The feud between Ben Shapiro and Nick Fuentes is now mainstream GOP politics

Even the Heritage Foundation has become entangled in an unusually public internal conflict on the right. What began as an online feud between MAGA influencers has now drifted into mainstream conservative institutions.

The long-standing hostility between white supremacist streamer Nick Fuentes and Jewish conservative commentator Ben Shapiro had mostly been an internet spectacle. However, its scope widened when former Fox News host and current podcaster Tucker Carlson interviewed Fuentes for an hour-long conversation on his show.

Escalation of the controversy

Fuentes, known for his antisemitic rhetoric and aggressive online persona, gained new visibility through the interview. Carlson invited him to discuss U.S. support for Israel’s actions in Gaza, further legitimizing Fuentes’s views within certain segments of the right.

“Hitler was really fucking cool.”

This earlier statement by Fuentes continues to define his reputation and underscores why many conservatives, including Shapiro, vehemently oppose him.

The broader implications

Tucker Carlson, who remains influential among Republican voters, has a history of criticizing Israel and occasionally promoting antisemitic tropes. Though he has espoused various conspiracy theories — about Ukraine, Covid-19, and biologically implausible cures for infertility — those ideas never gained political traction. Giving a platform to Fuentes, however, may mark a dividing line within the GOP itself.

Conclusion

What was once a fringe dispute among far-right figures has evolved into a visible struggle over the boundaries of mainstream Republican politics and acceptable discourse within it.

Author’s summary: The feud between Fuentes and Shapiro, once confined to online spaces, has drawn in leading conservative figures and reshaped internal GOP dynamics.

The Verge — 2025-11-06