Just weeks after a controversial interview with Tucker Carlson, white nationalist activist Nick Fuentes has vowed to lead a new initiative to push the Republican Party toward “America First” policies. Fuentes told his listeners Monday that he plans to “infiltrate politics” and “guide people and help them understand who to vote for” in the 2026 midterm elections.
“We’re going to be looking at every candidate that’s running in 2026, and we’re going to evaluate them and help people make their decision,” Fuentes said.
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He added that The America First Foundation will reveal what Fuentes described as the “patronage of networks” that make up the “Israeli First lobby” in the U.S. Fuentes promised the foundation will have “big names in the conservative movement,” with money spent on high-quality production and drawing in intellectuals.
“It will be a legit political nonprofit,” Fuentes said Monday, while soliciting donations.
What is Fuentes’ group legally allowed to do?
The America First Foundation is reportedly a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(4), which allows it to participate in limitless political lobbying and campaign-related spending. It has no legal obligation to reveal who its financiers are and describes its mission as educational as well as to “promote, and advocate for conservative values based on principles of American nationalism, Christianity, and traditionalism.”
Fuentes’ group received more than $560,000 in contributions between July 2023 and June 2024, according to tax filings. The tax-exempt nonprofit is legally prohibited from directly donating to candidates but can spend money on political ads.
The America First Foundation’s tax filings show Fuentes as president and list two board members. One of whom is Jonathan Miller, a former White House correspondent for BlazeTV, who wrote an expletive-filled and antisemitic social media post after the assassination attempt against Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania.
The other is Vincent James, who has claimed to be a member of the “Christian Taliban.”
CEO of the Republican Jewish Coalition issues warning
The CEO of the Republican Jewish Coalition, Matt Brooks, who spoke with The Free Press, warned members who may be compelled to join Fuentes’ cause to reconsider.
“Given Nick Fuentes’ long and vile history of bigotry, antisemitism, racism, and misogyny– in addition to being anti-Trump and anti-Vance– any candidate that takes Fuentes’ support will be answerable for it during the campaign,” Brooks said.
Carlson responded to an inquiry from The Free Press on Tuesday, but said that he knew “nothing” about Fuentes’ group, adding, “But I would like to point out that the GOP is already divided.”
Carlson said he was unsure of “what role [Fuentes] will play going forward,” while cautioning “a movement that claims to put America first had better do it, or else it’ll fall apart in spectacular fashion.” He later said, “Surprisingly, calling people Nazis doesn’t fix the problem.”
Fallout from Carlson’s interview with Fuentes
Carlson’s interview with Fuentes three weeks ago has sparked a debate within the GOP.
During the sitdown with Carlson, Fuentes made antisemitic remarks and expressed support for Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin, as they both complained about American support for Israel.
As Straight Arrow News previously reported, Kevin Roberts, the president of The Heritage Foundation, the conservative think tank behind Project 2025, was criticized for defending Carlson in the wake of the interview. He called those who attacked the former Fox News host a “venomous coalition” and part of the “globalist class.” He later apologized for those comments. Despite his attempt at damage control, some staff and board members departed Heritage. Other employees urged Roberts to resign.
President Donald Trump also waded into the controversy this week, defending Carlson’s interview with Fuentes, saying, “You can’t tell him who to interview.” The president dined with Fuentes in 2022, but said Sunday that he knew little about him when rapper Kanye West brought him to the dinner.
White House officials offer mixed reactions
White House sources offered mixed reactions to Fuentes announcement, with one telling The Free Press that they see Fuentes being “somewhat successful this time around.” While another source dismissed concerns over Fuentes’ potential influence over the Republican party.
“There’s no evidence that Nick Fuentes is capable of institution-building,” the official told The Free Press. “He doesn’t have the disposition, he doesn’t live in D.C., and he doesn’t seem to know very many people. He’s very good at tearing stuff down, though.”
One source identified as “a longtime Trump adviser” told The Free Press that Fuentes is “literally one of the most vile racists in the country,” adding that any politicians running for election in the midterms who he supports will likely be defeated.
“He’ll raise money this year,” the Trump adviser said. “But at the end of the day, it’s toxic.”
Controversy leads to rare bipartisan agreement
Laura Loomer, a close adviser to Trump, posted on X Tuesday that the Republican party “has a Nazi problem. And the more we pretend we don’t, the worse it’s going to get,” she wrote. “We do. Don’t tell me we don’t.”
Democratic strategist James Carville offered a rare endorsement of Loomer’s comments.
He told The Free Press that when the GOP gets “their views on Adolph Hitler straightened out, then we can talk.”
“You understand this is too much f— fun for a Democrat, right?” he added.
