Far-Right Extremists Exploit Israel-Hamas War to Mainstream Bigotry in the U.S.
The anti-democratic far-right extremist movement in the United States is exploiting the war in Israel and Gaza to mainstream xenophobic, antisemitic, and anti-Muslim rhetoric, further discriminatory policies, and inspire violence. Promoted by mainstream and fringe influencers, they threaten the safety of our communities and our democracy.
Mainstreaming bigoted narratives and disinformation
Politicians, public figures on the far right, and extremists are using the current conflict to promote anti-Jewish bigotry and using rhetoric that stokes fear of Palestinian refugees and others from Muslim-majority countries. They use disinformation to denigrate Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian communities and revive age-old antisemitic conspiracies.
- Two days after Hamas’s attack, former President Donald Trump falsely suggested that Hamas militants were “pouring” over the southern U.S. border. Members of Congress repeatedly echoed this fearmongering.
- On November 1, Representative Brian Mast (FL-21) deliberately conflated Palestinian civilians with Hamas terrorists, saying “innocent Palestinian civilians” is a phrase comparable to “innocent Nazi civilians.”
- In response to Hamas’s attack, Charlie Kirk, CEO of the Christian Nationalist organization Turning Point USA claimed “the vast majority of Muslims” are living “in the 1300s,” and warned his show to arm themselves against terrorist Muslim immigrants.
- White supremacist Nick Fuentes and far-right conspiracy theorist Stew Peters—who hosted far-right members of Congress on their platforms—are leveraging the conflict to further antisemitic tropes that Jews control the world. Fuentes suggested Israel lied about the attack and Peters suggested it was Israel’s own “false flag” attack.
