WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) 鈥� 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, which has caused .
Trump defended Carlson, saying the former Fox 太子探花 host has 鈥渟aid good things about me over the years.鈥� He said if Carlson wants to interview , whose followers see themselves as working to preserve America鈥檚 white, Christian identity, then “people have to decide.鈥� Trump did not criticize Carlson or Fuentes.
Fuentes appeared to appreciate Trump’s sentiment, posting 鈥淭hank you Mr. President!鈥� along with video of his interaction with reporters.
Carlson had an amiable sit-down on his podcast last month with Fuentes that touched off a controversy among conservatives. It roiled the Heritage Foundation, where the president of the right-wing think tank defended Carlson for his interview, drawing outrage from staffers. Heritage President Kevin Roberts later denounced Fuentes’ views.
Trump told reporters as he prepared to fly back to Washington from a weekend in Florida that when it comes to Carlson, 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 tell him who to interview.鈥�
鈥淚f he wants to interview Nick Fuentes, I don鈥檛 know much about him, but if he wants to do it, get the word out,鈥� Trump said. “People have to decide.鈥�
Trump a few minutes later added, 鈥淢eeting people, talking to people for somebody like Tucker 鈥� that鈥檚 what they do. You know, people are controversial.”
The president then said: 鈥淚鈥檓 not controversial, so I like it that way.鈥�
It’s not the first time Trump has been asked about Fuentes. Three years ago, he hosted Fuentes at a at his Mar-a-Lago resort, along with the rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West.
Trump at the time said he had not previously met Fuentes and 鈥渒new nothing about鈥� him.
Fuentes鈥� visit to Trump鈥檚 estate was condemned by numerous Republicans, , who said it was wrong for Trump 鈥渢o give a white nationalist, an antisemite and Holocaust denier, a seat at the table.鈥�
Trump said Sunday that he didn’t know Fuentes at the time and that he didn’t know he was coming with Ye.
Trump’s defense of Carlson’s interview comes as he has used his second-term administration to crack down on over what his administration claims is a tolerance of antisemitic views during protests over the Israel-Hamas war.
Carlson has been critical of U.S. support for Israel in that war and has come under fire for , including the white-supremacist theory that says by people of color.
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Price reported from Washington.
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