-leftwing |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=June 29, 2011 |date=June 29, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930113043/http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2011/jun/29/is-us-tv-too-leftwing |archive-date=September 30, 2013 }} Shapiro also became a fellow at the David Horowitz Freedom Center.{{cite web |first=Leily |last=Rezvani |url=https://www.stanforddaily.com/2019/10/18/ben-shapiro-to-speak-on-campus-after-stanford-admin-criticized-his-collaborators-visit-in-may/ |title=Ben Shapiro to speak on campus after Stanford admin criticized his collaborator's visit in May |work=The Stanford Daily |date=October 18, 2019 |access-date=June 16, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191019135400/https://www.stanforddaily.com/2019/10/18/ben-shapiro-to-speak-on-campus-after-stanford-admin-criticized-his-collaborators-visit-in-may/|archive-date=October 19, 2019 |quote=Shapiro is a lawyer, author and columnist, as well as fellow at the David Horowitz Freedom Center, a conservative platform for political debates.}}

In 2013, Threshold Editions published Shapiro's fifth book, Bullies: How the Left's Culture of Fear and Intimidation Silences Americans.{{cite book |title=Bullies: How the Left's Culture of Fear and Intimidation Silences Americans |date=July 8, 2014 |publisher=Threshold |id={{ASIN|1476710007|country=es}}}}

In 2017, he released his first and to date only fiction novel, True Allegiance.{{cite web|title=True Allegiance |url=https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/true-allegiance-ben-shapiro/1123487923|access-date=June 13, 2021|website=Barnes & Noble|language=en}}

In 2019, Shapiro published the book The Right Side of History: How Reason and Moral Purpose Made the West Great, which focuses on the importance of Judeo-Christian values and laments their decline in modern America.

In 2021, Shapiro published the book The Authoritarian Moment, which argues that there is no pressing authoritarian threat in U.S. politics from the right wing. Instead, he argues that the authoritarian threat comes from the left's control of academia, Hollywood, journalism, and corporate America.{{cite web |last=Chait |first=Jonathan |date=August 12, 2021 |title=Ben Shapiro's Book Is a Glib Rationale for Right-Wing Authoritarianism |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2021/08/ben-shapiro-new-book-authoritarian-moment-left-trump.html |access-date=August 12, 2021 |website=Intelligencer |language=en-us |archive-date=August 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812182724/https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2021/08/ben-shapiro-new-book-authoritarian-moment-left-trump.html |url-status=live }}

= ''Breitbart News'' =

In 2012, Shapiro became editor-at-large of Breitbart News, a rightist website founded by Andrew Breitbart.{{cite web |url=http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2012/03/the_empire_that_andrew_breitbart_built_is_struggling_to_maintain_its_brand_now_that_its_founder_is_dead_.html |title=Meet the Breitbarts |last=Weigel |first=David |date=March 21, 2012 |work=Slate |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130526100325/http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2012/03/the_empire_that_andrew_breitbart_built_is_struggling_to_maintain_its_brand_now_that_its_founder_is_dead_.html |archive-date=May 26, 2013 |url-status=live |access-date=February 22, 2013}} After Breitbart came under the leadership of Steve Bannon, Shapiro attempted to distance himself from him.{{Cite news |date=August 21, 2016 |title=Stephen Bannon, a Rookie Campaign Chief Who 'Loves the Fight' |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/18/us/politics/stephen-bannon.html |access-date=March 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821141106/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/18/us/politics/stephen-bannon.html |archive-date=August 21, 2016 |last1=Barbaro |first1=Michael |last2=Grynbaum |first2=Michael M.}}{{Cite interview |first=Ben |last=Shapiro |title=Ben Shapiro |interviewer-last=Kirk |interviewer-first=Michael |date=2017-03-24 |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/interview/ben-shapiro/ |access-date=March 8, 2023 |website=FRONTLINE |language=en-US |archive-date=April 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403073128/https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/interview/ben-shapiro/ |url-status=live }}

On February 7, 2013, Shapiro published an article claiming Senate sources indicated a group called "Friends of Hamas" was a foreign contributor to Chuck Hagel's Senate confirmation campaign for US Secretary of Defense. However, weeks later, Slate reporter David Weigel reported that there was no evidence of such a group's existence.{{cite journal |last=Weigel |first=David |date=February 20, 2013 |title="Friends of Hamas": The Scary-Sounding Pro-Hagel Group That Doesn't Actually Exist |url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2013/02/14/_friends_of_hamas_the_scary_sounding_pro_hagel_group_that_doesn_t_actually.html |url-status=live |journal=Slate |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130222024409/http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2013/02/14/_friends_of_hamas_the_scary_sounding_pro_hagel_group_that_doesn_t_actually.html |archive-date=February 22, 2013 |access-date=February 22, 2013}} Shapiro told Weigel that the story he published was "the entirety of the information [he] had."{{cite web |last=Christopher |first=Tommy |date=February 20, 2013 |title=Secret Hagel Donor?: White House Ducks Questions On 'Fox And Friends of Hamas' |url=http://www.mediaite.com/online/secret-hagel-donor-white-house-ducks-questions-on-fox-and-friends-of-hamas/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130720043742/http://www.mediaite.com/online/secret-hagel-donor-white-house-ducks-questions-on-fox-and-friends-of-hamas/ |archive-date=July 20, 2013 |access-date=February 22, 2013 |website=Mediaite}}{{cite web |last=Christopher |first=Tommy |date=February 21, 2013 |title=The Young Turks Guest Catches Breitbart News'= Ben Shapiro In 'Friends of Hamas' Lie |url=http://www.mediaite.com/tv/the-young-turks-guest-catches-breitbart-news-ben-shapiro-in-friends-of-hamas-lie/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130627233048/http://www.mediaite.com/tv/the-young-turks-guest-catches-breitbart-news-ben-shapiro-in-friends-of-hamas-lie/ |archive-date=June 27, 2013 |access-date=February 22, 2013 |publisher=Mediaite}}{{cite web |last=Trotter |first=J.K |date=February 20, 2013 |title='Friends of Hamas' Rumor Debunked by Reporter Who Accidentally Started It |url=http://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/2013/02/friends-hamas-rumor-debunked-reporter-who-accidentally-started-it/62325/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130222012830/http://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/2013/02/friends-hamas-rumor-debunked-reporter-who-accidentally-started-it/62325/ |archive-date=February 22, 2013 |access-date=February 22, 2013 |work=The Atlantic Wire}} Shapiro later expressed regret over publishing the story.{{Cite web |first=Ben |last=Shapiro |date=March 29, 2019 |title=So, Here's A Giant List Of All The Dumb Stuff I've Ever Done (Don't Worry, I'll Keep Updating It) |website=The Daily Wire |url=https://www.dailywire.com/news/33362/so-heres-giant-list-all-dumb-stuff-ive-ever-done-ben-shapiro |access-date=March 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329051813/https://www.dailywire.com/news/33362/so-heres-giant-list-all-dumb-stuff-ive-ever-done-ben-shapiro |archive-date=March 29, 2019}}

In March 2016, Shapiro resigned from his position as editor-at-large of Breitbart News following what he characterized as the website's lack of support for reporter Michelle Fields in response to her alleged assault by Corey Lewandowski, Donald Trump's former campaign manager,{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/breitbart-s-michelle-fields-ben-shapiro-resign-over-trump-incident-n537711 |title=Breitbart's Michelle Fields, Ben Shapiro Resign Over Trump Incident |last=Vinograd |first=Cassandra |work=NBC News |date=March 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314085235/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/breitbart-s-michelle-fields-ben-shapiro-resign-over-trump-incident-n537711 |archive-date=March 14, 2016 |url-status=live |access-date=March 14, 2016}}{{cite news |author= |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/breitbart-reporter-editor-resign-over-response-to-alleged-assault-by-trump-campaign-manager |title=Breitbart reporter, editor resign over response to alleged assault by Trump campaign manager |website=Fox News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316020852/http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/03/14/breitbart-reporter-editor-resign-over-response-to-alleged-assault-by-trump-campaign-manager.html |archive-date=March 16, 2016 |url-status=live |access-date=March 14, 2016 |date=March 14, 2016}} in spite of video and eyewitness evidence of the assault.{{cite news |title=Video shows Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski grabbing Michelle Fields |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/video/politics/video-shows-trump-campaign-manager-corey-lewandowski-grabbing-michelle-fields/2016/03/29/8b53c8a4-f5c2-11e5-958d-d038dac6e718_video.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=July 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609191902/https://www.washingtonpost.com/video/politics/video-shows-trump-campaign-manager-corey-lewandowski-grabbing-michelle-fields/2016/03/29/8b53c8a4-f5c2-11e5-958d-d038dac6e718_video.html |archive-date=June 9, 2020 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Stevenson |first1=Seth |title=The Many Faces of Ben Shapiro |url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/01/is-ben-shapiro-a-conservative-liberals-can-count-on.html |website=Slate |date=January 24, 2018 |access-date=July 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190525080449/https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/01/is-ben-shapiro-a-conservative-liberals-can-count-on.html |archive-date=May 25, 2019 |url-status=live}} In his resignation statement, Shapiro stated, "Steve Bannon is a bully, and has sold out [the late Breitbart.com founder] Andrew Breitbart's mission in order to back another bully, Donald Trump; he has shaped the company into Trump's personal Pravda".{{cite web |last1=Gray |first1=Rosie |last2=Coppins |first2=McKay |title=Michelle Fields, Ben Shapiro Resign From Breitbart |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/rosiegray/michelle-fields-ben-shapiro-resign-from-breitbart |website=BuzzFeed News |date=March 14, 2016 |access-date=July 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630104318/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/rosiegray/michelle-fields-ben-shapiro-resign-from-breitbart |archive-date=June 30, 2020 |url-status=live}} After Shapiro's departure, Breitbart published a piece, falsely attributed to Shapiro's father's pseudonym, saying, "Ben Shapiro betrays loyal Breitbart readers in pursuit of Fox News contributorship", which Breitbart later deleted.{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/breitbart-s-michelle-fields-ben-shapiro-resign-over-trump-incident-n537711 |title=Breitbart's Michelle Fields and Three Others Resign Over Trump Incident |first=Cassandra |last=Vinograd |work=NBC News |access-date=August 10, 2018 |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512012151/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/breitbart-s-michelle-fields-ben-shapiro-resign-over-trump-incident-n537711 |archive-date=May 12, 2019 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |first= Jesse |last=Singal |title=Explaining Ben Shapiro's Messy, Ethnic-Slur-Laden Breakup With Breitbart |language=en |work=Daily Intelligencer |url=http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/05/ben-shapiros-messy-breakup-with-breitbart.html |url-status=live |access-date=September 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003121555/http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/05/ben-shapiros-messy-breakup-with-breitbart.html |archive-date=October 3, 2018}} Despite being critical of Bannon, Shapiro defended Bannon when he was accused of antisemitism.{{cite web |first=Ian |last=Tuttle |date=November 14, 2016 |title=Steve Bannon Is Not a Nazi—But Let's Be Honest about What He Represents |url=https://www.nationalreview.com/2016/11/steve-bannon-trump-administration-alt-right-breitbart-chief-strategist/ |access-date=May 18, 2022 |website=National Review |language=en-US |archive-date=May 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220518200204/https://www.nationalreview.com/2016/11/steve-bannon-trump-administration-alt-right-breitbart-chief-strategist/ |url-status=live }}

= Host =

File:Ben Shapiro 2018.jpg]]

In 2012, Shapiro joined KRLA-AM 870 as a host on their morning radio program alongside Heidi Harris and Brian Whitman.{{cite web |first=Carl |last=Marcucci |url=https://www.rbr.com/krla-beefs-up-morning-team-in-la/ |title=KRLA beefs up morning team in LA |date=July 11, 2012 |publisher=RBR |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620183117/https://www.rbr.com/krla-beefs-up-morning-team-in-la/ |archive-date=June 20, 2019 |url-status=live}} By 2016, he was one of the hosts for KRLA's The Morning Answer, a conservative radio show. Internal emails showed that Shapiro faced pressure from Salem Media executives, the syndicate that owned the show, to be more supportive of Donald Trump during the 2016 United States presidential election. Shapiro, however, remained highly critical of Trump throughout the election.{{cite news |url=https://money.cnn.com/2018/05/09/media/salem-radio-executives-trump/index.html |title=Salem executives pressured radio hosts to cover Trump more positively, emails show |last2=Darcy |first1=Hadas |last1=Gold |first2=Oliver |work=CNNMoney |access-date=May 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328142106/https://money.cnn.com/2018/05/09/media/salem-radio-executives-trump/index.html |archive-date=March 28, 2019 |url-status=live}}

Shapiro and Jeremy Boreing founded The Daily Wire on September 21, 2015. He serves as editor emeritus as well as the host of his online political podcast The Ben Shapiro Show, which is broadcast every weekday.{{cite web |first=Elliot |last=Kaufman |url=http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/450262/ben-shapiro-show-second-top-podcast-itunes |title=Ben Shapiro's Astonishing Success |work=National Review |date=August 8, 2017 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170812205911/http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/450262/ben-shapiro-show-second-top-podcast-itunes |archive-date=August 12, 2017}} {{as of|2019|March|}}, the podcast was ranked by Podtrac as the second most popular podcast in the U.S.{{cite news |author= |title=A Bounce For Ben Shapiro In March Says Podtrac |url=http://www.insideradio.com/free/a-bounce-for-ben-shapiro-in-march-says-podtrac/article_7fbca710-66d3-11e9-8954-734748203ec0.html |newspaper=Inside Radio |date=April 24, 2019 |access-date=June 11, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620181201/http://www.insideradio.com/free/a-bounce-for-ben-shapiro-in-march-says-podtrac/article_7fbca710-66d3-11e9-8954-734748203ec0.html |archive-date=June 20, 2019 |url-status=live}} Westwood One began syndicating The Ben Shapiro Show podcast to radio in April 2018.{{cite web |last=Schwartz |first=Jason |title=Ben Shapiro to take his podcast to radio |work=POLITICO |date=March 29, 2018 |access-date=April 28, 2018 |url=https://politi.co/2pPq43F |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407070615/https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/29/ben-shapiro-radio-podcast-490973 |archive-date=April 7, 2020 |url-status=live}} In 2018, Politico described the podcast as "massively popular".{{cite news |first= M. Scott |last=Mahaskey |url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/04/27/the-new-conservative-media-establishment-218107 |title=The New Conservative Media Establishment |work=POLITICO Magazine |access-date=September 28, 2018 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403051335/https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/04/27/the-new-conservative-media-establishment-218107 |archive-date=April 3, 2019 |url-status=live}} In January 2019, Westwood One expanded Shapiro's one-hour podcast-to-radio program, adding a nationally syndicated two-hour live radio show, for three hours of Ben Shapiro programming daily.{{cite news |author= |title=Ben Shapiro Radio Show Expands To Three Hours Over The Air |url=http://www.insideradio.com/free/ben-shapiro-radio-show-expands-to-three-hours-over-the/article_f8a5d07a-c020-11e8-b7ae-a3f6cb9d9b7b.html |newspaper=Inside Radio |date=September 24, 2018 |access-date=June 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190622141814/http://www.insideradio.com/free/ben-shapiro-radio-show-expands-to-three-hours-over-the/article_f8a5d07a-c020-11e8-b7ae-a3f6cb9d9b7b.html |archive-date=June 22, 2019 |url-status=live}} As of March 2019, according to Westwood One, The Ben Shapiro Show is being carried by more than 200 stations, including in nine of the top ten markets.{{cite web |first=Chris |last=Potter |url=https://www.westwoodone.com/2019/03/06/the-ben-shapiro-show-experiences-explosive-station-growth-and-ratings-success-by-drawing-younger-listeners-to-broadcast-radio/ |title=The Ben Shapiro Show Experiences Explosive Station Growth and Ratings Success by Drawing Younger Listeners to Broadcast Radio |work=Westwood One |date=March 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620181201/https://www.westwoodone.com/2019/03/06/the-ben-shapiro-show-experiences-explosive-station-growth-and-ratings-success-by-drawing-younger-listeners-to-broadcast-radio/ |archive-date=June 20, 2019}} In June 2020, Shapiro stepped down from his role as editor-in-chief, which he had held since the site's founding, and took on the role of editor emeritus.{{cite news |last=Blake |first=Andrew |title=Ben Shapiro stepping down as editor-in-chief of the Daily Wire|url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/jul/7/ben-shapiro-stepping-down-as-editor-in-chief-of-th/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918101724/https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/jul/7/ben-shapiro-stepping-down-as-editor-in-chief-of-th/|archive-date=September 18, 2020|access-date=July 7, 2020|website=The Washington Times|language=en-US}}

In September 2018, Shapiro started hosting The Ben Shapiro Election Special on Fox News. The limited-run series covered news and issues relating to the 2018 midterm elections.{{cite news |last1=Pink |first1=Aiden |title=Ben Shapiro Rides Kavanaugh Controversy to Top of U.S. Conservative Media |url=https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/ben-shapiro-rides-kavanaugh-controversy-continues-rise-to-the-top-1.6530775 |newspaper=Haaretz |access-date=October 14, 2018 |language=en |date=October 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403021932/https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/ben-shapiro-rides-kavanaugh-controversy-continues-rise-to-the-top-1.6530775 |archive-date=April 3, 2019 |url-status=live}}

Shapiro has made frequent appearances on PragerU with talks on intersectionality and Hollywood with 4,900,000 to 8,400,000 views {{as of|2018|December|lc=y}}.{{cite web |url=https://www.prageru.com/presenters/ben-shapiro |title=PragerU {{!}} Ben Shapiro |date=December 22, 2018 |website=prageru.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181222173509/https://www.prageru.com/presenters/ben-shapiro |archive-date=December 22, 2018 |url-status=dead |access-date=December 22, 2018}}{{cite web |url=https://www.dailywire.com/news/16331/prageru-video-shapiro-explains-why-facts-dont-care-hank-berrien |title=PragerU Video: Shapiro Explains Why Facts Don't Care About Your Feelings |first=Hank |last=Berrien |date=May 11, 2017 |website=Daily Wire |language=en |access-date=December 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181222173631/https://www.dailywire.com/news/16331/prageru-video-shapiro-explains-why-facts-dont-care-hank-berrien |archive-date=December 22, 2018 |url-status=dead}}

In 2021, Ben Shapiro's podcast was ranked 9th most listened to on Apple podcasts.{{cite web |last1=Winn |first1=Ross |title=Top 100 US Podcasts (Apple Podcasts Top Charts) |url=https://www.podcastinsights.com/top-us-podcasts/ |website=www.podcastinsights.com |date=May 21, 2018 |publisher=Podcast Insights |access-date=November 15, 2021 |archive-date=October 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211011163823/https://www.podcastinsights.com/top-us-podcasts/ |url-status=live }}

= Speaker =

File:Conservative Political Action Conference 2018 Ben Shapiro (39798514014).jpg 2018]]

Shapiro speaks at college campuses across the United States. In his speeches, he often presents a conservative viewpoint on controversial subjects. He spoke at 37 campuses between early 2016 and late 2017.

Some students and faculty members at California State University, Los Angeles, objected to a speech that Shapiro, who was then an editor at Breitbart News, was scheduled to hold at the university on February 25, 2016, titled "When Diversity Becomes a Problem". University president William Covino canceled the speech three days before it was to take place, intending to reschedule it so that the event could feature various viewpoints on campus diversity. Covino ultimately reversed his decision, allowing the speech to go on as planned.{{cite news |first1=John A. |last1=Moreno |first2=Chris |last2=Wolfe |url=http://ktla.com/2016/02/25/cal-state-l-a-cancels-event-featuring-ben-shapiro-conservative-pundit-insists-he-will-appear-on-campus-anyway/ |title=In Reversal, Cal State LA President Allows Conservative Pundit Ben Shapiro to Speak at Campus Event |date=February 25, 2016 |publisher=KTLA 5 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160226092258/http://ktla.com/2016/02/25/cal-state-l-a-cancels-event-featuring-ben-shapiro-conservative-pundit-insists-he-will-appear-on-campus-anyway/ |archive-date=February 26, 2016 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |first=Alex |last=Griswold |url=http://www.mediaite.com/online/university-president-shuts-down-conservative-journalists-speech-citing-free-exchange-of-ideas/ |title=University President Shuts Down Conservative Journalist's Speech, Citing "Free Exchange of Ideas" |date=February 23, 2016 |publisher=Mediaite |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160228024612/http://www.mediaite.com/online/university-president-shuts-down-conservative-journalists-speech-citing-free-exchange-of-ideas/ |archive-date=February 28, 2016 |url-status=live}} The day of the speech, student protesters formed human chains, blocking the doors to the event and staging sit-in protests. When Shapiro began his speech, a protester pulled the fire alarm. After the speech ended, Shapiro was escorted out by campus police.{{cite news |first1=Sid |last1=Garcia |first2=Tim |last2=Rearden |url=http://abc7.com/news/ben-shapiro-escorted-from-csula-due-to-angry-protesters/1219358/ |title=Ben Shapiro escorted by police from CSULA due to angry protesters |date=February 26, 2016 |publisher=ABC 7 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305215912/http://abc7.com/news/ben-shapiro-escorted-from-csula-due-to-angry-protesters/1219358/ |archive-date=March 5, 2016 |url-status=live}} Conservative youth organization Young America's Foundation (YAF) announced it was filing a lawsuit against the university (with Shapiro as one of the plaintiffs), claiming that the First and Fourteenth Amendment rights of the students were violated by Covino's attempted cancellation of the event as well as by the physical barricading of students from entering or leaving the event.{{cite news |first=Hillary |last=Jackson |url=http://mynewsla.com/education/2016/05/19/csula-sued-over-conservative-authors-protest-ridden-speech/ |title=CSULA sued over conservative author's protest-ridden speech |date=May 20, 2016 |publisher=MyNewsLA |access-date=May 19, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407070628/https://mynewsla.com/education/2016/05/19/no-free-speech-at-cal-state-la-conservative-authors-lawsuit/ |archive-date=April 7, 2020 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |first=Spencer |last=Brown |date=July 11, 2017 |url=http://www.yaf.org/news/ben-shapiro-partners-yaf-affirm-students-free-speech-rights-berkeley-amid-lawsuit |title=Ben Shapiro Partners with YAF to Affirm Students' Free Speech Rights at Berkeley Amid Lawsuit |website=Young Americans Foundation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170917080308/http://www.yaf.org/news/ben-shapiro-partners-yaf-affirm-students-free-speech-rights-berkeley-amid-lawsuit/ |archive-date=September 17, 2017}}

In August 2016, DePaul University revoked an invitation for Shapiro to address students at the school and barred him from entering the campus owing to "security concerns".{{cite web |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/289999-depaul-cancels-conservatives-speech |title=DePaul cancels conservative's speech |last=Concha |first=Joe |date=August 1, 2016 |website=The Hill |language=en |access-date=June 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620183243/https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/289999-depaul-cancels-conservatives-speech |archive-date=June 20, 2019 |url-status=live}}

On September 14, 2017, Shapiro gave a speech at the invitation of the University of California, Berkeley student organization Berkeley College Republicans (BCR), in which he criticized identity politics.{{cite news |url=http://www.haaretz.com/us-news/.premium-1.812495 |title=Jewish Conservative Ben Shapiro to Antifa Protesters at UC Berkeley: 'Go to Hell, You Lying, Stupid Jackasses' |author=Allison Kaplan Sommer |date=September 15, 2017 |newspaper=Haaretz |access-date=September 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916014833/http://www.haaretz.com/us-news/.premium-1.812495 |archive-date=September 16, 2017 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://news.berkeley.edu/2017/09/14/shapiro-event-goes-off-with-barely-a-hitch/ |title=Shapiro event goes off with barely a hitch |date=September 14, 2017 |publisher=Berkeley News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916001119/http://news.berkeley.edu/2017/09/14/shapiro-event-goes-off-with-barely-a-hitch/ |archive-date=September 16, 2017 |url-status=live |access-date=September 16, 2017}} The event was supported by the YAF and BCR. It involved a large police presence, which had been promised by Berkeley Chancellor Carol T. Christ in her August letter that supported free speech. Together, the university and the city of Berkeley spent $600,000 ({{inflation|US|600000|2017|fmt=eq}}) on police and security for the event, which transpired with nine arrests but no major incidents.{{cite magazine |url=https://time.com/4943027/berkeley-free-speech-ben-shapiro-breitbart/ |title='The University Has Coddled Students Too Long.' Conservative Firebrand Roils Berkeley |last=Steinmetz |first=Katy |date=September 14, 2017 |magazine=Time |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915223038/http://time.com/4943027/berkeley-free-speech-ben-shapiro-breitbart/ |archive-date=September 15, 2017 |url-status=live |access-date=September 16, 2017}}{{cite web |url=http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-berkeley-protest-shapiro-20170914-htmlstory.html |title=9 arrested as protesters gather at UC Berkeley for talk by conservative speaker Ben Shapiro |last1=Panzar |first1=Javier |last2=Tchekmedyian |first2=Alene |date=September 15, 2017 |work=Los Angeles Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915185334/http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-berkeley-protest-shapiro-20170914-htmlstory.html |archive-date=September 15, 2017 |url-status=live |access-date=September 16, 2017}}{{cite web |url=http://news.berkeley.edu/2017/08/23/chancellor-christ-free-speech-is-who-we-are/ |title=Chancellor Christ: Free speech is who we are |last=Christ |first=Carol |author-link=Carol T. Christ |date=August 23, 2017 |publisher=UC Berkeley |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180701222235/http://news.berkeley.edu/2017/08/23/chancellor-christ-free-speech-is-who-we-are/ |archive-date=July 1, 2018 |url-status=live |access-date=August 25, 2018}}

= Other media activities =

On October 7, 2013, Shapiro and business partner Jeremy Boreing co-founded the U.S. media criticism website TruthRevolt with funding from the David Horowitz Freedom Center.{{cite web |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/12/how-hollywood-invented-ben-shapiro |title='Let's Make You Famous': How Hollywood Invented Ben Shapiro |author=Nguyen, Tina |work=Vanity Fair |date=December 9, 2018 |accessdate=April 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181220214130/https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/12/how-hollywood-invented-ben-shapiro |archive-date=December 20, 2018 |url-status=live }} TruthRevolt ceased operations in March 2018.{{cite web |date=March 7, 2018 |title=Announcement:TruthRevolt Closing up shop |url=https://www.truthrevolt.org/news/announcement-truthrevolt-closing-shop |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620180754/https://www.truthrevolt.org/news/announcement-truthrevolt-closing-shop |archive-date=June 20, 2018 |access-date=March 15, 2018 |publisher=Truthrevolt.org}}

On January 14, 2021, Shapiro was featured as a guest writer for Politico{{'s}} Playbook newsletter, where he defended House Republicans who opposed the second impeachment of Donald Trump.{{cite web |last=Williams |first=Jordan |date=January 14, 2021 |title=Ben Shapiro stirs controversy by guest writing Politico newsletter |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/media/534318-ben-shapiro-stirs-controversy-by-guest-writing-newsletter |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125115640/https://thehill.com/homenews/media/534318-ben-shapiro-stirs-controversy-by-guest-writing-newsletter |archive-date=January 25, 2021 |access-date=January 17, 2021 |website=The Hill |language=en}} The newsletter drew immense backlash from many Politico staffers, some of whom argued that Shapiro should not have been allowed to write the article. Matthew Kaminski, editor-in-chief of Politico, refused to apologize and defended the decision to enable Shapiro to write the article, stating, "We're not going to back away from having published something because some people think it was a mistake to do so."{{Cite news |last=Tani |first=Maxwell |date=January 14, 2021 |title='Mischief Making': Politico Boss Defends Ben Shapiro Column |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/politico-faces-backlash-for-handing-playbook-over-to-right-wing-bomb-thrower-ben-shapiro |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126150907/https://www.thedailybeast.com/politico-faces-backlash-for-handing-playbook-over-to-right-wing-bomb-thrower-ben-shapiro |archive-date=January 26, 2021 |access-date=January 27, 2021 |work=The Daily Beast |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Robertson |first=Katie |date=January 15, 2021 |title=Politico Staff Objects After Right-Wing Star Ben Shapiro Writes Newsletter |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/14/business/media/politico-playbook-ben-shapiro.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127042155/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/14/business/media/politico-playbook-ben-shapiro.html |archive-date=January 27, 2021 |access-date=January 27, 2021 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} According to the Daily Beast, more than 100 Politico staffers signed on to a letter to publisher Robert Allbritton criticizing both Politico's decision to feature Shapiro's article and the response from Kaminski.{{cite web |last=Maxwell |first=Tani |date=January 25, 2021 |title=100+ Politico Staffers Send Letter to CEO Railing Against Publishing Ben Shapiro |url=https://news.yahoo.com/100-politico-staffers-send-letter-223556215.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126184206/https://news.yahoo.com/100-politico-staffers-send-letter-223556215.html |archive-date=January 26, 2021 |access-date=January 27, 2021 |website=Daily Beast |language=en-US}}

Shapiro cameoed in The Daily Wire film Lady Ballers that was released December 1, 2023. He portrayed a referee.{{Citation |last=Boreing |first=Jeremy |title=Lady Ballers |date=December 1, 2023 |type=Comedy, Sport |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30216176/ |access-date=December 4, 2023 |others=Jeremy Boreing, Daniel Considine, David Cone |publisher=Bonfire Legend, Jeremy's Chocolate, Jeremy's Razors}}{{Cite web |date=December 2, 2023 |title=Jeremy Boreing, Ben Shapiro Talk 'Heart' Of 'Lady Ballers,' Detail Raw Emotion On Set |url=https://www.dailywire.com/news/jeremy-boreing-ben-shapiro-talk-heart-of-lady-ballers-detail-raw-emotion-on-set |access-date=December 4, 2023 |website=The Daily Wire |language=en}}

On January 26, 2024, he appeared alongside artist Tom MacDonald in the music video for MacDonald's rap song "Facts", which Shapiro is featured on.{{Citation |title="Facts" - Tom MacDonald (feat. Ben Shapiro) |date=January 26, 2024 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kGpohEpuTE |access-date=January 26, 2024 |language=en |archive-date=January 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240126171852/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kGpohEpuTE |url-status=live }}{{cite news |date=January 28, 2024 |title=Nicki Minaj congratulates Ben Shapiro on '#1' track: 'not bad' |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/4433801-nicki-minaj-congratulates-ben-shapiro-on-1-track-not-bad/amp/ |newspaper=The Hill}}{{Cite web |last1=Culture |first1=Billie Schwab Dunn Pop |last2=Reporter |first2=Entertainment |date=January 29, 2024 |title=Nicki Minaj slammed for supporting Ben Shapiro |url=https://www.newsweek.com/nicki-minaj-supporting-ben-shapiro-slammed-1864795 |access-date=January 30, 2024 |website=Newsweek |language=en |archive-date=January 30, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240130005904/https://www.newsweek.com/nicki-minaj-supporting-ben-shapiro-slammed-1864795 |url-status=live }} The song held the No. 1 spot on Apple Music in late January and early February 2024.{{Cite news |last1=Scribner |first1=Herb |last2=Branigin |first2=Anne |date=February 1, 2024 |title=Ben Shapiro's new song hit No. 1 on iTunes. How did that happen? |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/2024/01/31/ben-shapiro-song-tom-macdonald/ |access-date=February 1, 2024 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286 |archive-date=February 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240203074901/https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/2024/01/31/ben-shapiro-song-tom-macdonald/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Murray |first=Conor |title=Nicki Minaj And Ben Shapiro Form Unlikely Alliance As 'Big Foot' And 'Facts' Look For Billboard Chart Debuts |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2024/02/01/nicki-minaj-and-ben-shapiro-form-unlikely-alliance-as-big-foot-and-facts-look-for-billboard-chart-debuts/ |access-date=February 3, 2024 |website=Forbes |language=en}} On February 5, 2024, the song debuted at No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100.{{Cite web |title=Billboard Charts |url=https://twitter.com/billboardcharts/status/1754635974930256207 }}

Views

File:Ben Shapiro june 26 2016 cropped retouched.jpg

In 2012, Zman Magazine hailed Shapiro as a "rising star in America's conservative movement". In 2016, Shapiro described himself as "basically a libertarian".{{cite news |url=http://www.ora.tv/rubinreport/2016/2/19/ben-shapiro-and-dave-rubin-conservatism-vs-leftism-and-free-speech |title=Ben Shapiro and Dave Rubin: Conservatism vs Leftism and Free Speech |work=The Rubin Report |access-date=November 28, 2018 |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403021934/http://www.ora.tv/rubinreport/2016/2/19/ben-shapiro-and-dave-rubin-conservatism-vs-leftism-and-free-speech |archive-date=April 3, 2019 |url-status=live}} In 2021, he described himself as "generally libertarian" with regard to the role of the government and as a conservative with regard to the role of social structures.{{cite web|last=Shapiro|first=Ben|date=April 3, 2021|title=Ben Shapiro Answers Popular Internet Questions About Him!|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRrvoOSJZ-U| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211028/oRrvoOSJZ-U| archive-date=October 28, 2021|url-status=live|access-date=April 18, 2021|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} The New Yorker, Haaretz and Vox have described Shapiro as "right-wing".{{cite news |title=Harvard's Dishonorable Treatment of Chelsea Manning and Michelle Jones |language=en-US |magazine=The New Yorker |url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/harvards-dishonorable-treatment-of-chelsea-manning-and-michelle-jones |url-status=live |access-date=September 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928200859/https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/harvards-dishonorable-treatment-of-chelsea-manning-and-michelle-jones |archive-date=September 28, 2018}} Shapiro's views have been described by The New York Times as "extremely conservative" and was described by The Economist as a "radical conservative" and as a "classically religious-conservative". A 2020 study News, Nationalism, and Hegemony: The Formation of Consistent Issue Framing Throughout the U.S. Political Right examining issue framing by right-wing podcasts used The Ben Shapiro Show as an example which "offered a mainstream conservative perspective that favors President Donald Trump and his framing on issues like 'nationalism'" in a two-by-two matrix that also examined a Stormfront podcast, an alt-right podcast, and the Daily Standard podcast; the study argued that Shapiro's rhetoric was similar to that used in the Stormfront podcast, though with a different tone.{{cite journal |last1=Speakman |first1=Burton |last2=Funk |first2=Marcus |date=May 5, 2020 |title=News, Nationalism, and Hegemony: The Formation of Consistent Issue Framing Throughout the U.S. Political Right |journal=Mass Communication and Society |volume=23 |issue=5 |pages=656–681 |doi=10.1080/15205436.2020.1764973 |issn=1520-5436 |doi-access=|s2cid=218945496 }}

Shapiro has described the political left as believing in an imaginary "hierarchy of victimhood" in which the opinions of members of persecuted groups like the LGBT community are afforded more credence. He has argued that the left has dominated American culture through popular entertainment, media, and academia in a way that has made conservatives feel disenfranchised and helped lead to the election of Donald Trump in 2016. He has stated that "political correctness breeds insanity". Shapiro is an outspoken opponent of safe spaces, especially those on college campuses, arguing that they go against free speech.{{cite web |last1=Bois |first1=Paul |title=WATCH: Ben Shapiro Goes To Berkeley In 'No Safe Spaces' |url=https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-ben-shapiro-goes-to-berkeley-in-no-safe-spaces |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200705202545/https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-ben-shapiro-goes-to-berkeley-in-no-safe-spaces |archive-date=July 5, 2020 |access-date=July 3, 2020 |website=The Daily Wire|date=November 11, 2019 }}{{cite web |title=Ben Shapiro on defending free speech on college campuses | date=April 11, 2018 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHOZMkBFI-8 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200627014121/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHOZMkBFI-8 |archive-date=June 27, 2020 |access-date=July 3, 2020 |publisher=Fox News}} Shapiro frequently praises Western culture and Western civilization, saying "I believe Western civilization is superior to other civilizations."

= Abortion =

File:Ben Shapiro (29040858748).jpg

Shapiro supports a ban on abortion,{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/23/us/ben-shapiro-conservative.html |title=Ben Shapiro, A Provocative 'Gladiator,' Battles to Win Young Conservatives |last1=Tavernise |first1=Sabrina |date=November 23, 2017 |access-date=February 12, 2018 |newspaper=The New York Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208085657/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/23/us/ben-shapiro-conservative.html |archive-date=February 8, 2018 |url-status=live}} including in cases of rape and incest, with one exception: when competent medical authority determines that the life of the mother is in jeopardy as a result of the pregnancy. He has further clarified that this includes extreme cases of mental illness where the life of the mother is at risk due to suicide. He also believes that doctors who perform abortions should be prosecuted.{{cite news |url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/01/is-ben-shapiro-a-conservative-liberals-can-count-on.html |title=Whose Side Is Ben Shapiro Really On? |last=Stevenson |first=Seth |work=Slate Magazine |access-date=October 2, 2018 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190525080449/https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/01/is-ben-shapiro-a-conservative-liberals-can-count-on.html |archive-date=May 25, 2019 |url-status=live}} He has referred to women who have abortions as "baby killers".{{cite news |url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Ben-Shapiro-takes-stage-at-UC-Berkeley-under-12200541.php |title=Ben Shapiro takes stage at UC Berkeley under extraordinary security |date=September 15, 2017 |work=SFGate |access-date=October 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403021931/https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Ben-Shapiro-takes-stage-at-UC-Berkeley-under-12200541.php |archive-date=April 3, 2019 |url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Cordell-Whitney|first=Dionne|date=March 1, 2019|title=School Must Face Free-Speech Suit by Conservative Pundit|url=https://www.courthousenews.com/university-must-face-free-speech-lawsuit-from-pundit/|access-date=March 22, 2021|website=Courthouse News Service|language=en-US|archive-date=December 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201225183501/https://www.courthousenews.com/university-must-face-free-speech-lawsuit-from-pundit/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Asimov|first=Nanette|date=September 14, 2017|title=UC Berkeley free speech in spotlight over super-tight security plans|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/UC-free-speech-in-spotlight-over-super-tight-12196062.php|access-date=March 22, 2021|website=San Francisco Chronicle|language=en-US|archive-date=December 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201206122130/https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/UC-free-speech-in-spotlight-over-super-tight-12196062.php|url-status=live}} In 2019, Shapiro asserted that "the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade" was "not going to happen", and added that he had "serious doubts" about "whether the Supreme Court, as currently constituted, would vote to overturn Roe v. Wade". (Roe v. Wade was later overturned by Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization in 2022.){{cite web |last1=Coaston |first1=Jane |title=Why some anti-abortion conservatives think Alabama's abortion law goes too far |url=https://www.vox.com/2019/5/17/18627968/pro-life-alabama-law-abortion-supreme-court-public-opinion |website=Vox |access-date=June 24, 2019 |date=May 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190623144657/https://www.vox.com/2019/5/17/18627968/pro-life-alabama-law-abortion-supreme-court-public-opinion |archive-date=June 23, 2019 |url-status=live}}

In 2019, Shapiro spoke at the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C., where he said abortion is a "violent act".{{cite news |last1=Stanglin |first1=Doug |last2=Miller |first2=Ryan |title=March for Life 2019: Vice President Pence makes surprise visit at DC rally |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2019/01/18/march-life-rally-thousands-washington-say-all-life-matters/2613673002/ |access-date=January 19, 2019 |work=USA Today |date=January 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413031914/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2019/01/18/march-life-rally-thousands-washington-say-all-life-matters/2613673002/ |archive-date=April 13, 2019 |url-status=live}}

= Alt-right =

Shapiro is a critic of the alt-right movement,{{cite book |url=https://cup.columbia.edu/book/making-sense-of-the-alt-right/9780231185127 |title=Making Sense of the Alt-Right |last=Hawley |first=George |date=2017 |publisher=Columbia University Press |isbn=978-0-231-54600-3 |page=43 |access-date=June 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190621232142/https://cup.columbia.edu/book/making-sense-of-the-alt-right/9780231185127 |archive-date=June 21, 2019 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=Inside the mind of Ben Shapiro, a radical conservative |url=https://www.economist.com/open-future/2019/03/28/inside-the-mind-of-ben-shapiro-a-radical-conservative |newspaper=The Economist |date=March 28, 2019 |access-date=August 18, 2020 |archive-date=July 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725065425/https://www.economist.com/open-future/2019/03/28/inside-the-mind-of-ben-shapiro-a-radical-conservative |url-status=live}} stating in 2017, "It is a garbage movement composed of garbage ideas. It has nothing to do with constitutional conservatism." In 2019, Shapiro criticized weekly newspaper The Economist for describing him as "alt-right" in their interview with him; in response, The Economist issued an apology and modified the article title to instead describe Shapiro as a "radical conservative".{{cite news |last=Swanson |first=Ian |date=March 28, 2019|title=Shapiro rips Economist after it labels him alt-right |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/media/436271-shapiro-rips-economist-after-it-labels-him-alt-right |access-date=December 1, 2020|newspaper=The Hill |language=en |archive-date=December 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212100320/https://thehill.com/homenews/media/436271-shapiro-rips-economist-after-it-labels-him-alt-right |url-status=live}}

Shapiro has been a target of online harassment and antisemitic threats from the alt-right. After leaving Breitbart News, Shapiro was a frequent target of antisemitic rhetoric from the alt-right. According to a 2016 analysis by the Anti-Defamation League, Shapiro was the most frequent target of antisemitic tweets against journalists.{{cite news |title=In 2016, people have read anti-Semitic tweets 10 billion times, many from Trump supporters |language=en |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2016/10/19/in-one-year-people-have-read-anti-semitic-tweets-a-staggering-10-billion-times/ |url-status=live |access-date=September 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161021000801/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2016/10/19/in-one-year-people-have-read-anti-semitic-tweets-a-staggering-10-billion-times/ |archive-date=October 21, 2016}}{{cite news |last1=Weiss |first1=Bari |date=September 12, 2017 |title=Opinion {{!}} A Political Conservative Goes to Berkeley |language=en |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/12/opinion/conservative-berkeley-ben-shapiro.html |access-date=November 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171007063134/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/12/opinion/conservative-berkeley-ben-shapiro.html |archive-date=October 7, 2017}}

= Capital punishment =

Shapiro is an advocate of capital punishment and "strongly" supports it remaining legal in the United States.{{Citation |title=Ben Shapiro Takes the Political Compass Quiz |date=March 24, 2020 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QB2drJIWI7Y |access-date=March 21, 2023 |language=en |archive-date=March 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230321194849/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QB2drJIWI7Y |url-status=live }} Explaining his beliefs, Shapiro has stated that, "You can forfeit the right to life if you take another life, just as you can forfeit your right to liberty (this is called prison) by infringing on the liberty of another".{{Cite tweet|number=1129038991439859713|user=benshapiro|title=Because you can forfeit the right to life if you take another life, just as you can forfeit your right to liberty (this is called prison) by infringing on the liberty of another.|author=Ben Shapiro|date=May 16, 2019|access-date=March 21, 2023}}

= Climate change =

Shapiro has acknowledged climate change as a legitimate phenomenon, although he has questioned "what percentage of global warming is attributable to human activity."{{cite news |last=Villa |first=Lissandra |date=April 25, 2017 |title=Some Republicans Want Their Party To Change Their Tune on Climate Change |work=BuzzFeed News |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/lissandravilla/some-republicans-want-their-party-to-change-their-tune-on |url-status=live |access-date=August 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403035111/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/lissandravilla/some-republicans-want-their-party-to-change-their-tune-on |archive-date=April 3, 2019}} In relation to concerns over increased flooding of coastal property from sea-level rise as a result of climate change, Shapiro stated, "You think people aren't just going to sell their homes and move?"{{cite magazine |last=Willis |first=Jay |date=November 28, 2018 |title=Ben Shapiro's Latest Savage Own Is...Ben Shapiro |url=https://www.gq.com/story/ben-shapiro-climate-change-lol |url-status=live |magazine=GQ |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190601150640/https://www.gq.com/story/ben-shapiro-climate-change-lol |archive-date=June 1, 2019 |access-date=June 1, 2019}} Writing for GQ, in response to that remark, Jay Willis adds, "The possibility that no market will exist for property that is literally underneath the ocean seems not to have occurred to him." In an opinion piece on the 2020 California wildfires, Shapiro argued that state policies had contributed more to the severity of the fires than climate change. In response, Scientific American accused Shapiro of promoting climate change denial.{{cite web |last=Field |first=Rebecca Miller, Katharine Mach, Chris |title=Climate Change Is Central to California's Wildfires |url=https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/climate-change-is-central-to-californias-wildfires/ |access-date=May 9, 2021 |website=Scientific American |language=en |archive-date=January 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220114142117/https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/climate-change-is-central-to-californias-wildfires/ |url-status=live }} In 2021, he stated that a global temperature increase of 4 °C (7.2 °F) did not amount to an emergency, and that describing it as one was "purely a political designation".{{cite news |date=April 15, 2021 |title=Ben Shapiro mocked for saying 4C of global warming not an 'emergency' |language=en |website=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/ben-shapiro-global-warming-4c-b1831951.html |access-date=May 9, 2021 |archive-date=July 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220709061757/http://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/ben-shapiro-global-warming-4c-b1831951.html |url-status=live }}

= Donald Trump =

In the spring of 2016, Shapiro wrote an article for the Daily Wire in which he stated he would "never vote for Donald Trump".{{cite web |date=March 4, 2016 |title=SHAPIRO: I Will Never Vote For Donald Trump. Here's Why. |url=https://www.dailywire.com/news/shapiro-i-will-never-vote-donald-trump-heres-why-ben-shapiro#pq=u26cXg |accessdate=June 27, 2022 |publisher=The Daily Wire |archive-date=June 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220624212940/https://www.dailywire.com/news/shapiro-i-will-never-vote-donald-trump-heres-why-ben-shapiro#pq=u26cXg |url-status=live }} Shapiro supported Ted Cruz in the 2016 presidential election and opposed Trump's candidacy.{{cite news |title=How the 'alt-right' checkmated the media |language=en |work=Columbia Journalism Review |url=https://www.cjr.org/analysis/alt_right_media_clinton_trump.php |url-status=live |access-date=September 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814145022/https://www.cjr.org/analysis/alt_right_media_clinton_trump.php |archive-date=August 14, 2017}} In August 2016, Shapiro wrote an article for the Daily Wire arguing that Trump, if elected, would not appoint conservative justices to the Supreme Court.{{cite web |last=Shapiro |first=Ben |date=August 10, 2016 |title=No, Trump Isn't Going to Save The Supreme Court |url=https://www.dailywire.com/news/no-trump-isnt-going-save-supreme-court-ben-shapiro |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220624192258/https://www.dailywire.com/news/no-trump-isnt-going-save-supreme-court-ben-shapiro |archive-date=June 24, 2022 |access-date=June 24, 2022 |website=The Daily Wire}} He described Steve Bannon as a "bully" who "sold out Breitbart founder Andrew Breitbart's mission in order to back another bully, Donald Trump."{{cite news |date=September 18, 2017 |title=Ben Shapiro: Who is he and why is he so controversial? |publisher=Fox News |url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/ben-shapiro-who-is-he-and-why-is-he-so-controversial |url-status=live |access-date=May 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526130447/https://www.foxnews.com/us/ben-shapiro-who-is-he-and-why-is-he-so-controversial |archive-date=May 26, 2019}} Shapiro has stated that Trump's victory in the 2016 election was more of a vote against Hillary Clinton than a vote in favor of Trump.

Shapiro supported the Trump administration's ordering of the killing of Qasem Soleimani,{{Cite web |last=Concha |first=Joe |date=January 3, 2020 |title=Ben Shapiro rips Ben Rhodes on Iran-Trump criticism: 'Failed novelist who openly lied to the American people' |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/media/476660-ben-shapiro-rips-ben-rhodes-on-iran-trump-criticism-failed-novelist-who-openly/ |access-date=October 27, 2022 |website=The Hill |language=en-US}} recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel,{{Cite web |last=Concha |first=Joe |date=December 6, 2017 |title=Ben Shapiro: Trump recognizing Jerusalem as Israeli capital would be 'political bravery' |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/media/363545-ben-shapiro-trump-recognizing-jerusalem-as-israeli-capital-would-be-political/ |access-date=November 2, 2022 |website=The Hill |language=en-US}} as well as the nominations of Brett Kavanaugh{{Cite web |last=Concha |first=Joe |date=September 27, 2018 |title=Ben Shapiro: I thought Kavanaugh was done, 'now he's very much alive' |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/media/408845-ben-shapiro-i-thought-kavanaugh-was-done-now-hes-very-much-alive/ |access-date=October 27, 2022 |website=The Hill |language=en-US}} and Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court.{{Cite web |title=YEAR ONE: The Complete Good Trump/Bad Trump List |url=https://www.dailywire.com/news/year-one-complete-good-trumpbad-trump-list-ben-shapiro |access-date=November 11, 2022 |website=The Daily Wire |date=December 19, 2017 |language=en |archive-date=November 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221111100306/https://www.dailywire.com/news/year-one-complete-good-trumpbad-trump-list-ben-shapiro |url-status=live }} Shapiro also supported Trump withdrawing from the Paris Agreement, cutting regulations, and his nomination of 12 appellate court judges. However, Shapiro criticized Trump for firing James Comey, for appointing Michael Flynn and Steve Bannon, and for endorsing Roy Moore.

On October 19, 2020, Shapiro announced that he would be voting for Trump in the 2020 presidential election: "There are three reasons I'm going to vote for Donald Trump in 2020 when I didn't four years ago: First, I was simply wrong about Donald Trump on policy. Second, I wasn't really wrong about Donald Trump on character, but whatever damage he was going to do has already been done, and it's not going to help if I don't vote for him this time. And third, and most importantly: The Democrats have lost their fucking minds."{{cite web |last=Ernst |first=Douglas |date=October 19, 2020 |title=Ben Shapiro to vote for Trump in 2020 after 2016 snub, says Dems 'have lost their f---ing minds' |url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/oct/19/ben-shapiro-to-vote-for-trump-in-2020-after-2016-s/ |website=The Washington Times |access-date=June 4, 2021 |archive-date=June 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210605184630/https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/oct/19/ben-shapiro-to-vote-for-trump-in-2020-after-2016-s/ |url-status=live }} He rebuked Trump on election night, November 3, 2020, when Trump prematurely claimed himself the winner when neither he nor his opponent Joe Biden had yet reached the 270 electoral votes required to win the presidency. He tweeted: "No, Trump has not already won the election, and it is deeply irresponsible for him to say he has."{{cite web |last=Axelrod |first=Tal |date=November 4, 2020 |title=Bipartisan lawmakers condemn Trump for declaring victory prematurely |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/524407-bipartisan-lawmakers-condemn-trump-for-declaring-victory-prematurely |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122024950/https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/524407-bipartisan-lawmakers-condemn-trump-for-declaring-victory-prematurely |archive-date=November 22, 2020 |access-date=December 3, 2020 |work=The Hill}} Shapiro denounced the false claim that Trump was the legitimate winner of the 2020 election. He criticized the January 6 Capitol attack whilst also criticizing the Democratic Party's response to it. In 2024, during 2024 Republican primaries, Shapiro favored Florida Governor Ron DeSantis over Trump but later supported Trump after DeSantis dropped out of the primary. Shapiro also later helped host a fundraiser for Trump.{{Cite web |last=Lindsay |first=Benjamin |date=2024-04-02 |title=Ben Shapiro Reveals What Trump Told Him at Fundraiser |url=https://www.thewrap.com/ben-shapiro-trump-support-megyn-kelly-clip/ |access-date=2024-04-05 |website=TheWrap |language=en-US |archive-date=April 5, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240405073032/https://www.thewrap.com/ben-shapiro-trump-support-megyn-kelly-clip/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Shapiro |first=Ben |date=2024-03-26 |title=Ben Shapiro: Why I'm co-hosting a Trump fundraiser |url=https://www.marshallnewsmessenger.com/opinion/ben-shapiro-why-im-co-hosting-a-trump-fundraiser/article_281287d6-eaeb-11ee-901b-47b8415d02df.html |access-date=2024-04-05 |website=Marshall News Messenger |language=en}} In October 2024, Shapiro interviewed Trump on his show.{{cite news |last1=Reporter |first1=Monica Sager Live News |title=Trump on Shapiro podcast: Use the 25th to remove Harris, Biden from office |url=https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-shapiro-podcast-25th-amendment-harris-biden-1965993 |access-date=9 October 2024 |work=Newsweek |date=8 October 2024 |language=en}}

= Facebook =

In 2018, Shapiro argued that Facebook was targeting conservative sites after the platform implemented an algorithm change, limiting their traffic, and that they are not transparent enough.{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/29/conservatives-facebook-liberal-bias-490920 |title=Conservative outlets take on Facebook |work=POLITICO |access-date=September 28, 2018 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190409213010/https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/29/conservatives-facebook-liberal-bias-490920 |archive-date=April 9, 2019 |url-status=live}} In 2021,{{Inconsistent}} an article in NPR revealed that, under Shapiro's leadership, the Daily Wire had dominated Facebook news feeds and received more engagement than any other news outlet "by a wide margin".{{cite web |title=Outrage As A Business Model: How Ben Shapiro Is Using Facebook To Build An Empire |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/07/19/1013793067/outrage-as-a-business-model-how-ben-shapiro-is-using-facebook-to-build-an-empire |access-date=March 12, 2022 |website=NPR.org |language=en |archive-date=March 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313074737/https://www.npr.org/2021/07/19/1013793067/outrage-as-a-business-model-how-ben-shapiro-is-using-facebook-to-build-an-empire |url-status=live }}

= Gender and sexuality =

In 2010, Shapiro argued that homosexuality should not have been removed as a mental illness from the DSM because homosexuals have higher rates of depression than heterosexuals and do not reproduce.{{cite web |last=Shapiro |first=Ben |date=2010 |title=Liberals Take Over Your Brain |url=https://patriotpost.us/opinion/5023-liberals-take-over-your-brain-2010-02-17 |access-date=September 18, 2020 |website=The Patriot Post}}{{cite web |date=February 11, 2021 |title=Ben Shapiro - GLAAD Accountability Project |url=https://www.glaad.org/gap/ben-shapiro |access-date=March 30, 2022 |website=GLAAD |language=en |archive-date=March 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220317214526/https://www.glaad.org/gap/ben-shapiro |url-status=live }} In 2014, Shapiro argued that the United States "is not a country that discriminates against homosexuals" and that "there is a vastly minute amount of discrimination against gays in this country."{{cite news |title=Breitbart Editor Ben Shapiro Says LGBT Community Does Not Really Face Discrimination |language=en |publisher=Southern Poverty Law Center |url=https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2014/02/12/breitbart-editor-ben-shapiro-says-lgbt-community-does-not-really-face-discrimination |url-status=live |access-date=October 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416144518/https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2014/02/12/breitbart-editor-ben-shapiro-says-lgbt-community-does-not-really-face-discrimination |archive-date=April 16, 2019}}

Shapiro opposed the 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges Supreme Court ruling that deemed bans of same-sex marriage unconstitutional.{{cite news |url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2015/06/26/gay_marriage_ruling_conservative_reaction_is_mixed_and_opponents_quibble.html |title=Conservative Reaction to Marriage Ruling Is Mixed |last=Larimore |first=Rachael |date=June 26, 2015 |work=Slate |access-date=October 2, 2018 |language=en-US |issn=1091-2339 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930140911/http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2015/06/26/gay_marriage_ruling_conservative_reaction_is_mixed_and_opponents_quibble.html |archive-date=September 30, 2018 |url-status=live}} However, he opposes government involvement in marriage, saying, "I think the government stinks at this", and expressing concern that because of the ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, at some point the government may try to force religious institutions to perform same-sex weddings against their will.{{cite news |url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/01/is-ben-shapiro-a-conservative-liberals-can-count-on.html |title=The Many Faces of Ben Shapiro |work=Slate |access-date=December 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190525080449/https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/01/is-ben-shapiro-a-conservative-liberals-can-count-on.html |archive-date=May 25, 2019 |url-status=live}} According to Slate{{'}}s Seth Stevenson, Shapiro has described homosexuality as a sin. Shapiro also opposes same-sex couples raising children. He has said that "a man and a woman do a better job of raising a child than two men or two women".

He has stated he does not feel same-sex marriage should be taught to students in schools, saying, "In California, they've already passed laws that you have to teach same-sex marriage in public schools, for example... I went to public school for elementary school and junior high, I don't know why the government is teaching me anything about this stuff. This is for my parents to teach me. This is a values thing." He also states, "I'm very much anti gay-marriage in the social sense. As a religious person, I think homosexuality is a sin, I think that lots of things are sins that people engage in, I think they should be free to engage in them."

Shapiro believes transgender people suffer from mental illness.{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/video/outspoken-conservative-ben-shapiro-political-correctness-breeds-insanity-50603406 |title=Outspoken conservative Ben Shapiro says political correctness breeds insanity |last=Harris |first=Dan |date=September 2017 |work=Nightline |access-date=August 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705151818/https://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/video/outspoken-conservative-ben-shapiro-political-correctness-breeds-insanity-50603406 |archive-date=July 5, 2018 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/outspoken-conservative-ben-shapiro-free-speech-place-college/story?id=50610394 |title=Conservative commentator on future of free speech on campus |date=October 21, 2017 |website=ABC News |language=en |access-date=August 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810173100/https://abcnews.go.com/US/outspoken-conservative-ben-shapiro-free-speech-place-college/story?id=50610394 |archive-date=August 10, 2018 |url-status=live}} He has commented, "You can't magically change your gender. You can't magically change your sex." He compared such changes to the notion of changing one's age or identifying as an animal.

In July 2015, Shapiro and transgender rights activist Zoey Tur were on Dr. Drew On Call to discuss Caitlyn Jenner's receipt of the Arthur Ashe Courage Award.{{cite news |first=Sasha |last=Goldstein |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/ben-shapiro-files-complaint-transgender-reporter-tur-article-1.2298804 |title=Ben Shapiro files complaint against transgender reporter Tur |newspaper=New York Daily News |date=July 15, 2015 |access-date=July 30, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723181303/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/ben-shapiro-files-complaint-transgender-reporter-tur-article-1.2298804 |archive-date=July 23, 2015 |url-status=live}}{{cite magazine |first=Lauren |last=Walker |url=http://www.newsweek.com/conservative-editor-files-police-report-against-transgender-reporter-after-355851 |title=Editor Ben Shapiro Files Police Report Against Transgender Reporter After Heated TV Exchange |date=July 21, 2015 |magazine=Newsweek |access-date=July 30, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170117192059/http://www.newsweek.com/conservative-editor-files-police-report-against-transgender-reporter-after-355851 |archive-date=January 17, 2017 |url-status=live}} After Shapiro referred to Tur, who is a trans woman, as "sir" and questioned her genetics, she placed her hand on the back of his neck and threatened on air to send him "home in an ambulance". Shapiro replied, "That seems mildly inappropriate for a political discussion." Later, Shapiro filed a police report accusing Tur of battery and stated that he intended to press charges to "teach the left a lesson". Tur said the report was Shapiro's attempt to keep the story in the news.{{cite web |last=Walker |first=Lauren|date=July 21, 2015 |title=Editor Ben Shapiro Files Police Report Against Transgender Reporter After Heated TV Exchange |url=http://www.newsweek.com/conservative-editor-files-police-report-against-transgender-reporter-after-355851 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170117192059/http://www.newsweek.com/conservative-editor-files-police-report-against-transgender-reporter-after-355851 |archive-date=January 17, 2017 |access-date=December 21, 2016 |work=Newsweek}}{{cite news |first=Andrew |last=Tobin |url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/jewish-pundit-trans-journalist-in-on-air-spat/ |title=Jewish pundit, trans journalist in on-air spat |work=The Times of Israel |date=July 21, 2015 |access-date=July 30, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150801064632/http://www.timesofisrael.com/jewish-pundit-trans-journalist-in-on-air-spat/ |archive-date=August 1, 2015 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |first=Andrew |last=Tobin |date=July 21, 2015 |title=Watch: Trans journalist threatens right-wing Jewish pundit during on-air spat |work=Haaretz |url=http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/1.667098 |url-status=live |access-date=July 30, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924162533/http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-world-news/1.667098 |archive-date=September 24, 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://www.newsweek.com/conservative-editor-files-police-report-against-transgender-reporter-after-355851?rx=us |title=Editor Ben Shapiro Files Police Report Against Transgender Reporter After Heated TV Exchange |first=Lauren |last=Walker |date=July 21, 2015 |work=Newsweek |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170318225103/http://www.newsweek.com/conservative-editor-files-police-report-against-transgender-reporter-after-355851?rx=us |archive-date=March 18, 2017 |url-status=dead}}

In 2019, in response to 2020 Democratic Party presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke calling for the removal of the tax-exempt status of religious institutions opposed to same-sex marriage, Shapiro said that if O'Rourke was going to try to "indoctrinate" his children in religious schools, Shapiro would be forced to either "leave the country" or "pick up a gun."{{cite news |last=Behrmann |first=Savannah |date=October 11, 2019 |title=Beto O'Rourke criticized by conservatives for comment about tax-exempt status and LGBTQ rights |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2019/10/11/lgbtq-rights-conservatives-criticize-beto-orourke-after-cnn-event/3946859002/ |work=USA Today |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105201241/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2019/10/11/lgbtq-rights-conservatives-criticize-beto-orourke-after-cnn-event/3946859002/ |archive-date=November 5, 2019 |url-status=live}}

= Gun ownership =

Following the December 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, Shapiro appeared on CNN's Piers Morgan Tonight on January 10, 2013. On the issue of gun control, Shapiro called Piers Morgan a "bully" who "tends to demonize people who differ from you politically by standing on the graves of the children of Sandy Hook, saying they don't seem to care enough about the dead kids."{{cite news |first=Dylan |last=Biers |url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2013/01/breitbart-editor-piers-morgan-a-bully-standing-on-the-graves-of-dead-children-153928 |title=Breitbart editor: Piers Morgan a 'bully' 'standing on the graves' of dead children |work=Politico |access-date=June 17, 2019 |date=January 11, 2013 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190619224956/https://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2013/01/breitbart-editor-piers-morgan-a-bully-standing-on-the-graves-of-dead-children-153928 |archive-date=June 19, 2019 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/gun-advocate-accuses-british-cnn-host-piers-morgan-of-standing-on-the-graves-of-the-children-of-sandy-hook |title=Gun advocate accuses British CNN host Piers Morgan of 'standing on the graves of the children of Sandy Hook' |work=National Post |access-date=June 17, 2019 |date=January 11, 2013 |language=en |archive-date=August 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200822230427/https://nationalpost.com/news/gun-advocate-accuses-british-cnn-host-piers-morgan-of-standing-on-the-graves-of-the-children-of-sandy-hook |url-status=live}} Videos of the encounter quickly received millions of views and went viral.

Writing in October 2017, in the aftermath of the Las Vegas shooting, Shapiro argued that "banning all guns would be unwise as well as immoral", additionally Shapiro stated, "...here's the problem: Not a single gun law short of full-scale gun confiscation would have prevented Las Vegas or any of the other mass shootings we've seen. Furthermore, there is no correlation between states with high rates of gun ownership and states with high rates of gun homicide."{{cite news |url=http://jewishjournal.com/opinion/ben-shapiro/225637/good-gun-policy-starts-reality/ |title=Good Gun Policy Starts With Reality |first=Ben |last=Shapiro |date=October 11, 2017 |work=Jewish Journal |access-date=November 1, 2018 |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403021934/https://jewishjournal.com/opinion/ben-shapiro/225637/good-gun-policy-starts-reality/ |archive-date=April 3, 2019 |url-status=live}}

= Healthcare =

Shapiro has backed repealing the Affordable Care Act. In 2021, Shapiro said that he was in favor of the COVID-19 vaccine and that he was vaccinated,{{cite web |title=Ben Shapiro Explains Why He's Pro-Vaccine |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NF2P4T3_gPs |website=YouTube |date=September 21, 2021 |access-date=November 14, 2021 |archive-date=November 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211114011512/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NF2P4T3_gPs |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Lima-Strong |first=Cristiano |date=2022-02-24 |title=Analysis {{!}} These vaccine skeptics are outperforming news outlets on Facebook, Twitter, study finds |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/02/24/these-vaccine-skeptics-are-outperforming-news-outlets-facebook-twitter-study-finds/ |access-date=2024-03-27 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}} but is against COVID-19 vaccine mandates.{{cite web |last=Ellefson |first=Lindsey |date=September 10, 2021 |title=Conservative Outlet Daily Wire Vows to Defy Biden Vaccine Order |url=https://www.thewrap.com/conservative-outlet-daily-wire-vows-to-defy-biden-vaccine-order/ |access-date=September 13, 2021 |website=TheWrap |language=en-US |archive-date=May 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220509221002/https://www.thewrap.com/conservative-outlet-daily-wire-vows-to-defy-biden-vaccine-order/ |url-status=live }}

= Israeli–Palestinian conflict =

In 2003, Shapiro published a column on Townhall stating that Israel must be allowed to "transfer Palestinians and Israeli-Arabs from Judea, Samaria, Gaza and Israel proper." Citing expulsion of Germans after World War II as a precedent,{{cite news |last1=Shapiro |first1=Ben |title=Transfer is not a dirty word |url=https://townhall.com/columnists/benshapiro/2003/08/27/transfer-is-not-a-dirty-word-n976781 |website=Townhall.com | date=August 27, 2003 | archive-date = February 20, 2015|access-date=January 29, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150220130431/http://townhall.com/columnists/benshapiro/2003/08/27/transfer_is_not_a_dirty_word}} Shapiro insisted that "expelling a hostile population is a commonly-used and generally effective way of preventing violent entanglements." In the same article, Shapiro said that "The ideology of the Palestinian population is indistinguishable from that of the terrorist leadership."{{cite news |url=https://forward.com/opinion/388621/why-doesnt-the-new-york-times-mention-ben-shapiros-islamophobia/ |title=Why Doesn't The New York Times Mention Ben Shapiro's Islamophobia? |work=The Forward |access-date=November 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329074501/https://forward.com/opinion/388621/why-doesnt-the-new-york-times-mention-ben-shapiros-islamophobia/ |archive-date=March 29, 2019 |url-status=live}} Journalist Jeffrey Goldberg criticized Shapiro's comments as an example of his "fascist" views.{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2013/02/goldberg-breitbarts-ben-shapiro-fascist-157448 |title=Goldberg: Breitbart's Ben Shapiro 'fascist' |work=POLITICO |access-date=September 28, 2018 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403051351/https://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2013/02/goldberg-breitbarts-ben-shapiro-fascist-157448 |archive-date=April 3, 2019 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/02/prominent-hagel-detractor-endorses-fascistic-vision-of-israel/273349/ |title=Prominent Hagel Detractor Endorses Fascistic Vision of Israel |last=Goldberg |first=Jeffrey |date=February 20, 2013 |work=The Atlantic |access-date=September 28, 2018 |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403035110/https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/02/prominent-hagel-detractor-endorses-fascistic-vision-of-israel/273349/ |archive-date=April 3, 2019 |url-status=live}} Shapiro later reversed his view on the West Bank issue, saying it was "both inhumane and impractical".{{cite news |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/09/14/berkeley-braces-for-ben-who-is-ben-shapiro/ |title=Who is Ben Shapiro? |date=September 14, 2017 |work=The Mercury News |access-date=October 2, 2018 |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403035116/https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/09/14/berkeley-braces-for-ben-who-is-ben-shapiro/ |archive-date=April 3, 2019 |url-status=live}}

In 2010, Shapiro said "Israelis like to build. Arabs like to bomb crap and live in open sewage". He later stated that he was talking about the Israeli and Arab leadership, as well as terrorist groups in Palestine.{{cite tweet |user=benshapiro |first=Ben |last=Shapiro |number=25712847277 |title=Israelis like to build. Arabs like to bomb crap and live in open sewage. This is not a difficult issue. #settlementsrock |date=September 27, 2010}}{{cite news |title=Actor Mark Duplass apologizes for praising conservative pundit Ben Shapiro |work=Vox |url=https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/7/19/17593174/mark-duplass-ben-shapiro-apology |url-status=live |access-date=September 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402202640/https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/7/19/17593174/mark-duplass-ben-shapiro-apology |archive-date=April 2, 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Shapiro |first1=Ben |date=July 20, 2018 |title=So, Here's A Giant List Of All The Dumb Stuff I've Ever Done (Don't Worry, I'll Keep Updating It) |url=https://www.dailywire.com/news/33362/so-heres-giant-list-all-dumb-stuff-ive-ever-done-ben-shapiro |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329051813/https://www.dailywire.com/news/33362/so-heres-giant-list-all-dumb-stuff-ive-ever-done-ben-shapiro |archive-date=March 29, 2019 |access-date=June 17, 2019 |website=The Daily Wire |language=en}}

In a 2008 Townhall opinion piece, Shapiro expressed support for Israel's settlement building in the occupied Palestinian territories in the West Bank.{{cite news |last1=Shapiro |first1=Ben |title=The Case for Israeli Settlements |url=https://townhall.com/columnists/benshapiro/2008/06/04/the-case-for-israeli-settlements-n1059155 |work=Townhall |date=June 4, 2008 |access-date=May 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526130448/https://townhall.com/columnists/benshapiro/2008/06/04/the-case-for-israeli-settlements-n1059155 |archive-date=May 26, 2019 |url-status=live}}

In 2019, Shapiro said that Democratic congresswoman Ilhan Omar, whose comments about American support for Israel were accused of evoking antisemitic tropes, and the white supremacist San Diego shooter, hold "a lot of the same opinions about Jews."{{cite news|date=May 2, 2019|title=Ben Shapiro Slammed for Comparing San Diego Synagogue Shooter to Ilhan Omar|work=Haaretz|url=https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/ben-shapiro-slammed-for-comparing-san-diego-synagogue-shooter-to-ilhan-omar-1.7188495|url-status=live|access-date=May 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526130447/https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/ben-shapiro-slammed-for-comparing-san-diego-synagogue-shooter-to-ilhan-omar-1.7188495|archive-date=May 26, 2019}}

During the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis, Shapiro published an op-ed in The Marshall News Messenger in which he stated that the reason behind the conflict between Israel and Hamas is that "Israel exists, and Hamas wishes it didn't exist". Shapiro additionally stated that Hamas's rocket attacks "would entail an anti-Semitic genocide", adding that Hamas was spending "tens of millions of dollars in foreign aid" on building "terror tunnels and rocket capacity to strike at the Jews." Shapiro argued that Hamas was positioning its rockets in civilian areas, seeking to "force Israel to kill Palestinian civilians so Hamas can propagandize about supposed Israeli human rights atrocities." He stated that Hamas was killing not only Jews but also Israeli Arabs and foreign workers. He also criticized the media coverage of the crisis, labeling it as "absurd"{{cite web |first=Ben |last=Shapiro |url=https://www.marshallnewsmessenger.com/opinion/ben-shapiro-if-you-side-with-hamas-your-anti-semitism-is-showing/article_b68294ba-b9b7-11eb-8879-c32c7cd0d4c7.html |title=Ben Shapiro: If you side with Hamas, your anti-semitism is showing |date=May 20, 2021 |access-date=June 25, 2021 |work=The Marshall News Messenger |archive-date=June 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210630160901/https://www.marshallnewsmessenger.com/opinion/ben-shapiro-if-you-side-with-hamas-your-anti-semitism-is-showing/article_b68294ba-b9b7-11eb-8879-c32c7cd0d4c7.html |url-status=live }} and specifically criticized The New York Times for its opinion article featuring a Palestinian writer titled "The Myth of Coexistence in Israel". Shapiro stated that an image used in the article, a map of Israel, was "so bad that MSNBC, which used the image in 2015, had to retract it and admit it was factually incorrect."{{cite web |first=Aaron |last=Bandler |url=https://jewishjournal.com/news/337152/former-adl-head-says-hes-canceling-nyt-subscription-over-front-page-blood-libel/ |title=Former ADL Head Says He's Canceling NYT Subscription Over Front Page "Blood Libel" |date=May 28, 2021 |access-date=June 25, 2021 |work=Jewish Journal |archive-date=June 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210629212325/https://jewishjournal.com/news/337152/former-adl-head-says-hes-canceling-nyt-subscription-over-front-page-blood-libel/ |url-status=live }}

In an October 2024 appearance co-sponsored by The Daily Wire and the Young American's Foundation at the University of California, Los Angeles, Shapiro was asked whether or not he'd condone the actions of the Israeli Defense Forces and Netanyahu-led Israeli government amidst the deaths of over 40,000 people during the ongoing Gaza war. He responded "I don't just condone [their] actions, I celebrate and laud them". In the same statement, he claimed that the Israeli government has gone through "such extraordinary efforts not to kill civilians" that they have managed to have "the best civilian-to-terrorist kill ratio in the history of urban warfare". Furthermore, he blamed the Palestinian casualties on Hamas, which he believes uses civilians as human shields.{{Cite web |last=Rosenfeld |first=Reuven |date=2024-10-22 |title=Ben Shapiro Defends Israel's Actions in Gaza: 'I Celebrate and Laud Them' |url=https://vinnews.com/2024/10/22/ben-shapiro-defends-israels-actions-in-gaza-i-celebrate-and-laud-them/ |access-date=2024-10-23 |website=VIN News |language=en-US}}

= Military policy =

In a 2002 article, Shapiro wrote, "I am getting really sick of people who whine about 'civilian casualties'... when I see in the newspapers that civilians in Afghanistan or the West Bank were killed by American or Israeli troops, I don't really care". Shapiro declared that "One American soldier is worth far more than an Afghan civilian", accusing Afghan civilians of being "fundamentalist Muslims" who provide cover for terrorists or give them money.{{cite web |last1=Shapiro |first1=Ben |title=Enemy 'civilian casualties' ok by me |url=https://townhall.com/columnists/benshapiro/2002/07/25/enemy-civilian-casualties-ok-by-me-n1391583 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190325150422/https://townhall.com/columnists/benshapiro/2002/07/25/enemy-civilian-casualties-ok-by-me-n1391583 |archive-date=March 25, 2019 |access-date=March 25, 2019 |website=Townhall |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2018-07-20 |title=So, Here's A Giant List Of All The Dumb Stuff I've Ever Done (Don't Worry, I'll Keep Updating It) |url=https://www.dailywire.com/news/so-heres-giant-list-all-dumb-stuff-ive-ever-done-ben-shapiro |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=The Daily Wire |language=en |archive-date=May 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240526151951/https://www.dailywire.com/news/so-heres-giant-list-all-dumb-stuff-ive-ever-done-ben-shapiro |url-status=live }} Shapiro later apologized for these comments, stating that the 2002 article was "just a bad piece, plain and simple, and something I wish I'd never written". He said that while he still partially agreed with his article's main point—"that we must calculate the risk to American services members when we design rules of engagement"—he "expressed [that point] in the worst possible way, and simplified the issue beyond the bounds of morality (particularly by doubting the civilian status of some civilians)".{{Primary source inline|date=September 2022}}

Shapiro supported the 2003 invasion of Iraq, arguing that "China is a dictatorship. North Korea is a dictatorship. Saudi Arabia, Libya, Syria, Pakistan and Egypt are all dictatorships. We can't overthrow all of those regimes simply to free their citizens. We have to focus on those regimes that endanger American security."{{cite news |last1=Shapiro |first1=Ben |date=August 10, 2005 |title=Why war in Iraq is right for America |work=Townhall |url=https://townhall.com/columnists/benshapiro/2005/08/10/why-war-in-iraq-is-right-for-america-n1216871 |url-status=live |access-date=May 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526130447/https://townhall.com/columnists/benshapiro/2005/08/10/why-war-in-iraq-is-right-for-america-n1216871 |archive-date=May 26, 2019}}

= Race =

Shapiro has stated that, while African-Americans were historically victims of injustice in the United States, he does not believe in the existence of widespread systemic injustice today. In 2017, Shapiro stated that "the idea that black people in the United States are disproportionately poor because America is racist; that's just not true."{{cite web |date=September 16, 2017 |title=Ben Shapiro: Teaching Minorities They Are Perpetual Victims is False, Backward, And Hurts Them |url=https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2017/09/16/ben_shapiro_teaching_minorities_they_are_perpetual_victims_is_false_backward_and_hurts_them.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190604174429/https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2017/09/16/ben_shapiro_teaching_minorities_they_are_perpetual_victims_is_false_backward_and_hurts_them.html |archive-date=June 4, 2019 |access-date=November 1, 2018 |website=Real Clear Politics}} Shapiro has dismissed the idea that the United States was founded on slavery and argued that America was founded in spite of slavery.{{cite web |last=Boyd |first=Charles |date=December 10, 2017 |title=Ben Shapiro Tries To Prove That the U.S. |url=https://medium.com/@minorityofonepodcast/ben-shapiro-tries-to-prove-that-the-u-s-2d3c05a822bd |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181113165636/https://medium.com/@minorityofonepodcast/ben-shapiro-tries-to-prove-that-the-u-s-2d3c05a822bd |archive-date=November 13, 2018 |access-date=November 1, 2018 |website=Medium}}{{Cite web |date=November 22, 2017 |title=WATCH: Shapiro Deconstructs The Myth 'America Was Founded On Slavery' In New Video |url=https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-shapiro-deconstructs-myth-america-was-daily-wire |access-date=November 14, 2022 |website=The Daily Wire |language=en}}

Shapiro was one of several conservative commentators condemning Representative Steve King (R-IA) after King's January 2019 comments in defense of the terms "white supremacy" and "white nationalism". Shapiro called for King to be censured, and supported King's 2020 primary challenger Randy Feenstra.{{cite web |last=Wise |first=Justin |date=January 10, 2019 |title=Ben Shapiro urges Congress to censure Steve King after he questions why term 'white supremacist' is offensive |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/424731-ben-shapiro-urges-congress-censure-steve-king-after-he-questions-why-term |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190111012523/https://thehill.com/homenews/house/424731-ben-shapiro-urges-congress-censure-steve-king-after-he-questions-why-term |archive-date=January 11, 2019 |access-date=January 11, 2019 |language=en |newspaper=The Hill}}

Shapiro has criticized Black Lives Matter and has stated that "the Black Lives Matter movement did indeed begin with protests about police brutality but quickly morphed into broader debates over the validity of looting and rioting, tearing down historic statues, slavery reparations and defunding the police."{{cite web |date=July 11, 2020 |title=Ben Shapiro: Not all Black lives matter to Black Lives Matter |url=https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/Op-Ed/2020/07/11/Ben-Shapiro-Black-lives-matter-hypocrisy-violence-Davon-McNeal/stories/202007110006 |publisher=post-gazette.com |access-date=March 20, 2021 |archive-date=November 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101070012/https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/Op-Ed/2020/07/11/Ben-Shapiro-Black-lives-matter-hypocrisy-violence-Davon-McNeal/stories/202007110006 |url-status=live }}{{Primary source inline |date=September 2022}}

After the trial of Derek Chauvin, where police officer Derek Chauvin was convicted of the murder of George Floyd, Shapiro stated that Chauvin should not have been found guilty of murder, and instead opined that Floyd died of a drug overdose rather than as a result of Chauvin's actions.{{cite web |title=BREAKING: Derek Chauvin Found Guilty On All Charges |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTgge2bCDbk&feature=youtu.be |website=YouTube| date=April 20, 2021 }}{{cite web |title=Fact check: Fentanyl present in George Floyd's system but not enough to cause his death, experts say |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2021/04/16/fact-check-fentanyl-george-floyd-not-enough-to-cause-death/7239448002/ |website=USA Today}} On March 4, 2025, Shapiro launched a website urging President Trump to pardon Chauvin, though this would not cover Chauvin's state conviction for second-degree murder, for which he is serving a 22.5-year sentence.{{cite news|last=Vaidyanathan|first=Vaishnavi|date=March 4, 2025|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/can-trump-pardon-derek-chauvin-ben-shapiro-pushes-for-ex-minneapolis-cops-clemency-101741119578301.html|title=Can Trump pardon Derek Chauvin? Ben Shapiro pushes for ex-Minneapolis cop's clemency|work=Hindustan Times|access-date=March 4, 2025}}{{cite news|last=Mesa|first=Jesus|date=March 4, 2025|url=https://www.newsweek.com/elon-musk-weighs-derek-chauvin-pardon-proposal-ben-shapiro-2039593|title=Elon Musk Weighs In on Derek Chauvin Pardon Proposal From Ben Shapiro|work=Newsweek|access-date=March 4, 2025|archive-date=March 5, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250305025830/https://www.newsweek.com/elon-musk-weighs-derek-chauvin-pardon-proposal-ben-shapiro-2039593|url-status=live}}

= Religion =

Shapiro practices Orthodox Judaism,{{cite web |title=Ben Shapiro, Real Time, and Public Jewishness |url=https://www.yahoo.com/now/ben-shapiro-real-time-public-030000754.html |access-date=January 18, 2022 |website=www.yahoo.com |date=August 27, 2021 |language=en-US |archive-date=August 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210827074942/https://www.yahoo.com/now/ben-shapiro-real-time-public-030000754.html |url-status=dead }} which he states informs his ideological positions. Shapiro wears a yarmulke, the traditional Jewish skullcap. In a 2011 tweet, Shapiro claimed that Judaism is plagued by "Bad Jews" who "largely vote Democrat".{{cite web |last1=Shapiro |first1=Ben |title=The Jewish people has always been plagued by Bad Jews, who undermine it from within. In America, those Bad Jews largely vote Democrat. |url=https://twitter.com/benshapiro/status/133918830073352192 |website=Twitter |date=November 8, 2011 |access-date=July 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200319225943/https://twitter.com/benshapiro/status/133918830073352192 |archive-date=March 19, 2020 |url-status=live}} The same year, he wrote an article titled "Jews in Name Only" in which he claimed "Jews who vote for Obama are, by and large, Jews In Name Only (JINOs)" and that such Jews "do not care about Israel" or that they "care about it less than abortion, gay marriage and global warming".{{cite web |last1=Shapiro |first1=Ben |title=Jews in Name Only |url=https://townhall.com/columnists/benshapiro/2011/05/25/jews-in-name-only-n783739 |website=Townhall |date=May 25, 2011 |access-date=July 24, 2020 |archive-date=April 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200413212746/https://townhall.com/columnists/benshapiro/2011/05/25/jews-in-name-only-n783739 |url-status=live}} During the 2016 presidential election, he wrote an article titled "No, It Doesn't Matter That Bernie Sanders Is Ethnically Jewish. He's a Jew In Name Only."{{cite web |last1=Shapiro |first1=Ben |title=No, It Doesn't Matter That Bernie Sanders Is Ethnically Jewish. He's a Jew In Name Only. |url=https://www.dailywire.com/news/3345/no-it-doesnt-matter-bernie-sanders-ethnically-ben-shapiro |website=The Daily Wire |date=February 12, 2016 |access-date=July 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160214221708/https://www.dailywire.com/news/3345/no-it-doesnt-matter-bernie-sanders-ethnically-ben-shapiro |archive-date=February 14, 2016}} Despite being a practicing Jew, he has expressed admiration for Christianity and its role in the building of Western civilization.{{Cite web |date=2019-04-18 |title=Ben Shapiro: Judeo-Christian Values 'Made the West Great' |url=https://cmsedit.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2019/april/ben-shapiro-judeo-christian-values-made-the-west-great |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=CBN News |language=en}}

In October 2022, Shapiro condemned Kanye West's antisemitic comments, comparing them to propaganda in Nazi Germany. He also called West "unstable".{{Cite web |title=Ben Shapiro says Kanye West is spouting antisemitism that resembles Nazi propaganda |url=https://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/jns/ben-shapiro-says-kanye-west-is-spouting-antisemitism-that-resembles-nazi-propaganda/article_e1259bb1-c7b6-5135-b5e6-9464d8bd6bb3.html |access-date=October 26, 2022 |website=Cleveland Jewish News |date=October 20, 2022 |language=en}}

In a 2014 YouTube video entitled "The Myth of the Tiny Radical Muslim Minority", Shapiro said, "We're above 800 million Muslims who are radicalized – more than half the Muslims on earth. That's not a minority... the myth of the tiny radical Muslim minority is just that: it's a myth". PolitiFact and Channel 4 News in the UK rejected his methodology, arguing that support for Sharia law was not sufficient to label an individual a "radical Muslim", and that "The meaning of Sharia law varies from sect to sect and nation to nation." Channel 4 News also criticized his use of polls with small sample sizes as accurately representing the views of tens of millions of Muslims, though acknowledged that "some polls do show that very illiberal values and concepts can be prevalent in some Muslim countries".{{cite news |title=Ben Shapiro says a majority of Muslims are radicals |url=https://www.politifact.com/punditfact/statements/2014/nov/05/ben-shapiro/shapiro-says-majority-muslims-are-radicals/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410124454/https://www.politifact.com/punditfact/statements/2014/nov/05/ben-shapiro/shapiro-says-majority-muslims-are-radicals/ |archive-date=April 10, 2019 |access-date=March 20, 2019 |work=@politifact |language=en}}{{cite news |title=FactCheck: how many of the world's Muslims are radicalised? |url=https://www.channel4.com/news/factcheck/factcheck-worlds-muslims-radicalised |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518202306/https://www.channel4.com/news/factcheck/factcheck-worlds-muslims-radicalised |archive-date=May 18, 2019 |access-date=March 20, 2019 |work=Channel 4 News}}

In the 2017 Quebec City mosque shooting, six Muslims were killed by Alexandre Bissonnette. Police presented evidence that Bissonnette checked Shapiro's Twitter feed 93 times in the month leading up to the shooting.{{cite news |last=Riga |first=Andy |date=May 5, 2018 |title=I didn't incite mosque shooter, conservative pundit Ben Shapiro insists |url=https://montrealgazette.com/news/quebec/i-didnt-incite-mosque-shooter-conservative-pundit-ben-shapiro-insists |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191004040954/https://montrealgazette.com/news/quebec/i-didnt-incite-mosque-shooter-conservative-pundit-ben-shapiro-insists |archive-date=October 4, 2019 |access-date=September 23, 2019 |newspaper=Montreal Gazette |language=en}} Shapiro condemned the attack and said he did not incite the shooting.{{cite news |last=Coletta |first=Amanda |date=April 18, 2018 |title=Canada mosque shooter Alexandre Bissonnette obsessively checked these Twitter accounts before the attack |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2018/04/18/quebec-city-mosque-shooter-scoured-twitter-for-trump-right-wing-figures-before-attack/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809093103/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2018/04/18/quebec-city-mosque-shooter-scoured-twitter-for-trump-right-wing-figures-before-attack/ |archive-date=August 9, 2019 |access-date=September 23, 2019 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}{{cite news |last1=Visser |first1=Josh |last2=Lamoureux |first2=Mack |last3=Berman |first3=Sarah |date=April 16, 2018 |title=Here Are the Far-Right Conspiracists the Quebec City Mosque Shooter Followed |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/here-are-the-far-right-conspiracists-the-quebec-city-mosque-shooter-followed/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190611033727/https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/ywxeyg/here-are-the-far-right-conspiracists-the-quebec-city-mosque-shooter-followed |archive-date=June 11, 2019 |access-date=September 23, 2019 |work=Vice |language=en-CA}}

= United States politics =

In 2006, Shapiro called for sedition laws to be reinstated. He cited speeches critical of the George W. Bush administration by Democrats Al Gore, John Kerry and Howard Dean as "disloyal" and seditious.{{cite book |last=Scott |first=Peter Dale |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=op39ymd2um0C&q=%22ben+shapiro%22+%22sedition%22&pg=PA243 |title=The Road to 9/11: Wealth, Empire, and the Future of America |date=September 4, 2007 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-92994-4 |page=243 |language=en |access-date=January 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407070619/https://books.google.com/books?id=op39ymd2um0C&pg=PA243#v=onepage&q=%22ben%20shapiro%22%20%22sedition%22 |archive-date=April 7, 2020 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=The Cool Kid's Philosopher |website=Current Affairs |url=https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/2017/12/the-cool-kids-philosopher |url-status=live |access-date=October 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512232514/https://static.currentaffairs.org/2017/12/the-cool-kids-philosopher |archive-date=May 12, 2019}} Shapiro retracted these views in a 2018 column, stating that his 2006 column "absolutely blows. It's garbage" and adding that the idea of sedition laws was "inherently idiotic". Shapiro later described President Barack Obama's 2010 State of the Union Address as "philosophically fascist."{{cite web |date=February 3, 2010 |title=Obama's Philosophically Fascist State of the Union Address |url=https://townhall.com/columnists/benshapiro/2010/02/03/obamas-philosophically-fascist-state-of-the-union-address-n1331445 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190618233452/https://townhall.com/columnists/benshapiro/2010/02/03/obamas-philosophically-fascist-state-of-the-union-address-n1331445 |archive-date=June 18, 2019 |website=Townhall}}

Bibliography

{{cite book |last=Shapiro |first=Ben |author-mask=1 |ref=none |title=Primetime Propaganda: The True Hollywood Story of How the Left Took Over Your TV |publisher=HarperCollins |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-06209210-6}}
{{cite book |last=Shapiro |first=Ben |author-mask=1 |ref=none |title=The Right Side of History: How Reason and Moral Purpose Made the West Great |publisher=Broadside Books |year=2019 |isbn=978-0062857903}}

References

External links

[http://dailywire.com/ The Daily Wire]
[http://members.calbar.ca.gov/fal/Member/Detail/254456 California Bar profile]
{{IMDb name|5458588}}
{{C-SPAN|1018859}}
[http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/314446-1 In Depth interview with Shapiro, September 1, 2013]

{{Portal bar|Biography|Conservatism|California|Florida|Internet|Journalism|Judaism|Politics|United States}}

Category:1984 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century American businesspeople

Category:21st-century American Jews

Category:21st-century American male writers

Category:21st-century American non-fiction writers

Category:Activists from Los Angeles

Category:American anti-abortion activists

Category:American chief executives in the mass media industry

Category:American columnists

Category:American conservative talk radio hosts