Trump's Silence on Antisemitism Pits GOP Base Against Traditional Values

Donald Trump has criticized Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Rep. Matty Massie for defying him over their objections to his past associations with financier Jeffrey Epstein, yet he has avoided condemning Tucker Carlson or antisemite Nick Fuentes despite growing GOP divisions over their rhetoric. The president's refusal to rebuke Carlson's controversial interview with Fuentes has intensified concerns about rising antisemitism within the Republican Party, particularly among younger conservative leaders according to Bloomberg analysis.

The controversy erupted after Carlson hosted Fuentes, a white nationalist known for antisemitic and misogynistic views, in a two-hour interview in October 2025. During the broadcast, Fuentes claimed Jewishness is inherently tied to "blood and soil nationalism" and dismissed American Jews as "unassimilable," while Carlson offered no rebuttal according to Bloomberg reports.

The Anti-Defamation League has reported increasing belief in antisemitic tropes among Republicans, with 15% of the party saying violence against Jews is justifiable.

Trump's silence has drawn criticism from Jewish conservatives and traditional GOP figures. Laurie Cardoza-Moore, a Christian Zionist activist who resigned from the Heritage Foundation's antisemitism task force, called for a "Come-to-Jesus moment" to address the issue, warning of parallels to the Nazi era according to NewsMax reporting. Similarly, Heritage board member Robert George resigned over the organization's initial defense of Carlson, arguing that the party must uphold its "Judeo-Christian" values according to AP News coverage.

Trump has defended Carlson, stating, "You can't tell him who to interview," while also deflecting questions about Fuentes, whom he once dined with at Mar-a-Lago according to Jewish Louisville reporting. His response mirrors past patterns of avoiding disavowals of extremist figures, such as his "very fine people" comment during the 2017 Charlottesville white supremacist rally according to AP News coverage. Jewish Republican allies, including the Republican Jewish Coalition's Matthew Brooks, have expressed frustration that Trump has not forcefully condemned antisemitism in the GOP, despite his pro-Israel policies according to AP News coverage.

The GOP's internal rifts have deepened as figures like Greene and Vance navigate the tension between free speech advocacy and antisemitism. Greene defended her attendance at a Fuentes event in 2022 but denied knowing the influencer personally according to Jewish Louisville reporting. Vance, meanwhile, faced criticism for failing to address antisemitic conspiracy theories during a campaign event according to NewsMax reporting. Meanwhile, the Heritage Foundation has lost key staff over its handling of the crisis, including legal fellow Adam Mossoff according to Jewish Louisville reporting.

As the 2026 election approaches, the party's struggle to reconcile its populist base with traditional conservative values could shape its future. With antisemitism rising and younger Republicans drawn to fringe movements, the GOP faces a pivotal test of its moral clarity-and Trump's leadership.