Fellow conservatives have criticized Vice President JD Vance in the past for his reticence to denounce extremists on the Right, such as when he repeatedly refused to condemn Republican political operatives who spewed racism and support for Adolf Hitler in a group chat. But the vice president may be changing course, as he just brutally denounced alt-right internet star Nick Fuentes in a situation where, by his old logic, he might have demurred.
Fuentes is a self-avowed racist who loves Hitler and Joseph Stalin, and, while his nihilistic humor can sometimes be funny, the fact that millions now take him seriously should horrify anyone who values traditional virtues of civility, decency, and Christian morality. Thankfully, in a new interview with the Daily Mail, Vance condemned him and said he could “eat s***.”
“There are certain things we should have the moral clarity to condemn,” Vance said. “I think Jew hatred is disgusting. You shouldn’t hate people because they’re white. You shouldn’t hate people because they’re Jewish. You shouldn’t hate people because they’re black.”
“And I don’t like anybody who does that or engages in that stuff,” he concluded. “So when you say supporters of this or that person, all I can do is say what I believe, take the moral stance and the policy stance that I believe in.”
This is exactly the right message from the vice president. He’s showing the exact kind of moral clarity that he has unfortunately failed to offer at times in the past, and, notably, doing so while not entirely dismissing or condemning every single person who has ever liked or listened to Fuentes, which certainly includes many misguided, but hardly irredeemable, young men. And it’s really the bare minimum to expect from Vance, given the horrific and blatantly racist way Fuentes has spoken about his family in the past. (Second lady Usha Vance is of Indian heritage, and Vance’s children are of mixed race.)
Fuentes, for his part, responded to Vance’s condemnation in a way that should remove any shadow of a doubt anyone had about his moral character and (non-existent) commitment to conservative causes.
In response to Vance telling him to “eat s***,” Fuentes said, as part of a lengthy, unhinged rant on his Rumble stream, “Listen, man, I know that’s how they roll where your wife is from… thanks, but no thanks. I’m not eating it. Save it for the Indian cultural festival at the Naval Observatory… I’m good. It’s a little too third world.”
“I am officially Never Vance,” Fuentes added, implying he won’t support the vice president if he ends up as the Republican presidential candidate in 2028. “You condemn me, then we won’t vote for you… I’m saving my endorsement for someone that is putting America First over India.”
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It’s the perfect combination of nasty narcissism and revolting racism. Fuentes once again attacks the vice president for the ethnicity of his family and even suggests he would oppose a candidate who supports the things he’s supposed to care most about — stopping abortion, reducing immigration, etc. — simply due to personal grievances.
The telling exchange isn’t just a step in the right direction for Vance. It’s yet another reminder that Nick Fuentes is an ego-driven grifter, not a serious advocate of conservative values.
Brad Polumbo is an independent journalist and host of the Brad vs Everyone podcast.
