The Republican Jewish Coalition summit, held in Las Vegas at the Venetian Expo—a convention center once owned by the late GOP donor Sheldon Adelson—has drawn attention for its acknowledgment of rising antisemitism within the party. Despite this, the group’s response has been defined by a pattern of deflecting responsibility onto Democrats and dismissing the problem as isolated to the party’s periphery. Recent high-profile incidents, such as a skirmish involving Tucker Carlson and the Heritage Foundation, have cast a long shadow over the summit, which is being held amid a series of alarming pro-Nazi and pro-Hitler actions within the GOP. These include a nominee for the Office of Special Counsel withdrawing his nomination after bragging about his “Nazi streak” in a text message, a leaked group chat among Young Republicans praising Hitler, and a Nazi symbol found hanging in a GOP Congressional office.
Tucker Carlson, a former Fox News host with a substantial audience, faced scrutiny this week after hosting Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes on his podcast. Fuentes claimed that the “big challenge” to unifying the country was “organized Jewry,” a statement that many interpreted as antisemitic. At the summit’s opening, Sens. Ted Cruz and Dave McCormick took aim at Carlson, with Cruz accusing the media of amplifying antisemitism on the right. However, many RJC speakers downplayed the severity of the issue, with Matt Brooks, CEO of the event’s host, asserting that antisemitism is a“very small, limited problem” within the party. RJC staffers handed out placards with the message “TUCKER IS NOT MAGA,” suggesting that Carlson’s views are seen as divergent from the party’s mainstream.
Rep. David Kustoff, the longest-serving Republican Jew in Congress, warned that unless legacy conservative institutions like the Heritage Foundation distance themselves from fringe ideologies, the GOP risked becoming associated with them. Meanwhile, Rep. Randy Fine, who called Carlson “the most dangerous antisemite in America,” admitted that antisemitism remains on the party’s fringes but warned of its potential to metastasize if left unchecked. Jewish GOP donors, such as Y. David Scharf, have doubled down on their support, arguing that the party’s swift action against the Young Republicans chapter demonstrates accountability. Yet, the absence of explicit condemnation from top GOP leaders, including President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance, has drawn criticism from Jewish advocacy groups, who argue that the party’s leadership lacks the will to address the issue.
Joe Gruters, the chair of the Republican National Committee, addressed antisemitism nine times during his speech, always linking it to the political left. Sen. Chuck Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish senator, urged Republicans to take a hard look inward, warning that the Heritage Foundation and its allies are mainstreaming hate ideologies across the party. As the GOP confronts these challenges, the debate over whether the party can meaningfully address antis.