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White nationalist Nick Fuentes has launched a verbal attack against Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, vowing to campaign against the former presidential candidate’s bid for Ohio governor in 2026.
During a Tuesday livestream filled with slurs and inflammatory language, Fuentes declared his intention to actively work against Ramaswamy’s gubernatorial ambitions. “I think I’m going to go to Ohio and the word that we are looking for is denial. We have to deny Vivek Ramaswamy the governorship. This is the only race I care about in ’26. It’s the only one I care about,” Fuentes said, adding that he would not mind if a Democrat won the race instead.
The conflict stems from comments Ramaswamy made during a speech at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest conference last Friday, where he explicitly criticized Fuentes. While discussing his vision of American identity, Ramaswamy emphasized principles of merit, free speech, and rejection of ethnic hatred.
“If you believe in normalizing hatred toward any ethnic group, toward Whites, toward Blacks, toward Hispanics, toward Jews, toward Indians, you have no place in the future of the conservative movement, period,” Ramaswamy stated firmly. He went further, specifically referencing Fuentes: “If you believe, and you will forgive me for giving you an exact quote from our online commentator, Nick Fuentes. If you believe that Hitler was pretty f—— cool, you have no place in the future of the conservative movement.”
When asked for comment on Fuentes’ statements, a Ramaswamy campaign spokesperson told Fox News Digital, “We’re focused on the issues that matter most to Ohioans, not fringe voices that prefer a far-left Democrat to the Trump-endorsed conservative.”
Ramaswamy, who gained national prominence during his 2024 presidential campaign where he positioned himself as an entrepreneur and political outsider, announced his candidacy for Ohio governor in late February. The race will determine who succeeds term-limited Republican Governor Mike DeWine, who leaves office in January 2027.
The clash highlights growing tensions within conservative circles about the movement’s future direction and which voices should be welcomed or excluded. Ramaswamy has attempted to balance traditional Republican policy positions with a message that defines American identity through civic principles rather than ethnic background.
In his AmericaFest speech, Ramaswamy outlined his vision: “What does it mean to be an American in the year 2026? It means we believe in those ideals of 1776. It means we believe in merit, that the best person gets the job regardless of their skin color.”
He also emphasized free speech protections for all viewpoints, stating, “Even for those who disagree with us, from Nick Fuentes to Jimmy Kimmel, you get to speak your mind in the open without the government censoring you.”
This distinction between protecting free speech rights while rejecting certain ideologies underscores Ramaswamy’s attempt to define boundaries within the conservative movement. The public clash with Fuentes represents a broader struggle within Republican politics about extremism, inclusion, and the party’s future direction.
The 2026 Ohio gubernatorial race is already shaping up to be significant nationally, with Ramaswamy carrying the endorsement of former President Donald Trump. Political observers will be watching closely to see how this early controversy might affect Ramaswamy’s campaign and whether it signals deeper divisions within Republican politics in the post-2024 landscape.
As the race develops, Ramaswamy’s team appears determined to focus on state-specific issues rather than becoming entangled in ideological battles with controversial figures like Fuentes.
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9 Comments
Fuentes’ tirade is the kind of ugly, toxic rhetoric that poisons our politics. Ramaswamy is right to reject it outright. Voters in Ohio and across the country should demand leaders who focus on uniting, not dividing, Americans along racial or ethnic lines.
Ramaswamy is absolutely correct that ethnic hatred has no place in the conservative movement or anywhere else. Fuentes’ vicious attacks are the exact opposite of the unifying, merit-based vision Ramaswamy is championing. I hope Ohioans see through this and back principled leaders.
This is a troubling development, but I’m glad to see Ramaswamy taking a clear stand against Fuentes’ divisive tactics. Voters should support leaders who focus on bringing people together, not driving them apart along racial or ethnic lines.
As a voter, I’m deeply concerned by Fuentes’ hateful rhetoric and threats. Ramaswamy is taking the right approach in firmly rejecting ethnic bigotry. We need more leaders willing to stand up to extremism and champion unifying, merit-based values.
This is a troubling escalation of rhetoric from Fuentes. While free speech is important, using it to incite hatred and threaten political opponents crosses a line. Ramaswamy seems to be taking a principled stand against extremism – I hope others in the GOP follow his lead.
As a concerned citizen, I’m troubled by Fuentes’ vicious attacks on Ramaswamy. Ramaswamy is right to unequivocally condemn ethnic hatred and bigotry. We need more political leaders willing to stand up to extremism and champion unifying, merit-based values.
Fuentes’ tirade is exactly the kind of toxic, divisive behavior that poisons our politics. Ramaswamy is right to condemn it in the strongest terms. Voters should demand leaders who will stand up to hate and work to unite Americans, not sow further division.
Wow, the vitriol and hate from Fuentes is appalling. Ramaswamy is right to condemn ethnic bigotry – that has no place in politics or anywhere else. I hope Ohioans reject Fuentes’ divisive tactics and support leaders who bring people together, not drive them apart.
While free speech is vital, Fuentes is clearly crossing the line into hate speech and threats. Ramaswamy is right to forcefully condemn this. We need political leaders who will stand up to extremism and bring people together, not divide them along racial lines.