How a Nazi debate is tearing at the Republican coalition in the US

The immediate trigger was a friendly interview conducted by Tucker Carlson with white nationalist Nick Fuentes, a figure who has openly praised Hitler and Stalin

For years, prominent Republicans in the US dismissed accusations that the right had a serious antisemitism problem. Jewish conservatives often pointed to hostility toward Israel on the political left and highlighted Donald Trump’s strong support for the Israeli government as evidence that the Republican Party stood firmly with Jewish communities. But a series of recent controversies has forced the issue into the open. High-profile interviews, internal party disputes and rising extremist rhetoric online have pushed Republicans into an uncomfortable public argument about something that once seemed settled: the rejection of Nazism and antisemitism, the New York Times reported.

A controversy that refused to fade

The immediate trigger was a friendly interview conducted by Tucker Carlson with white nationalist Nick Fuentes, a figure who has openly praised Hitler and Stalin. President Trump defended Carlson, prompting alarm among Jewish Republicans and mainstream conservatives who felt they were suddenly obliged to restate the obvious. Lawmakers publicly declared that Nazis were evil, and some expressed disbelief that such statements were necessary. Republican speakers at the Republican Jewish Coalition’s annual gathering voiced concern, while activists like Laura Loomer argued that the party had a real Nazi problem.

An ideological split becomes visible

These tensions reflect broader divides within the party. While some Republicans condemn extremist figures and rhetoric, others frame the backlash as an attack on free speech or accuse critics of virtue signalling. Carlson remains influential among conservatives, and his supporters argue that debates around platforming extremist voices are distractions. At the same time, prominent Republicans such as Speaker Mike Johnson have condemned antisemitic messaging, trying to draw a clearer line. Many Jewish Republicans continue to support Trump because of his military backing of Israel and proposals for campus crackdowns, despite discomfort with figures like Fuentes.

The role of social media and fringe spaces

Social media has amplified the problem. Conspiracy theories, Holocaust denial and revisionist histories circulate freely online and find audiences through podcasts and messaging platforms. A leaked Telegram chat revealed young Republican activists joking about Hitler and the Holocaust. A Trump nominee withdrew from confirmation after calling himself “a Nazi streak.” The Heritage Foundation was thrown into internal crisis when its president defended Carlson, leading to a board member’s resignation. For figures like Deborah Lipstadt, a leading Holocaust scholar, the normalization of extremist rhetoric is deeply unsettling. She warns that when influential voices elevate fringe ideas, they move from the edges toward the political mainstream.

Generational and ideological divides over Israel

Another fault line is the Republican stance on Israel. Older Republicans overwhelmingly sympathize with Israel, while support drops sharply among younger conservatives. Tucker Carlson’s criticism of Israeli policy has energized a faction that questions long-standing U.S. support. This divide is beginning to surface in primary races. In Kentucky, Representative Thomas Massie, who has broken with Trump and criticized Israel, faces a Trump-backed challenger, Ed Gallrein. The Republican Jewish Coalition has made defeating Massie a priority, signalling that internal battles over Israel may shape future contests.

Looking ahead to 2028

These disputes are already influencing early positioning for the 2028 presidential race. Vice President JD Vance has faced scrutiny for refusing to criticize Carlson, raising concerns among Jewish conservatives. Senator Ted Cruz, meanwhile, has become one of the loudest Republican critics of antisemitism within the party, drawing backlash from the populist right. Activists and strategists acknowledge that many Republicans hesitate to confront the issue for fear of alienating voters aligned with isolationist or nationalist movements.

Conclusion

The Republican Party now faces a dilemma that goes far beyond messaging. Long-simmering disagreements over extremism, Israel and free speech are becoming defining features of internal politics. Some party strategists argue that tolerating extremist rhetoric risks electoral disaster, while others believe the public has little interest in these disputes. As one longtime operative put it, the fight is underway and the outcome remains uncertain. Whether the party can draw firm boundaries around antisemitism, or whether those boundaries continue to erode, may shape Republican identity for years to come.