Tucker Carlson vs. Nick Fuentes – Hypocrisy, Projections, and CIA Shadows

In the ever-volatile landscape of right-wing media and activism, few rivalries have captured as much attention as the ongoing clash between Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, and Nick Fuentes. What began as ideological skirmishes has devolved into personal attacks, accusations of federal infiltration, and charges of hypocrisy. At the heart of this feud lies a potent irony: Carlson and Owens have accused Fuentes of undermining “sincere” conservatives by associating them with extremism, yet Fuentes counters that they are the true establishment gatekeepers—potentially projecting their own flaws while gaslighting their audience. Adding fuel to the fire is Carlson’s inconsistent narrative about his father’s ties to the CIA, which raises questions about transparency and credibility. This article dissects the feud, highlighting these contradictions and the broader implications for the American right.

Background: Ideological Fault Lines and Rising Tensions

Tucker Carlson, the former Fox News host turned independent podcaster, has positioned himself as a critic of mainstream conservatism, neoconservatism, and endless foreign wars. Candace Owens, a prominent conservative commentator and former Daily Wire host, has similarly built a brand around challenging establishment narratives, particularly on issues like race, Israel, and cultural decay. Nick Fuentes, the young white nationalist and “America First” advocate, represents a more radical fringe, known for his unapologetic ethnonationalism, Holocaust denial, and criticism of Jewish influence in politics.

The feud’s roots trace back to at least 2022, when Fuentes dined with Kanye West (Ye) and former President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago, drawing widespread condemnation. Carlson, who has praised aspects of “replacement theory” in the past, distanced himself from Fuentes, refusing to platform him despite interviewing controversial figures like Ray Epps and Kevin Spacey. Fuentes, in turn, accused Carlson of collaborating on a 2023 hit piece against him in The Grayzone, a publication run by Max Blumenthal (son of Clinton advisor Sidney Blumenthal), labeling it a targeted smear to discredit his movement post-Ye24.

Tensions escalated in 2024 and 2025. Fuentes criticized Carlson for subliminal swipes, such as blaming him for conservative Joe Kent’s 2022 election loss in Washington state. Carlson, meanwhile, repeatedly “fed-jacketed” Fuentes—implying he’s a federal agent designed to discredit the right—without naming him directly until recently. Owens entered the fray in July 2025, interviewing Fuentes on her show, where they debated race, IQ differences, and antisemitism. Owens later called the experience “entirely fraudulent,” accusing Fuentes of dishonesty.

Calling Out the Hypocrisy: Projecting and Gaslighting on “True Neocons”

One of the most glaring elements of this feud is the apparent hypocrisy from Carlson and Owens. In a recent interview on Carlson’s show, the duo lambasted Fuentes as part of a deliberate effort to “discredit reasonable voices” on the right, suggesting he’s funded by nefarious forces to make conservatives look extreme. Carlson went further, describing Fuentes as having an “angry, gay kid thing going on” and a “weird little gay kid in his basement,” while implying he’s a tool to oppose “true neocons” or establishment critics. Owens echoed this, framing Fuentes as a disruptive force obsessed with her and Carlson.

Yet, this accusation reeks of projection. Fuentes has long positioned himself as an anti-neocon warrior, criticizing Carlson and Owens for what he sees as their ties to establishment conservatism, including support for Israel and reluctance to fully embrace ethnonationalism. He argues that they are the ones gaslighting the base by pretending to be outsiders while maintaining connections to power brokers like Peter Thiel or intelligence-linked figures. Owens herself has noted Fuentes’ “emotional power over neocons,” inadvertently acknowledging his role in exposing what he views as faux-conservatism. By accusing Fuentes of sabotaging “true” critics of neoconservatism, Carlson and Owens appear to be mirroring the very tactics Fuentes uses against them—deflecting scrutiny from their own inconsistencies while portraying him as the infiltrator. This dynamic not only gaslights their audiences but also divides the right, potentially benefiting the establishment they all claim to oppose.

Fuentes’ supporters amplify this point, arguing that Carlson’s refusal to debate him—despite platforming others—reveals fear of exposure. In response to the recent attacks, Fuentes posted a photo of Carlson with accused sexual predator Kevin Spacey, highlighting what he sees as selective moral outrage.

Tucker’s CIA Contradiction: A Timeline of Admissions

Central to Fuentes’ attacks on Carlson is the latter’s family ties to intelligence agencies. Tucker’s father, Dick Carlson, served as director of Voice of America during the Cold War, a U.S. government-funded outlet often linked to CIA propaganda efforts. Tucker himself applied to the CIA after college but was rejected, a fact he’s publicly acknowledged.

The hypocrisy peaks in Carlson’s shifting narrative. In a June 2024 interview on the Shawn Ryan Show, Carlson openly discussed his CIA application and his father’s involvement, stating, “My father worked in conjunction with CIA. I’m not being false about it.” He even declared himself a “sworn enemy” of the agency. Yet, in his 2025 interview with Owens, Carlson claimed he only learned of his father’s CIA ties “this year” after his death in March 2025, expressing shock. This direct contradiction undermines Carlson’s credibility: How could he admit knowledge in 2024 but feign ignorance in 2025? Fuentes and his allies seized on this, arguing it proves Carlson’s duplicity and potential ongoing ties to intelligence circles.

Recent Escalations and Broader Implications

The feud hit a boiling point in August 2025. Carlson and Owens’ interview devolved into personal jabs, with Carlson accusing Fuentes of being a CIA plant. Fuentes fired back, declaring “war” and challenging Carlson to a debate. Observers from both sides have called it “ridiculous” and divisive, with some arguing it distracts from real issues like foreign policy or cultural decline.

Ultimately, this feud exposes fractures within the right: Carlson and Owens represent a more palatable populism, while Fuentes embodies unfiltered radicalism. The hypocrisy—projecting infiltration accusations while dodging accountability—erodes trust. As Fuentes himself asked, “Why not me?” for a fair platform. Until these figures confront their contradictions, the infighting may only strengthen the neocons they all purport to fight.

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