Trump Silent on Far-Right Figures as Antisemitism Controversy Divides Republican Party

President Donald Trump, known for his sharp criticisms of political opponents, has notably refrained from condemning white nationalist Nick Fuentes and former Fox News host Tucker Carlson amid a growing controversy over antisemitism that has created deep divisions within the Republican Party.

In recent days, Trump has labeled Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene a traitor, mocked Rep. Thomas Massie about his second marriage following his first wife’s death, and called for comedian Seth Meyers to be fired from his late-night show. Yet when asked about the controversy surrounding Fuentes’ recent interview on Carlson’s show, where Fuentes made comments about “organized Jewry in America” that went unchallenged, Trump declined to criticize either figure.

“We are disappointed in President Trump,” said Morton Klein, president of the conservative Zionist Organization of America, adding that the former president should “rethink and retract” his comments.

The controversy has already engulfed one of the nation’s leading conservative institutions. The Heritage Foundation, a prominent conservative think tank, has been thrown into turmoil after its president, Kevin Roberts, initially refused to distance the organization from Carlson. The fallout led board member Robert George to resign on Monday, following a decision by an antisemitism task force to cut ties with Heritage.

Though Roberts has since apologized, George noted they “reached an impasse” because Roberts didn’t fully withdraw his original support for Carlson. In his resignation statement, George emphasized the importance of recognizing that every person, “irrespective of race, ethnicity, religion, or anything else,” possesses inherent dignity and rights.

The situation marks the second time Trump has been linked to Fuentes, following a previous dinner with the white nationalist at Mar-a-Lago between Trump’s terms in office. When questioned about the current controversy on Sunday, Trump praised Carlson, saying he “said good things about me over the years” and defended his right to interview anyone, adding, “If he wants to interview Nick Fuentes — I don’t know much about him — but if he wants to do it, get the word out. People have to decide.”

Fuentes promptly expressed gratitude on social media, posting “Thank you Mr. President!”

This reluctance to disavow far-right figures follows a pattern established during Trump’s first campaign and presidency. He initially declined to disavow support from white nationalist David Duke, claimed there were “very fine people on both sides” during racist violence in Charlottesville, and told the extremist Proud Boys to “stand back and stand by” during his reelection campaign.

Meanwhile, many prominent Republicans have openly condemned the spreading antisemitism. The National Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, which recently severed ties with the Heritage Foundation, organized a gathering in Washington titled “Exposing and Countering Extremism and Antisemitism on the Political Right.” The event featured U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council, and Ralph Reed of the Faith and Freedom Coalition.

“There is so much antisemitism around the world today, but what perhaps is most troubling to me is that it is not just rising up on the far left, which we expect,” Huckabee told attendees via video message.

The annual summit of the Republican Jewish Coalition similarly focused on condemning antisemitism within the party—a departure from original plans to celebrate the Gaza ceasefire and the return of Hamas-held hostages. During the event, college students waved signs reading “Tucker is not MAGA.”

Matthew Brooks, executive director of the Republican Jewish Coalition, has described the situation as “the early stages of an undeclared civil war within the Republican Party, as it relates to Israel, and antisemitism and the Jewish community.”

As the 2024 election season intensifies, the issue of antisemitism, which has percolated across the political spectrum, will likely be a recurring political theme. For conservatives, Fuentes’ continued influence represents a crucial test of whether the movement is willing to accommodate extremist elements within its political coalition.