WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump on Sunday brushed aside concerns about conservative commentator Tucker Carlson’s recent interview with a far-right activist known for his antisemitic views, a controversy that has caused a schism within the GOP.
Trump defended Carlson, citing the “good interviews” he had conducted over the years with the former Fox News host. He said if Carlson wants to interview Nick Fuentes, whose followers see themselves as working to preserve America’s white, Christian identity, then “people have to decide.”
Carlson recently had an amiable sit-down on his podcast with Fuentes, which touched off a firestorm among conservatives. The interview roiled the Heritage Foundation, where the president of the right-wing think tank initially defended Carlson, drawing outrage from staffers. Heritage President Kevin Roberts later denounced Fuentes’ views.
As Trump prepared to fly back to Washington from a weekend in Florida, he told reporters, “You can’t tell [Carlson] who to interview.” He added, “If he wants to interview Nick Fuentes, I don’t know much about him, but if he wants to do it, get the word out. People have to decide.”
A few minutes later, Trump remarked, “Meeting people, talking to people — for somebody like Tucker, that’s what they do. You know, people are controversial.” The president then quipped, “I’m not controversial, so I like it that way.”
This is not the first time Trump has been asked about Fuentes. Three years ago, he hosted Fuentes at a dinner at his Mar-a-Lago resort, along with the rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West. At the time, Trump said he had not previously met Fuentes and “knew nothing about” him.
Fuentes’ visit to Trump’s estate was condemned by numerous Republicans, including former Vice President Mike Pence, who said it was wrong for Trump “to give a white nationalist, an antisemite, and Holocaust denier a seat at the table.” Trump reiterated Sunday that he didn’t know Fuentes at the time and was unaware that he was accompanying Ye.
Trump’s defense of Carlson’s interview comes amid his second term efforts to crack down on colleges and universities over what his administration claims is a tolerance of antisemitic views during protests related to the Israel-Hamas war. Carlson has been critical of U.S. support for Israel in that conflict and has faced criticism for his own far-right views, including promoting the white-supremacist theory that whites are being “replaced” by people of color.
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Price reported from Washington.
https://ktar.com/national-news/trump-defends-tucker-carlson-after-interview-with-activist-known-for-his-antisemitic-views/5777681/
