White nationalist influencer Nicholas J. Fuentes, also known as Nick Fuentes, recently posted a video on his Rumble account disavowing Trump for admitting his 2020 election loss. Fuentes expressed feelings of betrayal as he and his followers faced legal consequences for their role in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, which was fueled by Trump's false claims of a rigged election.
The admission of defeat surprised many Trump supporters, given his repeated false claims of victory in the 2020 election throughout the years. Trump lost the popular vote to Joe Biden by 7 million votes and the Electoral College by 72. On Jan. 6, 2021, Trump's followers, including Fuentes, attempted to disrupt the certification of Biden's victory by storming the U.S. Capitol.
"So why did we do 'Stop the Steal'? Why did anyone go on January 6? Why is anyone sitting in jail?" Fuentes exclaimed in one of his latest videos.
During a live interview at the Moms for Liberty summit on Aug. 26, Trump acknowledged that he lost the 2020 election "by a whisker." However, he also claimed he received more votes than anyone else in history while alleging that Democrats used mail-in ballots and COVID-19 to win.
"I was told if we got 63 million votes, there's no way we could be defeated. I got 10 or 12 million more votes than that—more than anybody had gotten. The most votes of any sitting president in history, and he beat us by a whisker. It was a terrible thing. They used COVID to cheat. It was a terrible thing. Then I watched, and I thought it was very sad. The election brought great division to our country," Trump said.
Trump reiterated his loss admission in a separate interview with Lex Fridman, which went viral. His remarks were not well received by some of his far-right supporters, including Fuentes.
Fuentes' involvement in U.S. Capitol riot
Fuentes, a longtime Trump and MAGA supporter, played a central role in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Hundreds of rioters, including him, faced legal repercussions for their participation. In one of his most recent videos, Fuentes expressed anger and a sense of betrayal after Trump's admission.
"I went to every 'Stop the Steal' rally at my own expense and brought my followers out there. I spent tens of thousands of dollars—my own money—and on January 6, we made our stand, and my life was ruined for years because of it," Fuentes said, visibly upset.
Fuentes claimed he was banned from streaming, his bank accounts were frozen, and he was placed on a federal no-fly list. "We made this tremendous sacrifice because we were true believers. And now he's admitting he lost by a whisker? So what's the point? Then you're a loser. You lost to Joe Biden," he said.
"You deserve to be charged. If he admits he lost, that actually vindicates the DOJ charge against him because the charge is that he knew he lost but lied to defraud the people."
The relationship between Fuentes and Trump
Fuentes claims his career took off during Trump's first presidential campaign. He gained popularity online for his vocal support of the "America First" movement, which is associated with white nationalism, anti-Semitism, and extremist views. Fuentes rose to prominence by opposing mainstream conservative figures and positioning himself as a more radical voice in politics.
The podcaster praised Trump's policies on immigration and nationalism and his opposition to political correctness. While Trump has never publicly endorsed Fuentes, the two dined together at Mar-a-Lago in 2022 with Kanye West. Reports suggest Trump was unaware of Fuentes or his background when West invited him to the dinner.
After the 2020 election, Fuentes became a key figure in the "Stop the Steal" movement, attending rallies and claiming the election was stolen. His involvement helped fuel the movement that culminated in the Capitol riot.
Despite his early support, Fuentes has recently become critical of Trump, accusing him of softening on issues like immigration. In his latest video, Fuentes predicted that Trump would backtrack on his mass deportation promises and criticized him for not supporting family separation policies. "I swear he's going to walk back the mass deportation thing. It's never going to happen—he hates Project 2025. He says he lost in 2020, and each new day brings another betrayal," Fuentes said before concluding his video.
Other far-right figures, including Candace Owens and Laura Loomer, have also criticized Trump for allegedly moderating his policies to appeal to a broader audience.
© 2024 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
