Andrew Tate Returns to the US, Conservatives React

Andrew Tate and his brother, Tristian, landed in Florida on Thursday after leaving Romania. They were under investigation for human trafficking, sexual abuse, money laundering, and organized crime in Romania and the UK. 

The Details: Romanian prosecutors approved a request to lift a two-year travel ban on the brothers, who are dual citizens of the U.S. and UK. The Tate brothers have gained millions of followers by talking about their conceptions of masculinity. Andrew Tate has described himself as a "misogynist," and said that women are the property of their husbands, and rape victims bear some responsibility for their attacks. Tate said he and his brother have been “largely misunderstood.”

Splitting The Right: Many on the right condemn the Tate brothers. Commentator Ben Shapiro (Right bias), Sen. Josh Hawley, and Gov. Ron DeSantis were among the conservatives to condemn the Tate brothers return to the states. However, the Tampa Bay Young Republicans, Candace Owens (Right), and Laura Loomer argued that the Tate brothers are allowed to return as citizens, and they have not been formally convicted of any crimes. Josh Hammer (Lean Right) noted that people close to President Donald Trump have spoken highly of the Tates and may have pushed for their release. 

Moral Litmus Test: Hammer called conservative support for the brothers “ugly” adding “No decent person, let alone a political movement downstream of the biblical, Judeo-Christian tradition, as American conservatism necessarily is, should lift a finger to welcome such a wretched reprobate to our shores or shield him from justice.” Auron MacIntyre, columnist for The Blaze (Right) said, “Tate is terrible but turning him into some form of litmus test is a mistake and plays directly into his hands… Tate only exists because American conservatives have failed so thoroughly at speaking to young men and portraying masculinity in a positive light.”