John Oliver documents rise of Nazi references, antisemitic rhetoric among Republican figures ahead of midterms
The Last Week Tonight host highlighted examples of extremist rhetoric from Republican candidates, donors, and media figures, arguing the party has grown 'too comfortable' with Nazi-adjacent content.
What happened
John Oliver devoted an episode of Last Week Tonight to documenting what he characterized as a 'worrying trend' of Nazi references and bigotry within the Republican Party. Specific examples cited include: New York congressional candidate posting a photo in Nazi uniform; Elon Musk's apparent Nazi salute at a Trump rally in 2025; Paul Ingrassia, Trump's nominee for special counsel, messaging that he had 'a Nazi streak' before leaked chats were revealed; Texas Republican congressional nominee Brandon Herrera posting a video goose-stepping to Nazi marching music; Tennessee representative Andy Ogles posting that 'Muslims don't belong in American society'; Alabama senator Tommy Tuberville posting calls to ban Muslim immigrants; and Texas railroad commissioner candidate Bo French reposting a racially diverse crowd celebrating with text about 'displacement by foreigners.' Oliver also highlighted white nationalist Nick Fuentes's two-hour podcast with Tucker Carlson, in which Fuentes promoted antisemitic conspiracy theories including blaming 'organized Jewry' for America's problems and making dehumanizing statements about Jewish people. A Manhattan Institute analysis found nearly four in 10 Republicans believe the Holocaust was greatly exaggerated or didn't happen as historians described, rising to 54% among men under 50. Leaked group chats from Young Republican groups included praise of Hitler and racial epithets.
Context
Oliver framed the trend as part of a longer historical pattern, noting the Republican Party has 'always left its door ajar for bigots, cranks and conspiracy theorists' from the John Birch Society through Barry Goldwater and Pat Buchanan. He attributed some of the current surge to heightened debate over Israel-Gaza and US Middle East policy, which he said the far right has exploited to amplify antisemitic narratives. Oliver documented Fuentes's increasing proximity to mainstream Republican figures, including keynote speeches at Republican conferences by Paul Gosar and Marjorie Taylor Greene, and a dinner at Mar-a-Lago with Trump. The Heritage Foundation president's defense of Tucker Carlson as under attack from the 'globalist class'—a phrase Oliver identified as an antisemitic dog whistle—illustrates the normalization of such rhetoric within establishment conservative institutions. The episode aired a week before midterm elections.
What's disputed
JD Vance's characterization that the group chat members were 'kids doing stupid things' is presented; Oliver counters they were in their 20s and 30s. Kevin Roberts later walked back his 'globalist class' comment, claiming he didn't know who Fuentes was because he doesn't watch the news.