Former President Donald Trump has recently acknowledged his defeat in the 2020 election, causing a stir among far-right leaders. Some have announced intentions to campaign against his re-election in 2024.

In the past few weeks, Trump, the Republican frontrunner for 2024, has stated on multiple occasions that he lost the 2020 election “by a whisker.”

During a 45-minute interview with podcaster Lex Fridman on Aug. 4, Trump remarked, “He beat us by a whisker. It was a terrible thing,” referring to President Joe Biden. He repeated similar sentiments at a Moms for Liberty summit on Aug. 30 and during an Aug. 23 press briefing at the Southern border.

Although Trump has often and falsely asserted that he won the election, he has, at times, admitted his loss in the past few years. He lost the popular vote to Biden by 7 million and the Electoral College by 74 votes. His attempts to overturn the election peaked with the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot, where supporters attempted to halt the certification of his defeat.

The response from some far-right activists to Trump’s recent admissions has been notably harsh.

Nick Fuentes, a white nationalist, condemned Trump on Sept. 4 for owning up to his 2020 loss and stated he would work to dissuade voters from supporting Trump.

“So, why did we do Stop the Steal? Why did anyone participate in Jan. 6? Why did some face charges?  It would have been helpful to know that before 1,600 people faced prosecution,” Fuentes claimed on his podcast, addressing the criminal cases against those who stormed the Capitol. “It would’ve been good to know that before (I) had my finances frozen, got placed on a no-fly list, banned from social media, and lost access to my banking services.”

Fuentes, who is known for Holocaust denial and had previously dined with Trump and controversial rapper Ye at Mar-a-Lago in 2022, described Trump’s acknowledgment as a “tremendous betrayal” and a sign of “callous indifference to the sacrifices made by his followers.”

Divisions among right-wing supporters as Trump aims for moderate voters

Losing support from Fuentes and other hard-right figures could adversely affect Trump’s campaign. His team has historically depended on these influential voices to rally his most dedicated followers.

The Trump campaign has not provided any comments for this article.

Colin Henry, a researcher at George Washington University, has noticed a decline in Trump’s backing within far-right circles in recent months.

“Initially, they were just frustrated with the campaign strategies. But now it seems like there is blood in the water; the fringe groups sense an opportunity to regain more control over the movement,” Henry observed.

He noted that white supremacist organizations have never completely viewed Trump as “their guy,” seeing him more as a means to promote their agenda, and their initial excitement has been fading.

“They appear ready for a change,” Henry remarked. “Their loyalty hinges on him achieving some of their more extreme goals.”

It’s not the first instance of far-right figures critiquing Trump’s tactics as he prepares for a general election, which requires winning more than just his core supporters.

A month ago, after the Republican National Convention, Fuentes publicly declared he would not endorse Trump for another term and expressed plans to actively oppose him, including organizing a press conference in Michigan in mid-September and staging counter-events during Trump or Vance rallies.

Far-right activist Laura Loomer expressed on X, formerly Twitter, that Trump needs to shift his strategy quickly, as discussions over a stolen election shouldn’t dominate for another four years. She criticized his aides as “weak” and suggested that his pace was being hindered.

In a podcast, far-right figure Candace Owens described the conflicts within the movement as a “MAGA Civil War,” fueled by frustration with Trump’s softer stances and attempts to reach a broader audience.

Trump has also fluctuated on his stance regarding abortion restrictions, drawing backlash from anti-abortion activists.

Yet, Owens maintained her support for Trump, saying, “I’m just unclear about who is steering the MAGA movement anymore,” pointing out that her issues lie with Trump’s team rather than him. “You risk alienating those who believed in you. That support is crucial for your base. You can’t suddenly alter your base and expect that to succeed.”

Reporter David Jackson contributed to this article.