WASHINGTON – Vice President J.D. Vance has once more directed a challenge at Nazi-associated figure Nick Fuentes, suggesting he should “eat” him but hesitated to condemn Fuentes’ followers, labeling them as “cheaters” and expressing confusion about their identities.
Fuentes has openly praised notorious dictators like Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin, and has made offensive comments aimed at Second Lady Usha Vance regarding her Indian background, which prompted Vance’s condemnation last year.
When pressed about condemning Fuentes, Vance stated, “Of course I will,” adding, “He can eat food, because whoever goes after my family, no matter which side they are on, they are on the other side of me.”
Despite his criticisms, Vance appeared perplexed when questioned about the Groypers, a group that has publicly challenged why he is considered a prominent figure in the “Make America Great Again” movement. He previously defended Fuentes in December, stating, “Let me be clear: Anyone who attacks my wife, whether their name is Jen Psaki or Nick Fuentes, is ready to eat.”
In July, Usha is set to welcome their fourth child, marking a notable event as she’ll be the first woman in over a century and a half to be pregnant while her husband is in office.
On Thursday, Fuentes reacted to Vance’s statements by posting “Never Vance,” seemingly in response to an interview Vance gave to the Daily Mail.
Vance, while denouncing Fuentes, also criticized his group for their sexist and racist behavior, challenging the idea that far-right activists could be seen as supporters of mainstream political figures.
When asked about Groypers’ acceptance into the Republican Party, Vance replied, “What do you mean by supporter?” He continued to express uncertainty about the concept itself, emphasizing that there are undeniable moral issues, stating, “I think Jew-hatred is disgusting.”
Fuentes is infamously known for his anti-Semitic remarks and has made baseless claims suggesting that the Holocaust is exaggerated and posits a notion of a “Jewish conspiracy.”
This controversial figure has contributed to divisions within conservative circles, particularly after a widely circulated interview with pundit Tucker Carlson, leading to backlash from figures like Ben Shapiro. Vance and Trump have been somewhat reserved on this debate; however, Vance attributed the conflict to a culture of cancelation among conservatives.
At last year’s Turning Point USA’s America Fest, Vance stated, “I didn’t bring a list of conservatives to denounce or deplatform,” advocating for a unified stance to honor conservative values.
Fuentes has indicated that if Vance continues to denounce him, he would retaliate by shifting his followers against Vance in future political endeavors.
Vance firmly reiterated his stance against hate, declaring, “You can’t hate people because they’re white. You can’t hate people because they’re Jewish. You can’t hate people because they’re black,” and reasserted that he will continue to take moral and policy stances he believes in.
