A brewing conservative civil war has erupted with accusations that the Anti-Defamation League is orchestrating behind-the-scenes coordination between establishment Republicans and media figures to silence dissenting voices within the movement.
The Catalyst That Split Conservative Media
Tucker Carlson’s decision to interview Nick Fuentes sent shockwaves through conservative circles. Fuentes, labeled a white supremacist by the ADL for Holocaust denial and antisemitic rhetoric, had been largely sidelined from mainstream platforms until Elon Musk reinstated his X account in 2024. The interview marked Fuentes’ most significant mainstream exposure since his controversial 2022 dinner with Donald Trump and Kanye West.
Senator Ted Cruz immediately condemned Fuentes as a “Nazi” and called for Republicans to criticize Carlson’s platforming decision. Ben Shapiro went further, declaring “No to cowards like Tucker Carlson, who normalize their trash.” The swift, coordinated response raised eyebrows among observers who noted the alignment between these establishment voices and ADL messaging.
ADL’s Strategic Opposition Campaign
The Anti-Defamation League had been tracking Fuentes long before the Carlson interview. When Musk reinstated Fuentes’ X account in May 2024, ADL’s Director of Strategy Daniel Kelley immediately criticized the decision as amplifying “hateful antisemitism, Holocaust denial.”
The organization’s opposition to Fuentes appears consistent with its mission, but critics argue the ADL’s influence extends beyond monitoring into active deplatforming coordination.
ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt has advocated for social media control measures, lending credence to accusations that the organization works behind the scenes to silence voices deemed problematic. The Heritage Foundation’s Kevin Roberts initially defended Carlson but quickly retracted his support after pushback from ADL and Jewish groups, demonstrating the organization’s sway over conservative institutions.
The AmericaFest Showdown
The conflict reached its peak at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest in December 2025, held months after founder Charlie Kirk’s death in September. Ben Shapiro used his keynote speech to launch a blistering attack on Carlson, demanding conservatives purge “frauds and grifters” like Fuentes from their ranks. Shapiro specifically criticized Carlson for also platforming Holocaust revisionist Darryl Cooper and controversial figure Andrew Tate.
Carlson responded by defending his practice of engaging with fringe figures and mocking Shapiro’s purge mentality. In a revealing moment, Fuentes himself later praised Shapiro’s consistency while calling Carlson opportunistic, adding an unexpected twist to the narrative. The exchange highlighted deeper ideological fractures within conservatism over Israel support, foreign policy, and the boundaries of acceptable discourse.
The Broader Battle for Conservative Identity
This controversy represents more than personal feuds between media personalities. It reflects a fundamental struggle between pro-Israel neoconservatives aligned with groups like the ADL and paleoconservative voices advocating America First policies. Cruz, positioning himself for a 2028 presidential run, appears to be siding with the establishment faction, while Carlson appeals to anti-establishment populists.
The pattern of swift, coordinated responses from ADL officials, establishment Republicans, and mainstream conservative media suggests a level of coordination that extends beyond coincidence.
While direct evidence of the ADL “helping” Cruz and Shapiro remains circumstantial, the alignment of their messaging and timing indicates shared strategic objectives in marginalizing voices like Carlson and Fuentes who challenge pro-Israel orthodoxy within conservative ranks.
Sources:
Jerusalem Post – ADL and Conservative Response to Fuentes
Jewish Insider – Turning Point USA Coverage
OK Magazine – Trump-Fuentes Dinner Background
Jewish Insider – Extremist Voices Coverage