Israeli president condemns Trump’s encounter with Fuentes, calling it a ‘big mistake’ and urging
Former political ally of Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has sharply criticised the former US president for his controversial meeting with white nationalist Nick Fuentes. In an interview with journalist Piers Morgan, excerpts of which were released on Monday by Fox News, Netanyahu called for Trump to be “rebuked and condemned” for meeting Fuentes, a known Holocaust denier and outspoken antisemite.
The meeting between Trump, Fuentes, and rapper Kanye West in November 2022 sparked widespread outrage, drawing condemnation from both Democratic and Republican circles. Netanyahu did not hold back in his interview, stating, “I thought it was horrible. I think it’s a big mistake. It’s wrong from every point of view. Antisemitism should not be countenanced, it should not be accepted, it should be rebuked and condemned, and that’s what I do.”
The dinner came about due to West’s 2024 presidential campaign, which was marred by controversy, including his association with figures like Fuentes and Milo Yiannopoulos, who helped engineer the meeting. Yiannopoulos was quickly dismissed after the fallout.
Trump’s interactions with Fuentes have added fuel to ongoing allegations of antisemitism surrounding the former president, further complicating his relationship with Jewish Americans and raising questions about his stance on Israel. Notably, Trump has previously made statements questioning the loyalty of Jewish Democrats, leading to accusations of antisemitic rhetoric.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu faces his own controversies, particularly regarding his proposed judicial reforms aimed at weakening Israel’s Supreme Court. These reforms have prompted protests both within Israel and internationally. During the same interview with Morgan, Netanyahu revealed that President Joe Biden had expressed concerns over the integrity of Israel’s democracy in a recent conversation, to which Netanyahu reassured him of Israel’s commitment to democratic values.
