Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson has openly dismissed concerns from one of the Republican Party's most senior figures, Speaker Mike Johnson, who labelled his decision to host the controversial and antisemitic commentator Nick Fuentes a 'big mistake'. The incident has ignited a significant debate within the GOP about its relationship with the far-right.
A Clash of Ideals Within the GOP
The controversy erupted weeks ago when Carlson featured Fuentes on his popular podcast. Fuentes is a known figure who has explicitly stated his goal is 'total Aryan victory' and has called for a 'holy war' against Jewish people. He has also made deeply offensive jokes, including likening Holocaust victims to cookies in an oven.
This embrace of Fuentes by a prominent media personality like Carlson forced a difficult conversation among Republicans. The party is now grappling with how closely it should align itself with its dissident and often discriminatory far-right flank.
Speaker Johnson's Firm Stance
Speaker Mike Johnson, a devout Christian, left no room for ambiguity in his condemnation. He described some of Fuentes's statements as 'blatantly antisemitic, racist, and anti-American'. Johnson confirmed he personally spoke to Carlson about the issue, telling The Hill, 'I spoke briefly with Tucker about that... I think giving Nick Fuentes that platform is a big mistake.'
Johnson emphasised that while free speech must be protected, there is a responsibility not to amplify such views. 'All speech is to be protected, cherished as part of the hallmark of America,' he said. 'What I’m saying is that we have a responsibility... not to give it a platform.' He revealed he had listened to a compilation of Fuentes's remarks, describing them as 'vile, terrible stuff' that was too offensive to repeat on the House floor.
Carlson's Defiant Response
Despite this high-level counsel, Tucker Carlson remained unrepentant. When pressed on the decision by fellow commentator Megyn Kelly, Carlson responded with defiance. He told her, 'You know, do your own interview the way that you want to do it. You’re not my editor. Buzz off.'
This public spat highlights a new and pressing concern for the Republican leadership: the emergence of antisemitism within elements of the political right. Both Carlson and Fuentes command substantial, though not mainstream, audiences. Fuentes has roughly half a million followers on Rumble, where his shows regularly attract hundreds of thousands of views. One recent episode discussing Jewish media figures Ben Shapiro and Bari Weiss garnered nearly a million views.
The event underscores a deepening ideological rift, pitting the principle of unrestricted free speech against the political perils of platforming extreme and hateful rhetoric.
