Elon Musk has agreed to allow Christian Nationalist broadcaster Nick Fuentes to return to X after his account was suspended in January of last year.
The agreement to re-platform the founder and president of the America First Foundation was the culmination of a back-and-forth Musk participated in on X.
The billionaire initially commented on a meme that demonstrated the self-contradiction of an X user by juxtaposing two conflicting posts regarding police.
“Goldfish memory,” Musk said. “He posted completely contradictory demands only 2 days apart!”
“You work for Jews,” another user replied, adding the following quote attributed to Fuentes from today: “Heh… what does it say about our society that the cops let BLM torch our cities but won’t let students criticize Israel?”
“While I don’t condone all the actions of any one group, I must admit to being openly philosemitic, and generally try to see the good in all people,” Musk replied.
At that point, another user challenged Musk to allow Fuentes back on X.
“He has been banned since 2021, what happened to your promise big guy?” the user asked.
“Very well, he will be reinstated, provided he does not violate the law, and let him be crushed by the comments and Community Notes,” Musk said. “It is better to have anti whatever out in the open to be rebutted than grow simmering in the darkness.” Very well, he will be reinstated, provided he does not violate the law, and let him be crushed by the comments and Community Notes.
It is better to have anti whatever out in the open to be rebutted than grow simmering in the darkness.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 2, 2024
In response to author Ashley St. Clair, who suggested the move will receive “enormous backlash,” Musk clarified further.
“Fate loves irony, but hates hypocrisy,” the X owner wrote. “I cannot claim to be a defender of free speech, but then permanently ban someone who hasn’t violated the law, no matter how much I disagree with what they say.”
Musk added: “This will probably cause us to lose a lot of advertisers and makes me sad, but a principle is a principle.”
Several prominent X users applauded the news. Elon Musk finally agrees to bring Nick Fuentes back on X
I don't think this is gonna go how he thinks it is but glad he's bringing free speech back pic.twitter.com/2gY1bjjz5B
— Jake Shields (@jakeshieldsajj) May 2, 2024 Elon bringing Nick Fuentes back on X will be a game changer. Authenticity, provocative truths, free speech is the way forward. We don't need the same tired talking points. That got us nowhere. Huge victory 🥂 🚨 GET READY.: Nick Fuentes @NickJFuentes will be reinstated on X
Thank you everyone who used their platform to make this happen. I ❤️ us pic.twitter.com/3XwDtQXimt
— classicsgroyp (@classicsgroyp) May 2, 2024
The ADL will lose their minds - do you support the most canceled man on the internet being UNBANNED on x? https://t.co/DWUIDFjMVZ
— E (@ElijahSchaffer) May 2, 2024 Nick Fuentes is being reinstated on X after he was banned for several years. Like everyone else, has a right to share them on a platform that supports free speech, and you aren’t compelled to agree with his views. pic.twitter.com/hDpSGMCc8E Elon just announced he will be bringing back Nick Fuentes.
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) May 2, 2024
Massive respect to you for this move, Elon. As you know, it will hurt your ad revenue but it is also the only path forward if this is to really be the one major free speech platform on earth.
I'm impressed. https://t.co/oR7PfF5cia
— Clint Russell (@LibertyLockPod) May 2, 2024 Elon Musk finally did something principled. I will not say a bad word about him for 48 hours.
— Brett MacDonald (@BrettAMacDonald) May 2, 2024
Fuentes’ Jan. 25, 2023 suspension occurred less than 24 hours after his account had been reinstated following a previous ban in July 2021.
“Upon his return to Twitter … Fuentes posted a GIF of [Kanye] West's 2024 presidential bid logo – which the far-right influencer is apparently managing – that morphed into a sign reading ‘DEFCON 3.’ This is an apparent reference to West's tweet where he vowed to go ‘death con 3 on Jewish people,’ – which led to his ban,” per i24 News.
According to The Hill, Fuentes took to his Telegram account after his suspension and wrote, “Well it was fun while it lasted.”
Fuentes hosts a commentary program called America First with Nicholas J. Fuentes on Rumble, where he has nearly 70,000 followers.
The America First Foundation, which Fuentes founded in 2020, is “dedicated to crafting a new vision of the American nation. We champion the role of God in society, upholding the principles of Nationalism, Christianity, and Traditionalism,” according to its official website.
