The Feud Between Ben Shapiro and Nick Fuentes Enters Mainstream GOP Politics
The longstanding conflict between white supremacist streamer Nick Fuentes and Jewish conservative podcaster Ben Shapiro, typically confined to online spaces, has escalated into mainstream GOP discourse. The tension intensified when Tucker Carlson, a former Fox News host turned podcaster, featured Fuentes—known for his extreme antisemitic views—in an hourlong interview discussing U.S. support for Israel in Gaza.
Heritage Foundation’s Unexpected Involvement
Even the Heritage Foundation, a prominent conservative think tank, has become entangled in this intra-right controversy following Carlson’s promotion of Fuentes. Historically, despite Carlson’s critical stance on Israel and use of some antisemitic tropes, his prior conspiracy theories such as Ukraine developing bioweapons or COVID-19 being bioengineered to spare Ashkenazi Jews did not gain significant political traction.
Nick Fuentes' Rise in Right-Wing Circles
Fuentes, who openly praises Hitler as “really fucking cool,” surprisingly gained new legitimacy among right-wing audiences through Carlson’s platform. This represented a notable shift outside their usual online sphere, drawing attention from a broader conservative audience.
“Hitler was really fucking cool.”
This platforming of an overtly antisemitic conspiracy theorist marks a concerning development within GOP politics.
Summary
The online feud between Ben Shapiro and Nick Fuentes has now moved into mainstream conservative politics, underscoring the growing influence of extremist views within parts of the GOP.