Democratic Party - Democratic National Committee

09/21/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/21/2024 14:03

JD Vance is Doubling Down on Hate And Extremism by Campaigning With Tucker Carlson Arrow

As JD Vance campaigns with Tucker Carlson in the aftermath of reporting on Donald Trump-endorsed North Carolina gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson's history of hate, lies, and conspiracy theories,DNC Rapid Response Director Alex Floyd released the following statement:

"Yesterday, JD Vance refused to disavow Mark Robinson after he reportedly referred to himself as a 'Nazi' and praised Mein Kampf as 'a good read' and 'a real eye opener.' Today, Vance will take the stage with Tucker Carlson, a far-right extremist who platformed a Holocaust denier and echoes the worst elements of Trump's hateful agenda. The American people reject this type of vitriolic extremism, even if Donald Trump and Vance continue to embrace purveyors of hate."

After failing to disavow Trump-endorsed NC gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson's history of spewing hateful rhetoric, JD Vance is doubling down by campaigning with Tucker Carlson, who recently elevated a Holocaust denier.

CNN: "'I'm a black NAZI!': NC GOP nominee for governor made dozens of disturbing comments on porn forum"

Washington Post: "Porn site user linked to Mark Robinson also praised Hitler's Mein Kampf"

"A porn site user linked to North Carolina gubernatorial nominee Mark Robinson praised Adolf Hitler's book 'Mein Kampf' in addition to declaring himself a 'black NAZI,' according to screenshots obtained by The Washington Post. The user's posts on porn forum Nude Africa vanished Thursday, the same day that CNN reported on the many ways the account resembled Robinson. A person with access to the site before their deletion provided The Post with screenshots. 'Mein Kampf is a good read,' the user, dubbed 'minisoldr,' wrote in a thread seeking book recommendations. 'It's very informative and not at all what I thought it would be. It's a real eye opener.' The book, an autobiography by Hitler, casts Jews as an 'eternal parasite.'"

Reporter: "Senator Vance, do you have any reaction to the Mark Robinson news?"

Vance: *rushes into other room*

Vance: "My comment on Mark Robinson is that Kamala Harris cast the deciding vote on the Inflation Explosion Act and because of that a lot of Americans can't afford groceries"

Salon: "JD Vance will join Tucker Carlson on stage after the ex-Fox News anchor hosted a pro-Nazi historian"

Jewish Insider: "J.D. Vance declines to criticize Tucker Carlson over his friendly conversation with Holocaust denier"

The Bulwark: "Vance pre-recorded an interview with Tucker Carlson on Thursday just hours after the White House criticized the right-wing populist for featuring a historian who suggested, a few days before, that the Holocaust happened by accident."

Carlson is a member of Vance's inner circle and rooted for Donald Trump to pick Vance as his running mate.

New York Times: "Mr. Carlson was a key advocate in pressing Mr. Trump to name Mr. Vance as his running mate, ultimately drowning out other voices who wanted a more moderate or seasoned pick."

Politico: "The former Fox News superstar [Tucker Carlson] used his prime-time show to promote Vance's Senate candidacy in 2022 and has remained one of his most ardent public supporters. Vance is a regular guest on Carlson's new platform… and Carlson reportedly personally lobbied Trump to pick Vance as his vice presidential candidate in the days leading up to the Republican National Convention."

New York Times: "How Tucker Carlson Helped Sell J.D. Vance as Trump's Running Mate"

Carlson is an extreme election denier who spread the Big Lie that the 2020 election was stolen and attempted to whitewash the violence of January 6.

Southern Poverty Law Center: "Two days before Jan. 6, 2021, Carlson told his audience that the 2020 election was 'unfair' and had been rigged against then-President Trump."

Carlson: "It's very clear January 6th was essentially what it appeared to be: Thousands of ordinary American citizens, voters - people who believe in our democracy far more fervently than Liz Cheney ever has - came to Washington because they sincerely believed democracy had been thwarted. They believed the presidential election was unfair - and they have a right to believe that. And by the way, in many ways, they were correct. The presidential election was unfair. And you don't have to get into anything about voting machines to believe that."

Carlson: "The overwhelming majority… were peaceful. They were orderly and meek. These were not insurrectionists. They were sightseers."

Carlson has endorsed the racist "Great Replacement" theory and said that white supremacy is a "hoax."

Southern Poverty Law Center: "In 2022, The New York Times studied Carlson's shows and found that in more than 400 out of 1,150 episodes of 'Tucker Carlson Tonight' from 2016-21, he pushed the suggestion that elites worked to change the demographics of the U.S. to disadvantage white people."

Carlson: "Now, I know that the left and all the little gatekeepers on Twitter become literally hysterical if you use the term 'replacement,' if you suggest that the Democratic Party is trying to replace the current electorate, the voters now casting ballots, with new people, more obedient voters from the Third World. But they become hysterical because that's what's happening actually. Let's just say it: That's true."

Carlson: "[White supremacy] is a hoax, just like the Russia hoax. It's a conspiracy theory used to divide the country and keep a hold on power. That's exactly what's going on."

Southern Poverty Law Center: "The white supremacist David Duke praised Carlson's embrace of 'great replacement' rhetoric in October 2021 on his radio show. Duke at one point asked, 'How can I be an evil guy?' for espousing the same things as a mainstream Fox News host.

"'It's really interesting that all of these things that Tucker is talking about now - Tucker's been around a long time, too,' Duke said of Carlson. 'He's been around from the 1990s, 2000s, and in his career, 2000s. And he finally in the last three or four years - somewhat also with the Trump campaign - but he's finally come around to start even using the word 'white people' in any context.'"