Overview
- Speaking to reporters Sunday in Florida, President Trump said Tucker Carlson should choose his guests freely, adding that if Carlson interviews Nick Fuentes, people can judge for themselves.
- Trump reiterated he did not know Fuentes would attend a 2022 Mar-a-Lago dinner with Ye and said Fuentes arrived as part of the rapper’s entourage.
- Carlson’s late‑October conversation with Fuentes set off internal backlash at the Heritage Foundation, where president Kevin Roberts first defended hosting the interview before apologizing and later denouncing Fuentes’ views.
- Critics say Carlson failed to challenge Fuentes and risked normalizing extremist rhetoric, while some allies argue that engaging controversial figures is preferable to exclusion; Ben Shapiro was among those who condemned the interview.
- The episode has widened rifts on the right as Carlson faces scrutiny for his views on Israel and for amplifying white‑replacement theory, with observers warning the dispute could shape conservative movement norms.