The Feud Between Ben Shapiro and Nick Fuentes Enters Mainstream GOP Politics
Even the Heritage Foundation has become involved in this highly online conflict. After Tucker Carlson gave a platform to a virulently antisemitic livestreamer, the controversy within the right-wing community expanded beyond the internet.
Traditionally, the ongoing feud between white supremacist streamer Nick Fuentes and Jewish conservative podcaster Ben Shapiro — who hold mutual hostility for clear reasons — remained contained within online spaces. However, last week the dispute escalated when Fuentes, a notorious antisemite who openly stated that “Hitler was really fucking cool,” gained new legitimacy on the right.
Tucker Carlson, the former Fox News host turned podcaster, invited Fuentes on his show for an hourlong interview discussing the US government's support of Israel’s war in Gaza. Despite Carlson’s history of criticizing Israel and occasional use of antisemitic tropes, this move signaled a notable shift.
"Hitler was really fucking cool."
Carlson commands a large audience and significant influence within the GOP, yet many conspiracy theories he previously promoted — such as Ukraine developing bioweapons, COVID-19 engineered to spare Ashkenazi Jews, or male infertility treated by infrared light — never gained meaningful political traction. Hosting a blatant antisemitic conspiracy theorist represented a departure from these past controversies.
Key Figures and Context
- Nick Fuentes: White supremacist streamer and unrepentant antisemite.
- Ben Shapiro: Jewish conservative podcaster and frequent critic of Fuentes.
- Tucker Carlson: Influential Fox News host turned podcaster with a history of controversial views.
- Heritage Foundation: Conservative think tank now caught up in the fallout.
Summary
This feud, once confined online, has crossed into mainstream conservative politics, highlighting the increasing influence of extremist figures within the GOP.