What does the Republican party think of Hitler today?

Republican right in the US holds a range of views on Hitler, with the mainstream and many senior figures condemning him and Nazism, while an extreme fringe openly expresses praise, antisemitic rhetoric, and Holocaust denial. These extremist views have a significant point of internal conflict within the party. 

Mainstream Condemnation

The official stance of the Republican Party, and the views expressed by most of its prominent figures, is one of strong condemnation of Adolf Hitler, Nazism, and antisemitism.

Official Denunciations: High-ranking officials, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senator Ted Cruz, have explicitly denounced incidents of praise for Hitler and antisemitic remarks among Young Republican groups, calling for those responsible to step down.

Rejection of Extremism: Mainstream commentators and politicians like Sean Hannity and Laura Loomer have called for the GOP to dismiss Nazi sympathizers and white nationalists within their ranks.

Public Opinion: A majority of Republicans (60%) view Hitler as a “completely bad person,” according to a 2024 YouGov poll. 

Fringe and Extremist Views

Despite the official stance, recent years have seen the rise of an influential far-right fringe that has brought explicitly pro-Hitler and antisemitic sentiments into public discourse. 

Open Admiration: Far-right figures such as white nationalist Nick Fuentes, who once dined with Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago, have publicly called Hitler “f***ing cool” and dismissed Holocaust education as “propaganda”.

Leaked Communications: Messages from private group chats of young Republican leaders across multiple states, which were leaked to the media in late 2025, revealed extensive racist and antisemitic rhetoric, including praise for Hitler and jokes about gas chambers.

Holocaust Denial/Exaggeration: A December 2025 Manhattan Institute survey reported that 37% of Republicans believe the Holocaust was exaggerated or did not occur. 

Internal Conflict

These divergent views have created a clear division. Figures like Senator Ted Cruz have described the rise of this antisemitism as an “existential crisis” for the party, while others have been accused of being slow to condemn or even giving a platform to individuals with extremist views. This conflict highlights a tension between the traditional conservative movement and the influence of a growing, more extreme, nationalist faction.