WASHINGTON — GOP leaders in both the House of Representatives and the Senate condemned on Monday two far-right Trump allies — Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Paul Gosar — for speaking at an event of white nationalists held in Florida this weekend.
Senator Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) stated in a short statement that “There’s no room in the Republican Party to support white supremacists and anti-Semitism.”
Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. House Minority Leader, said to reporters CNN, Punchbowl News, that it was “appalling” and wrong for the two lawmakers not to attend the meeting in Florida. He plans to talk with them about the matter.
“There is no place in our party to do any of these things. … McCarthy said that the party should not be associated with anyone who is antisemitic at any time or place.” McCarthy recently returned from leading a House Republican delegation to Israel. This is unacceptable.
Soon after, House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.), whose political career almost ended when it was reported that he had addressed white extremists in 2002. He generally condemned racism and antisemitism, but also noted that Greene had distanced herself from the remarks made by the organizer.
Scalise stated to NBC News that America is not a place for antisemitism and hate speech.
Scalise stated that Marjorie had, according to my understanding, condemned the comments made by the leader of the group. He made statements that were antisemitic and racist. Scalise stated, “We don’t condone these and we reject it.”
After the fierce criticism of Greene and Gosar by Republicans across the political spectrum from Republicans, the GOP leaders made rare comments about fellow Republican lawmakers. This was in response to how these two are a major political liability for their party as they seek to regain control of the Senate.
In an appearance on CNN, Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) called Greene, Gosar “morons”, while Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) said that her House colleagues were promoting antisemitism, white supremacy, and “a toxin within the bloodstream.”
Some Trump supporters even expressed disgust. Mike Pompeo , former Secretary of State, tweeted that Greene was playing “footsie” with anti-Semitic neo Nazis. Jim Banks (Republican from Indiana), the head of conservative Republican Study Committee also spoke out.
Banks stated to NBC News that it was unprofessional for a member or Congresswoman to speak at an event promoted by someone who holds those views. “This event is one that no Republican should attend… it’s regrettable that she did.”
Greene and Gosar addressed the far-right America First Political Action Conference in Orlando, Florida. This conference was organized by Nicholas Fuentes. Fuentes is a white nationalist activist, who rose to national prominence following his attendance at the 2017 Unite the Right rally, Charlottesville, Virginia. He has also praised Russian President Vladimir Putin for being “brilliant” as he directed his military to invade Ukraine.
Gosar was present at the Fuentes event in person last year and spoke to the crowd over the weekend via recorded video. Fuentes made a praise for Adolf Hitler before introducing Greene in Orlando. Democrats are often comparing Putin to Hitler.
He said, “Now they’re talking about Russia and Vladimir Putin as Hitler — they say that it’s not good.” Fuentes then exhorted the crowd to support Russia in the war against Ukraine. The crowd responded with “Putin!” Putin!”
Greene was defending her appearance and told a CBS News reporter she knew very little about Fuentes.
“I don’t know Nick Fuentes. He has never spoken to me. I have never seen a clip. Greene stated that he does not know his views so he is not a part of any controversy.
“I went to his event… to address his large following, because it is a very young following and it’s something I am extremely concerned about.”
The controversy has not been addressed by the Gosar. His office didn’t immediately respond to a request.
Greene and Gosar are not new to controversy. Both were involved last year in an attempt to launch an ” America First Caucus” that would protect “Anglo–Saxon political traditions”. The idea was abandoned after both parties criticized it.
This month was one year ago. All House Democrats, along with 11 Republicans, voted for Greene to be removed from her two committees. It was after it became clear that her Facebook posts had been promoting antisemitic conspiracy theories as well as violence against Democratic politicians.
In November, both the House Democrats and two Republicans voted in favor of censuring Gosar , and removing him from his committees. This was after Gosar tweeted an animated video showing him shooting Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, D.N.Y.
After McCarthy refused to take any disciplinary action against Greene or Gosar, Democrats forced the floor votes in these two cases. McCarthy stated that he would reinstate Gosar, Greene to their committees if Republicans are elected to the House during the midterm elections.
This weekend’s episode highlighted the delicate balance McCarthy, Scalise, and other House GOP leaders must walk as they attempt to win back the majority of House GOP members in November and place themselves for top leadership positions in 2023.
A GOP win in the fall midterms will likely propel McCarthy and Scalise into their offices as speaker and majority leader, respectively.
To get there they have taken extreme care not to upset former President Donald Trump or his top allies at Capitol Hill, who may be needed in the future. McCarthy and Scalise have been reluctant for the past year to publicly criticize and discipline rank-and-file members, especially those who are aligned closely with Trump like Greene or Gosar, in the ultraconservative Freedom Caucus.
“The No. “The No. “These individuals are not willing to pick internal fights, as it could hinder their ability to be speaker.”
The GOP outcry proved to Republican leaders that Greene & Gosar had provided Democrats with a new opportunity for them to explain why they should retain control of the Senate and the House.
“It continues bother me that the Republicans have allowed white supremacists into their ranks and that they not only don’t repudiate it but they encourage it,” Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla), former chair of the Democratic National Committee and first Jewish woman elected to Congress from Florida, stated in an interview.
They fan the flames for white supremacists. She said that they don’t avoid candidates running for Congress who support white supremacists. “And voters can make a decision across the country about whether they want to increase white supremacists’ presence in Congress by electing and re-electing Republicans who support that philosophy.”
