There is currently a fight within MAGA over Andrew Tate, a far-right influencer and self-explained misogynistic man who arrived in Florida on Thursday morning.
Tate, along with his brother Tristan, was awaiting trial in Romania on human trafficking charges, but they were allowed to return to the United States overnight. Several of his supporters of online rights were praised: it was a victory in the rule of law, and posted to X by Conservative commentator Candice Owens.
These critics tended to be rather mainstream conservative ideological leaders and commentators. People like podcaster Ben Shapiro complained, “America doesn't need more self-proclaimed pumping and terrorist alike with a history of outstanding criminal allegations of sex trafficking and porn distribution.” Critics include members of Trump's own party, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
These split reactions to Tate's arrival reveal the underlying split on the right. It is between the more general social conservative wings of the Union and the more provocative and adjacent areas of the Tech Brothers and podcasters, which appear to line up in second Trump terminology.
Tate became a far-right podcasting star in the 2020s with his explicitly sexist philosophy of masculinity. He soon gained widespread support among both young people, specifically winning several prominent Magazine figures, including Trump's own former personal lawyer and current advisor, Alina Haba, Elon Musk, and Donald Trump Jr.
He and his brother were arrested in 2022 when Tate was charged with rape and accused of leading a human trafficking business. (Both deny the allegations.)
However, reports have been circulating that people on Trump's orbit are taking on the job of releasing them. The Financial Times reported that US Special Envoy Ric Grenell filed Tates' lawsuit with Romanian Foreign Minister at the Munich Security Council earlier this month.
However, not everyone is happy with Tates' return.
Republican Sen. Josh Hawley was one of the critics in Congress. “I hope our government is never involved in any way,” he told reporters. “I don't think conservatives should praise this guy at all.”
DeSantis also denounced them and asked the state attorney general to see what legal reliance they had to respond to.
“Florida is not a place to welcome such behavior,” he said. “I don't know how this came. We weren't involved. We weren't informed. Obviously the federal government has jurisdiction over whether they want to refuse entry to the US.”
Throughout President Trump's first month, Trump has been praised almost universally by his coalition. The Republican base remains loyal despite his steady decline in popularity among other segments of American voters. Therefore, this stands out among the elites of the Union – and raises questions about how durable these pro-Trump bonds are.
“We have to wait and see, but if Trump really congratulates the Tate brothers on allowing them to come to the US, then we can say that his administration is the main exhibit led by the hyper-online rights that require them to be in great contact with the real world and touch the grass.
For now, at least, it appears Trump is keeping himself at a distance. Trump was quick when asked if he had intervened. “I don't know anything about it,” he said. “I knew nothing about it.”
We may get more details on how or why the Tate restrictions have been lifted, and Romanian fees have not been removed. But this division may continue to expand once he re-enters America's public squares – especially as both sides compete to have more impact on Trump's policies, the Republican Party and the future of conservatism.
