Fuentes, who had dined with former President Trump at Mar-a-Lago in 2022, launched his attack on Vance and his family after Vance joined Trump’s re-election campaign last month.Fuentes questioned Vance’s loyalty to white identity, citing his marriage to an Indian woman and the name of their child, Vivek.
In response to these comments on CBS News’s “Face the Nation,” Vance stated that such views have “no place in the MAGA movement.” He added, “Donald Trump has also criticised this person. Look, I think the guy’s a total loser. I absolutely disavow him. But if you ask me what I care more about, it’s not personal attacks but rather government policies that discriminate based on race. That’s my real concern.” Vance also highlighted the importance of ignoring such attackers, believing that “not feeding the trolls” would cause them to eventually fade away.
Although Vance did not immediately condemn Fuentes’s remarks, he did address the white supremacist attacks against his wife in an interview with Megyn Kelly, expressing deep love for his wife and pride in her accomplishments. He acknowledged the challenges they face due to her heritage but emphasised their strong relationship.
Trump’s 2022 meeting with Fuentes drew widespread criticism, including from within his own party. The meeting, which also included rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, who later claimed to have angered Trump by asking him to be his running mate in 2024, added to the controversy.
The Justice Department has labelled Fuentes a white supremacist, known for his racist and antisemitic rhetoric, while Ye has also faced backlash for antisemitic remarks.
Who is Nick Fuentes?
Nick Fuentes has emerged as a prominent figure on the far right in America, notorious for his antisemitic, racist, and white supremacist views. As the head of the America First Political Action Conference, he has formed connections with several Republican lawmakers, including Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Representative Paul Gosar of Arizona. His rise has been marked by statements and actions aligned with his extremist ideology.
Fuentes openly promotes his hateful views on his podcast, recently calling for military intervention in Black neighbourhoods and demanding that Jews leave the country. He has gained notoriety for denying the Holocaust and using openly racist language, attracting condemnation from various political and social groups.
A notable incident involving Fuentes occurred when he attended a dinner with former President Donald J. Trump at Trump’s private club in Florida. The dinner, also attended by Kanye West and political operative Karen Giorno, sparked controversy due to Fuentes’s extreme views. Trump later claimed he was unaware of Fuentes’s background, but the meeting highlighted the lack of discipline in Trump’s post-presidency activities.
Fuentes first gained widespread attention for his involvement in the violent far-right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017. He later led the America First movement, whose followers, known as groypers, have actively supported Trump, especially after the 2020 presidential election. Fuentes’s rhetoric has often been incendiary, urging his followers to “storm every state capitol” and leading chants to “Destroy the G.O.P.”
On January 6, 2021, Fuentes was present at the Capitol, where he and his supporters rallied in favour of Trump. Following the attack, several individuals connected to his organization were charged with federal crimes. Fuentes himself was subpoenaed by the House select committee investigating the January 6 attack, seeking information about his involvement.
Despite widespread condemnation, Fuentes remains a vocal and influential figure within the far-right community, reflecting the ongoing challenges posed by extremist ideologies in American politics.