Conservative pundit and provocateur Ben Shapiro took on 25 supporters of Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris in a debate video published Thursday.
Posted to digital media company Jubilee’s YouTube channel as part of its Surrounded series, which aims to confront ideological and political differences head on, Shapiro sat in the middle of a circle, presented his arguments—and had them challenged claim-by-claim.
The first point of discussion was Shapiro’s assertion that Democratic candidate Kamala Harris’ efforts to prioritize diversity, equity and inclusion in her policies are “destructive.”
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When asked from a supporter why centering DEI is a “destructive thing,” Shapiro, co-founder of the Daily Wire, called it a “failure of logic” that “separates groups on the basis of race.”
He added, “Which is not actually the best way of bringing Americans together.”
The exchanges were mostly cordial, with Shapiro responding calmly with conservative talking points.
However, a trans man’s comments about men experiencing pregnancy, sexual assault and access to abortion rights left him visibly shaken.
“I‘ve experienced [sexual assault] and abortion rights affect me directly,” the man explained. “So if we are talking about the American Dream that you live, why don’t I have access to that? Because there is no legislation in the history of America that legislates a man’s body. So why does mine have to be legislated?”
“I’ve got a vagina,” the man added, to which a flustered Shapiro responded, “Um, I’m not interested in what your genitalia are.”
“Clearly you are, I mean it’s all over everything you make buddy,” the man replied in turn.
The rest of the discussion covered the Israel-Gaza war, benefits for asylum seekers, and Donald Trump’s non-committal to the peaceful transfer of power.
“He should have spoken earlier, I agree,” said Shapiro of Trump when addressing the moments that led up to the Jan. 6 insurrection. He added that he was “not going to defend his behavior.” But he still wants Trump to be president.
Shapiro hasn’t been the only conservative willing to sit in the hot seat and have their views challenged. In September, conservative Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk took on 25 college students to similar results, producing several viral social media moments. (One of the students featured in that video later debated a group of 20 Trump supporters, because of course content breeds content.)
At the end of the debate, Shapiro called the whole exercise “a lot of fun.”
“Other than a couple of minor hiccups, I think everybody was coming at this in good spirit and wanting to have a fun conversation,” he said. “There are a lot of intelligent people in the circle, and it’s fun to hear what they had to say.”
