American Vice President JD Vance has delivered a blisteringly personal and profane rebuke to far-right commentator Nick Fuentes, following a series of attacks targeting Vance's wife, Usha.
A Stern Defence and a Two-Word Policy
In a candid interview with the outlet UnHerd, Vance left no room for ambiguity regarding his stance on critics of his family. His official policy, he declared, is that anyone who attacks his wife 'can eat s***.' This stark warning was directed not only at Fuentes but also at former Biden press secretary Jen Psaki, whom he referenced by name.
The vice president's forceful comments come amid growing pressure for him to publicly condemn Fuentes, a controversial figure within the broader 'Make America Great Again' movement. Fuentes has repeatedly targeted Usha Vance, using a derogatory term, 'Jeet,' as an insult referencing her Indian heritage.
The Roots of the Controversy
The animosity from Fuentes escalated after Vance was selected as Donald Trump's running mate for the 2024 election. Fuentes questioned Vance's loyalty to white identity politics, pointedly asking, 'Who is this guy, really? Do we really expect that the guy who has an Indian wife and named their kid Vivek is going to support white identity?'
Fuentes commands a significant online following but is notorious for a history of inflammatory and discriminatory remarks. He has previously stated he 'loves Hitler' and believes the Holocaust 'is exaggerated,' positions that have made him a deeply divisive figure. With speculation mounting that Vance may run for president in 2028, calls for him to distance himself from Fuentes and his supporters have intensified.
Broader Condemnation and MAGA Infighting
In his UnHerd interview, Vance extended his condemnation beyond the personal attacks, issuing a sharp rebuke of Fuentes's anti-Semitic views. 'Anti-Semitism, and all forms of ethnic hatred, have no place in the conservative movement,' Vance stated. He elaborated that attacking someone based on their race or religion was 'disgusting.'
The controversy has erupted into open warfare among prominent conservative voices. The rift was on full display at the Turning Point USA AmericaFest conference in Phoenix, Arizona, where Vance had just spoken.
There, commentator Ben Shapiro launched a fierce attack on fellow media figure Tucker Carlson for hosting Fuentes on his show in October. Shapiro labelled Carlson and others as 'frauds' and 'grifters,' warning that 'charlatans' trafficking in conspiracy were putting the conservative movement in 'serious danger.'
Carlson, speaking from the same stage, fired back. He called Shapiro 'pompous' and mocked calls for deplatforming at such an event. Carlson defended his right to ask questions and criticised what he described as forced 'ritual denunciations,' while also asserting that anti-Semitism is 'immoral.'
The very public spat underscores a significant and chaotic division within the movement, with Vance's defence of his wife acting as a catalyst for a wider debate about the boundaries of acceptable discourse and the influence of extremist figures.
