Andrew Tate

Andrea Austria / Media Matters

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Some right-wing media figures are mad at Trump administration for orchestrating Tate brothers’ return to US

Written by Gideon Taaffe

Published

The Trump White House appears to have allowed influencer brothers Andrew and Tristan Tate to leave Romania and come to the United States as they face sex trafficking charges. 

The act has caused turmoil within right-wing media, as some right-wing figures have described it as “grotesque” and “out of touch with the real world.” 

Others have saved their vitriol for Andrew Tate himself — a “manosphere” personality who has promoted violence against women and said rape victims should “bear responsibility” for their attacks — describing him as an “enemy” of American conservatism and a “pimp.” 

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  • The Trump administration reportedly moved to lift a travel ban for Andrew and Tristan Tate

    • The Tate brothers have come to America amid charges for sex trafficking and other allegations in Romania. The brothers were previously restricted from leaving the country during the investigation. Romanian courts also lifted the seizure of multiple assets including luxury cars and property and agreed to unfreeze bank accounts. The brothers deny any wrongdoing and are required to appear in Romanian court when summoned. [The Associated Press, 2/27/25]
    • The Tate brothers were in Romania, where they faced allegations of sex trafficking, sexual intercourse with a minor, organized crime, and other abuses. While the initial sex-trafficking case is no longer going to trial, in August the Romanian government raided several properties during an investigation into “allegations of human trafficking, including the trafficking of minors, sexual intercourse with a minor, forming an organized criminal group, money laundering, and influencing statements.” [NBC News, 8/23/24; The Associated Press, 12/19/24]
    • The Tate brothers’ case was reportedly “first brought up by U.S. officials in a phone call with the Romanian government” earlier this month, and Trump’s special envoy Richard Grenell reportedly discussed it with the Romanian foreign minister at the Munich Security Conference. The Financial Times reported that a source familiar with the conversation claimed that “a request was made to return the brothers’ passports and allow them to travel while they wait for court proceedings to conclude.” [Financial Times, 2/17/25]
    • In the past, Andrew Tate has advocated a variety of misogynistic and violent behaviors. Tate has pushed the idea that women should be subservient to men, said rape victims should “bear responsibility” for their attacks, and described how he would commit domestic violence toward women. [Media Matters, 12/11/23]

  • Some in right-wing media, including personalities in Trump’s circle, have voiced support for the Tate brothers

    • Grenell told the Financial Times he supports the Tate brothers; he had previously quote-tweeted a reply to Tristan Tate on X to suggest that USAID funds had been used to target conservatives in Romania. [Financial Times, 2/17/25; Vox, 2/25/25]
    • One of Trump’s White House aides, Paul Ingrassia, whom The Atlantic described as an “online reactionary,” was a lawyer for the Tates and previously posted photos with them. Ingrassia has also claimed Andrew Tate is an “ancient ideal of excellence.” [The Atlantic, 2/8/25]
    • Right-wing podcaster Candace Owens supported the Tate brothers’ move, calling Romania’s restrictions on them “intergovernmental corruption.” Owens added, “Due process and convictions that are based on facts, rather than the whims and emotions of small men, must be defended, everywhere.” [Twitter/X, 2/27/25]
    • Trump ally Laura Loomer attacked Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for saying the Tate brothers are not welcome in Florida, saying, “The Tate brothers are US citizens. Good thing Ron isn’t President.” [Twitter/X, 2/27/25]
    • On his podcast in 2024, Donald Trump Jr. praised the Tate brothers as “smart” and said he always had a “good relationship” with them, calling Andrew a “friend of mine.” [Triggered, 1/18/24]
    • Donald Trump’s legal counsel Alina Habba told Tate she is a “big fan” of his during an appearance on Benny Johnson’s show. [Rumble, The Benny Show, 1/10/25]

  • Others in right-wing media openly opposed the Trump administration’s move to welcome the Tate brothers

    • The Daily Wire’s Ben Shapiro commented, “America does not need more self-proclaimed pimps,” in reaction to the Tate news. He posted to social media: “America does not need more self-proclaimed pimps and terror supporters with outstanding criminal allegations of sex trafficking and a history of pornographic distribution, plus a grift ‘university’ that suckers young men out of thousands of dollars.” Shapiro was referencing Tate’s Hustler University, an online course that has been criticized as a pyramid scheme. [Twitter/X, 2/27/25; The Guardian, 8/20/22]
    • Daily Wire co-founder Jeremy Boreing called Andrew Tate “the enemy of any traditional American conservatism” and attacked any conservative group that embraces him. He posted on social media: “The way conservatives and conservative organizations respond to Andrew Tate arriving on US soil will tell you everything you need to know about them. Any organization or host who embraces him is engaged in far worse than simple grift, though it is that. Andrew Tate is the enemy of any traditional American conservatism.” [Twitter/X, 2/27/25]
    • Daily Wire reporter Megan Basham posted, “Importing low-class pimps does nothing to make America great again.” [Twitter/X, 2/27/25]
    • Contributor Kimberly Ross penned an op-ed in the Washington Examiner titled “With Andrew Tate, the enemy of your enemy is not your friend.” In her opinion piece she argued: “Conservatives can and should reject Tate as an ambassador for masculinity. The Left and Right don’t agree on much. But when it comes to a misogynistic predator such as Tate, we can agree on this: We don’t need more like him.” [Washington Examiner, 1/19/25]
    • The Dispatch’s editor-in-chief, Jonah Goldberg, commented, “Grotesque and not remotely putting America first.” [Twitter/X, 2/27/25]
    • Right-wing internet personality Ian Miles Cheong commented, “If Jeffrey Epstein had a podcast he would be as beloved a figure as Andrew Tate.” [Twitter/X, 2/27/25]
    • Conservative radio host Erick Erickson commented that if Trump did “bless” Tate’s entry into the U.S., then it’s evidence that “his administration is guided by a hyper-online right that is very out of touch with the real world.” He posted, “We should wait and see, but I can say that if Trump really did bless allowing the Tate brothers to come to the US, it would be the primary exhibit that his administration is guided by a hyper-online right that is very out of touch with the real world and needs to touch grass.” [Twitter/X, 2/27/25]
    • Conservative writer Bethany Mandel posted, “Andrew Tate is bad and should not be welcome in the United States.” [Twitter/X, 2/27/25]