Representatives Marjorie Taylor Green (R-GA) and Paul Gosar (R-AZ) are both under fire for speaking at a white nationalist conference over the weekend.
The conference, America First Political Action Conference (AFPAC III), was held on February 25 in Orlando, FL in response to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) that was going on nearby. AFPAC III was hosted by Nick Fuentes, who the Department of Justice has designated as a white nationalist. Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt tweeted that during the conference, Fuentes declared that people are comparing Russian President Vladimir Putin to Adolf Hitler, drawing a response of “Let’s go!!!” from the crowd and “espoused replacement theory.” Greene spoke at the conference in person, while Gosar spoke in a video address.
Disgusting: let’s be clear, at this #antisemitic, white supremacist event AFPAC founder Nick Fuentes espoused replacement theory, got the crowd to cheer “Putin, Putin,” and proclaimed, “They say Vladimir Putin is Hitler!” eliciting a response of, “LETS GOOOO!" https://t.co/ldwMfzqjMI
— Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL) February 27, 2022
Various Republican politicians condemned Greene and Gosar for speaking during the conference.
“There’s no place in the Republican Party for white supremacists or antisemitism,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said in a statement to Politico.
Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo similarly tweeted, “Associating with anti-Semitic neo-Nazis is not consistent with the conservative values I’ve defended for decades. Representative Taylor-Greene playing footsie with Nick Fuentes and his splinter movement is shameful.”
Associating with anti-Semitic neo-Nazis is not consistent with the conservative values I've defended for decades. Representative Taylor-Greene playing footsie with Nick Fuentes and his splinter movement is shameful.
— Mike Pompeo (@mikepompeo) February 27, 2022
Representative Lauren Boebert (R-CO) also told Politico, “I do not apologize for other members and what they say or what they do. I do not support white supremacists, like Nick Fuentes, period.” Representative Liz Cheney (R-WY) tweeted, “As Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene and Rep Paul Gosar speak at this white supremacist, anti-Semitic, pro-Putin event, silence by Republican Party leaders is deafening and enabling. All Americans should renounce this garbage and reject the Putin wing of the GOP now.”
As Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene and Rep Paul Gosar speak at this white supremacist, anti-Semitic, pro-Putin event, silence by Republican Party leaders is deafening and enabling.
All Americans should renounce this garbage and reject the Putin wing of the GOP now. pic.twitter.com/6fgpV6ohZ8
— Liz Cheney (@Liz_Cheney) February 26, 2022
Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel declined to comment to CBS on the matter.
Jewish groups also denounced Greene and Gosar for speaking at the conference.
“It’s sickening that two members of Congress—@RepMTG and @RepGosar—attended a white nationalist group’s conference this weekend, organized by Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes,” the American Jewish Committee tweeted. “We need [House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy] to speak out and clearly denounce this.”
It's sickening that two members of Congress—@RepMTG and @RepGosar—attended a white nationalist group's conference this weekend, organized by Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes.
We need @GOPLeader to speak out and clearly denounce this. https://t.co/JKFWGwGfpo
— American Jewish Committee (@AJCGlobal) February 27, 2022
The Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) said in a statement, “It is appalling and outrageous that a Member of Congress would share a platform with an individual who has actively spread antisemitic bile, mocked the Holocaust and promoted dangerous anti-Israel conspiracy theories.” They later added: “This has absolutely no place in the Republican Party, and the RJC will actively oppose anyone who associates with Nick Fuentes, AFPAC and their ilk.”
.@RJC condemns Reps. Greene and Gosar for participating in antisemitic white nationalist event.
Full release: pic.twitter.com/0GF7HoYnl0
— RJC (@RJC) February 26, 2022
Stop Antisemitism also urged in a tweet for McCarthy to speak out against Greene’s appearance at the conference.
Marjorie Taylor Green (R-GA), a nominee for 2021 'Antisemite of the Year' proudly shared the stage with Holocaust denying, white supremacist "Groyper" leader Nick Fuentes.
Where is the @GOP condemnation @GOPLeader?? pic.twitter.com/H9opVDgiEQ
— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) February 28, 2022
Greene told CBS News that she had “never heard” Fuentes speak before, nor does she know “what his views are, so I’m not aligned with anything that may be controversial.” “What I can tell you is I went to his event last night to address his very large following because (it is) young,” she said. “It’s a very young following and it’s a generation I’m extremely concerned about.”
The Simon Wiesenthal Center criticized her response. “Members of Congress – left, right, and center – have an obligation to the American people to know who they are speaking to and what that group represents,” they tweeted. “Incompetency or ideology, Cong. #MarjorieTaylorGreene being clueless is not a defense.”
Members of Congress – left, right, and center – have an obligation to the American people to know who they are speaking to and what that group represents. Incompetency or ideology, Cong. #MarjorieTaylorGreene being clueless is not a defense. https://t.co/m9V6MWTSi3
— SimonWiesenthalCntr (@simonwiesenthal) February 27, 2022
Gosar had previously come under fire over a flyer advertising him speaking at a fundraiser held by Fuentes in June; Gosar later claimed that he didn’t know about a fundraiser.
