The American right is engulfed in a bitter internal conflict, exposing deep ideological rifts that threaten to reshape the Republican party. This turmoil was ignited by Tucker Carlson's recent two-hour interview with white nationalist Nick Fuentes, a figure previously confined to the extremist fringes.
The Mainstreaming of Extremism
Nick Fuentes, a 27-year-old from Illinois, has built a substantial online following through his nightly livestreams on Rumble. His platform promotes dangerous ideologies including antisemitism, racial purity, and admiration for Adolf Hitler, whom he once described as 'really fucking cool'. Despite being banned from major platforms for hate speech, Elon Musk reinstated his X account last year, dramatically increasing his reach.
Fuentes's recent ascent from the far-right margins towards mainstream recognition represents a significant shift in American conservative politics. His friendly exchange with Carlson, watched by millions, covered shared scepticism towards Christian Zionists and included Fuentes casually mentioning his admiration for Joseph Stalin.
Institutional Crisis at Heritage Foundation
The fallout has been particularly explosive at the Heritage Foundation, one of America's most influential conservative thinktanks. President Kevin Roberts initially defended Carlson after the interview, describing critics as a 'venomous coalition' trying to cancel him. This triggered internal rebellion among staff who recognised the antisemitic connotations of such language.
During an emotional all-hands meeting that leaked online, Roberts admitted 'I made a mistake' and claimed unfamiliarity with Fuentes's extremist background. The controversy exposed a generational divide within the organisation, with veteran staff invoking William F Buckley's tradition of purging extremists while younger employees expressed sympathy with the new right's positions.
Broader Conservative Landscape Fractures
The schism extends beyond Heritage. At the Intercollegiate Studies Institute, two board members resigned in protest after the organisation platformed Curtis Yarvin, who has defended slavery and advocated for replacing American democracy with dictatorship. Their public letter warned that conservatism faces an 'existential' crisis as radical elements infiltrate mainstream institutions.
This conflict represents a fundamental challenge to the Reagan-era conservative consensus that combined social conservatism, foreign policy hawkishness and free-market principles. The new right, influenced by 'post-liberal' Catholic intellectuals and nationalist thinkers, seeks to overthrow what they see as a compromised establishment.
As Republican vice-president JD Vance carefully navigates these waters and Trump remains above direct criticism, the Fuentes-Carlson controversy has torn open wounds that many believe will fully erupt when Trump leaves office. The Republican party now faces an impossible squeeze between its strident Maga mainstream and an increasingly emboldened far right.
