Paul Ryan Challenger Embracing White Nationalism: Reports

A Republican challenger to House Speaker Paul Ryan in Wisconsin's First Congressional District is accused of adopting Alt-Right and white nationalist views on social media.

Paul Nehlen, a self-described successful businessman, last ran against Paul Ryan in the 2016 Republican primary and lost by nearly 70 percent. Nehlen is running again in 2018, and according to multiple reports, has been accused of using Alt-Right and white nationalist terms and imagery on social media. Patch reached out to Nehlen, however a message left for him has not been returned.

According to a Huffington Post article, Nehlen was an ardent backer and guest speaker for Alabama Senate nominee Roy Moore, who was accused of sexual misconduct. Following Moore's loss, Nehlen used a blogging platform "used primarily by white nationalists" to re-post a drawing that used alt-right terminology and imagery. Nehlen also appeared on the "anti-Semitic white power podcast" Fash the Nation on Dec. 9 - his second such appearance.

On Dec. 4, Nehlen tweeted "It's okay to be white," a meme propagated by white nationalists and KKK leader David Duke in response to a question about his political leanings. According to a Newsweek article, on the same day, Nehlen used the typographic technique to criticize a Jewish lawyer on Twitter. The technique is considered anti-Semitic.

According to a Newsweek article, New York Times editor Jonathan Weisman wrote that Nehlen "goes flat-out Alt-Right" following his recent activity on social media.

New York Post columnist John Podhoretz, who is Jewish, wrote on Twitter, "Oh look, Nehlen literally comes out of the Nazi closet."

According to a FOX 6 report, Nehlen went after Podhoretz earlier in December, saying he should "eat a bullet."

When Huffington Post asked Nehlen if he was a white nationalist with a simple yes or no, he responded:

Given that the media is still determined to libel all conservatives as bigots, it seems some clarity on the definition of American Nationalism ― the idea that the United States should put the economic and security interests of American citizens ahead of the economic and security interests of illegal aliens and non-citizens ― is in order.

In this Aug. 3, 2016 file photo, Paul Nehlen, a Republican challenger to House Speaker Paul Ryan, speaks in Janesville, Wis. Nehlen says he believes an unfounded right-wing online conspiracy theory dubbed "pizzagate." Nehlen voiced his opinion during an online question and answer session with voters earlier this month on Reddit. He was asked "What are your thoughts on Pizzagate?" In response, Nehlen wrote, "I believe it is real." The conspiracy theory claims Democrats harbor child sex slaves at a pizza restaurant in Washington, D.C. (AP Photo/Scott Bauer, File)