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Dad Tells White Nationalist Son to ‘Renounce the Hate’ in Heartbreaking Open Letter

What would you do if your child grew up to be a white supremacist? North Dakota dad Pearce Tefft penned a letter to his son Peter Tefft to condemn his decision to be part of the Charlottesville white nationalist rally, asking his “prodigal son” to leave behind his repugnant beliefs and come home.

“I have shared my home and hearth with friends and acquaintances of every race, gender and creed,” Pearce Tefft wrote. “I have taught all of my children that all men and women are created equal. That we must love each other all the same. Evidently Peter has chosen to unlearn these lessons, much to my and his family’s heartbreak and distress.”

On radio Wednesday, Glenn read the father’s heartbreaking letter and played a startling clip of white nationalists chanting “Jews will not replace us” at the Charlottesville rally over the weekend. What do you do if your own friends and family embrace these racist views that rightly horrify most people?

“What is happening?” Glenn asked incredulously. “Listen to the chants of what these people are saying.”

STU: This tweet, Glenn, to @worldofStu on Twitter: Wow, Glenn's monologue sounds like Winston Churchill, Gandhi, Jesus and Hulk Hogan got spliced together.

The perfect explanation for the first half-hour.

GLENN: A little Randy "Macho Man" Savage thrown in as well today.

I want to read a letter from a dad, a dad of a guy who saw his son on television interviewed while he was holding a torch in Charlottesville. The dad is -- lives in Fargo, North Dakota. He and his family are now being -- their lives are being destroyed in their hometown for the actions of his son.

Isn't that the reason why we came here in the first place? That you did not have to pay for the sins of your name? That you were an individual and you could stand on your own 2 feet and be judged by your actions? That you weren't -- you didn't get ahead of life because of your family name?

Everyone had to earn it themselves. I want to tell you a -- I want to read this story to you, and I want you to put yourself -- take all politics out of it. And I want you to put yourself in this dad's shoes.

I've never worked harder in my life on anything, including this job, than I have on my children. I have worked -- I -- I was foolish and stupid and reckless and really thought, you know, "I have to do these things and, you know, the Lord will work it out," with my older children. And he has. I am so blessed they both live next to us. And, you know, we are so close. And I love them to death. And they love their father, thank God. And they love their mother, and they love their stepmom.

But I woke up a few years ago, and I've tried so hard with my children, knowing that my children could slip through my fingers and become -- could become monsters. Because the world is such a dangerous place.

They could lose their soul. They could lose everything, just by the wrong friends, the wrong series of events.

My name is Pierce Tefft, this dad writes on Facebook. I am writing to all with regards to my youngest son, Peter Tefft, an avowed white nationalist who's been featured in a number of local news stories over the last several months.

On Friday night, my son traveled to Charlottesville, Virginia. He was interviewed by a national news outlet, while marching with reported white nationalists, who allegedly went on to kill a person. I, along with all of his siblings and his entire family, wished to loudly repudiate my son's vile, hateful, and racist rhetoric, and his actions. I don't know specifically where he learned these things and gained these beliefs, but he did not learn them at home.

I have shared my home and my hearth with friends and acquaintances of every race, gender, and creed. I have taught all of my children that all men and women are created equal, that they have to love one another, all, each of them the same.

Evidently, my son Peter has chosen to unlearn these lessons, much to my and his family's heartbreak and distress. And we've been silent up until now. But we now see that that was a mistake. It was the silence of good people that allowed the Nazis to flourish the first time around. And it is the silence of good people that is allowing them to flourish now.

Peter Tefft, my son, is not welcome at our family gatherings any longer. And I pray my prodigal son will renounce his hateful beliefs and return home. Then and only then will I lay out the feast. His hateful opinions are bringing hateful rhetoric to his siblings, cousins, nieces, nephews, as well as his parents. Why must we be guilty by association?

Again, none of these beliefs were learned at home. We do not, never have, never will accept his twisted worldview. He once joked, "The thing about us fascists is, it's not that we don't believe in freedom of speech. You can say whatever you want. We'll just throw you in the oven."

We'll just throw you in the oven? Peter, you're going to have shovel our bodies into the oven too. Please, son, renounce the hate. Accept and love all.

Did your friends go insane? Did your family members go insane? Because this one did.

But did he actually go insane? What is happening? What is happening? Could you please play, Pat, the chants that was going on with the guys who were, you know, holding the tiki torches. Listen to the chants of what these people are saying.

VOICE: Jews will not replace us! Jews will not replace us! Jews will not replace us!

GLENN: Jews will not replace us.

VOICE: Blood and soil! Blood and soil!

GLENN: Blood and soil. Blood and soil.

Do you know anybody that agrees with that? Do you know anybody that agrees with that?

Because I don't. Do you know anybody who isn't shocked and horrified, even by the Nazi symbol?

We have, because of the museum, we have artifacts from the Nazis. Those artifacts don't even come into my home. And every time I have shown someone an artifact of that -- I have a friend whose museum includes pin number one. That means the Nazi pin, the little pin, lapel pin. Number one belonged to Adolf Hitler. I have yet to meet anyone on the right or the left, that have seen that pin and didn't recoil back. Nobody has said, "Ooh. Can I hold that?" I'll pick it up and move towards them and say, "This was Adolf Hitler's pin." Every single time, they move away from it. Every time.

It's a lie. It's a lie that if you don't -- if you don't condemn Donald Trump, that you are just like the Nazis.

Here's the other lie: And this is the hardest one for anybody to get over. There is a feeling in today's world. And it's always like this. That softness is weakness. And that -- and that loud is strength. It's not.

We -- the antidote to our society -- what's poisoning us right now is, what? Hatred. What is the antidote to hatred? It's love. It's not more hatred. It's love.

It's not -- it's not anger. It's not violence. It's not mob justice. It's love.

And nobody wants to hear this. But if you're not actively pursuing love, peace, kindness, healing, understanding, you are part of the problem.

And I don't mean that to condemn you. I mean that to be a message from history. And if you don't think that understanding and healing and love works, then you're going to have to revisit the story of Gandhi and Martin Luther King and -- and Abraham Lincoln.

It doesn't mean that you don't stand up for what is right and you defend what is right. It means, with malice toward none and charity toward all. Abraham Lincoln was not an angry guy. He was not a guy who was like, "Yeah, and I'll tell you another thing they did." That's not how we won. That would have destroyed the country. He had to stop his own vice president. In the second inaugural address, when the -- when the vice president stood up and was like, "Yeah, and I'm telling you what, we're going to take the South, and we're going for reparations," Abraham Lincoln had to tell him, "Sit down. Go home."

We need fierce determination. We need a dangerous unselfishness as Martin Luther King said. If the options that you believe we have to choose are between black supremacists, Antifa, on one side, and on the other side, the KKK and the Nazis -- and they're on the right. Then I'm telling you, those are false choices. And I've never liked to stand right in the mushy middle. But I'm telling you, the only place to be is the middle. Because if that's on one side and the other is the Nazis, then I need to be the furthest away from both of those. And the only place then to be is in the middle. We all need to gather in the middle and say, "I don't want either of those choices."

And if your party and your friends and your media choice is making any excuses or ignoring the facts about either side or playing, "Well, what about," it is high time you get new friends, you get a new party, and you get a new media source.

THE GLENN BECK PODCAST

Why Your Actions Matter More Than Words in the Eyes of God

Glenn Beck and Eric Metaxas expose the spiritual crisis gripping America’s churches — a moment they compare to Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s warning before World War II. As the culture descends into moral confusion, too many Christians retreat into silence, claiming faith while refusing to act. Together, they argue that true belief demands courage — that “faith without works is dead” — and warn that neutrality in the face of evil is itself a form of complicity.

Watch the FULL Interview HERE

RADIO

The American Dream is in CRISIS - How Freedom Was Replaced by Comfort

The American Dream used to mean freedom and the chance to build your own life through hard work, faith, and independence. But today, it’s been replaced by comfort, consumption, and debt. Glenn Beck breaks down how America traded liberty for lifestyle, why socialism is gaining ground, and what it will take to reclaim the real American Dream before it disappears for good.

Transcript

Below is a rush transcript that may contain errors

GLENN: I don't know if you saw the visualizing the American dream, Stu.

You know, what the American dream actually is, is that you can forge your own way.

You can -- you know, you can have a scrap of land, and grow your own food if up.

You can, you know, go to school. Not go to school.

You can find a job. If you're qualified for it, you have an equal chance of getting it, you know, based on merit.

But the percentage of Americans who say the American dream is retirement is 86 percent. Health care, 86 percent. Owning a home, 85. Raising two kids, 78. Owning a car, 72. Vacations, 71. Pets, 66. A wedding, 55 percent. That's the American dream, I can get married.

The American dream, if that's what you think, they've now estimated, the cost per household over the cost -- over the lifetime, retirement is $1.6 million. Owning a home now, 30-year mortgage, 20 percent you want to, is $957,594. Owning a car, buying and finance to begin with new cars every ten years is now $900,000 over your lifetime. Raising two kids to 18, plus four years of public college, $876,092. Two kids. Health care, over your lifetime, spending from ages 22 to 85, $414,000. Vacations, annual vacation from '22 to '85, $180,000. One dog and one cat for 11 to 13 years is $40,000!

That's more expensive than a wedding. The engagement ring, the ceremony, and the reception is now estimated to be $38,200.

There's a reason socialism is doing well. You look at that, and you're like, wow. I mean, if that's the American dream. And for a lot of people, that is the American dream!

That's not what the American dream is supposed to be, but, you know, once -- you know, once Woodrow Wilson and FDR got a hold of us and they started advertising, it became stuff instead of freedom. It became stuff. And, you know, when there's a new report out. Let me see if I have that.

There's a new report out now that shows, first time home buyers made up just 21 percent of the home purchases. That's the lowest on record.

The typical age of repeat buyers hit an all-time high of '62. The median downtowns, reaching 23 percent.

The highest since 2023.

And also, where is it?

The last one is -- the median age for first time home buyers, in 1981, it was 29 years old.

I'm sorry. Yeah. Twenty-nine years old. In 2021, it was 33 years old.

What is it this year?

Median age, first time homeowner, forty.

You're 40 before you can buy any kind of home. That puts these things that people want, dream about, out of reach, until you're 40?

You know, 29 is one thing. But if you're not seeing -- you're not seeing your life really kind of settling down until you're 40, I -- I can understand why you're like, you know what, this system doesn't work.

Because you've never seen it work. It's betrayed you.

Or so you've been sold. It's betrayed you.

And everything is being pushed out of your reach. And when you're young, the one thing you're not is patient.

And at 40, I can see why people are not, you know, yeah. Well, socialism is neat because capitalism isn't working. How would you respond to that?

STU: I mean, it's more lengthy than we have time for. But I would say that the response to, you know, you thinking that you want a home is not to embrace an ideology that murders 100 million people.

That's not -- that's not a good answer to the problem that you think you have.

GLENN: But they're not learning that anywhere.

They're not -- that is our responsibility! To teach those things. Because they're not learning it anywhere.

TV

Glenn Beck Warns of 3 Economic Outcomes That Could Change EVERYTHING | Ep 467

Socialism is spreading fast among America’s youth, and the shocking election of Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani for mayor in New York City marks a major cultural and economic shift. Glenn exposes how runaway debt, record home prices, AI job disruption, and the collapsing stake in capitalism have led many Millennials and members of Gen Z to embrace socialism and communism. He reveals the three possible economic futures for 2026: two that are disastrous and one that could change everything if the Trump administration’s global financial overhaul succeeds. Plus, Justin Haskins, president of the Heartland Institute, joins to reveal some terrifying truths about why young Americans are embracing socialism from a poll he conducted with Rasmussen Reports.

RADIO

Glenn Beck warns: We're already in World War III

"The world doesn't understand yet. We're already in World War III," Glenn Beck warns. "That foe is not China. That foe is militant Islam." Glenn explains the battle we're currently facing and what's to come if we don't wake up soon...

Transcript

Below is a rush transcript that may contain errors

GLENN: From New Jersey, it's Brian. Hello, Brian.

CALLER: Hello!

GLENN: Hey.

CALLER: Yeah. Thanks for taking the calls today.

GLENN: Sure.

CALLER: Yeah. I'm worried that we are headed towards another French Revolution-style because we have entire generations. Or actually people just not being heard by their representatives.

GLENN: Hmm.

CALLER: And it's not just here. It's around the world.

GLENN: Uh-huh.

I -- actually, I had scheduled for this time, I'll just do it some other time. Talking about what's happening in -- in England.

I think England is headed for a Civil War. And -- and it's very close.

I mean, you can't put 4,000 people. 4,000 people, in jail, or try them for hate crimes. And speech crimes.

You can't -- you can't do it. In England!

You can't do that in one year. And expect people to just put up with it!

You can't -- you know, we're -- we're -- America doesn't understand yet.

The world doesn't understand.

We're in World War III. We're already in World War III.

I don't know when it becomes a hot war. Or even a war that we on our side recognize. But we are in World War III. And that -- that foe is not China.

That foe is militant Islam, period. And, you know, when we have a situation to where people are -- when the government is just like, no. It's not a problem.

It's not a problem. You know. You've got illegals all over.

It's not a problem.

It's not a problem.

It is a problem. Don't tell me what -- what the problems are not!

Because we're the ones living it!

You're the experts, who keep telling us, no. It's going to work out fine.

And it doesn't work out fine. And it just gets worse and worse.

Oh. We can spend this money. No. It looks like we can't spend this money. Oh, we can afford this. No. It looks like we can't afford this.

You know, if we do this with Ukraine, it will work out fine. No, it didn't, did it? These endless wars, all of this stuff, don't tell me what the problem is. Listen to the people and start talking to the people. Honestly, this is the reason why I'm doing this today. I -- I need to hear from you.

I need to know what's on your mind, so I stay focused and -- and clear on what America is saying.

Because I don't think -- look, you know, me taking phone calls is -- is not a true representation of anything, but it does give me a sense of -- of where you are, as an audience. Maybe not as America, but as an audience. And there are lots of things that concern me. But I want to hear it from you.
But I think you're right! We're headed for real, real trouble. All you need is real economic trouble.

You start getting real, true economic trouble. 1930s kind of depression stuff. And we're in Civil War.

Dan, Oregon. Welcome!

CALLER: Hello, Glenn. How are you?

GLENN: I'm great!

CALLER: Yeah. Good. It's been a long time.

I guess it's been over ten years, since I've had a chance to talk with you. I was one of your first insiders. I was listening to you, since you were in Florida.

GLENN: Wow. Wow.

CALLER: So it's been a long -- yeah. It has been. And I can't say I've enjoyed all of it.
(laughter)

GLENN: Neither have I!

STU: I can't say that either, I'll be honest with you.

CALLER: You know, you were talking on yesterday's show, reminiscing with Stu about how you guys started. And I remember those old shows. And, you know, at the end of the -- the fusion of entertainment and enlightenment.

STU: Hmm.

GLENN: Right.

CALLER: And there was a lot more entertainment. I remember I laughed a lot.

GLENN: Oh, yeah. I know. I know. Those days are long dead.
(laughter)

STU: There's nothing to laugh about now.

CALLER: Yeah. I -- I'm 78. I still work 40 hours a week. I love my job.

GLENN: Good for you.

CALLER: Been married for 55 years. I have seven kids.

GLENN: Good for you.

CALLER: I've got a daughter -- I've got a daughter who is in her 40s. And she has severe TDS. She -- we don't -- I mean, we're not cutting each other off. She hasn't done that at all. We're still very close as a family. But she was down visiting the other day, and got into a conversation with my wife. And I wasn't in the room. But Kathy said it was just like listening to one of those young people out on the street that was being interviewed by the news media. And she was -- and she was in tears about it. My wife and my daughter both.

And, I mean, I love her, and I continue to support her. She's a single woman, not by choice. She just never found the right guy.

GLENN: Yeah.

CALLER: And I really think that's part of the problem. Because she started reading -- back when Trump was first running, she started reading all of this stuff about him being misogynistic and all of this stuff.

GLENN: Yeah. Yeah.

CALLER: And it's just gotten worse. I -- I'm at a loss. I really am. Because I -- like, I see the country doing better. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. But I still feel like that at least right now, we're doing better as a whole. But what do we do about -- what do we do about our kids about -- she went to Portland State University for the last two --

GLENN: Oh, jeez, for the love of --

CALLER: Well, yeah. For the last two years, she went to -- she went to a little college in Idaho called Ricks for the first two years, and Utah State.

GLENN: Oh, yeah.

CALLER: And then she served a mission for our church in Brazil and came home, but then she went to Portland State University. And it just seems to have gone downhill from there.

GLENN: Yeah. Yeah. So, Dan, I think you are suffering from the same thing that almost all parents are suffering from. If you're not suffering from this, then, I mean, God bless you. You know, get on your knees and thank God. Because you are a lucky, lucky family. Everybody has in their family. I have it in my family.

And you have to ask yourself, what is your goal?

My -- what is your goal with your daughter? Your real goal?

CALLER: My real goal is for us to be united eternally. That's my goal. That's my goal as a father and has been to teach her --

GLENN: And how -- and how is that going to happen with politics?

CALLER: We just stay together as a family regardless of what politics does.

GLENN: That's exactly right. Exactly right.

I think we're in a place now where as parents, you can ask your kids, but it has to be honest. It cannot be trying to win. It has to be honest. How did you get there?

I mean, I remember. You know, we've talked about this before. And you didn't believe that before. What has changed?

Can you help me with that?

I would like to see what you're reading, or what that was.

And just ask questions. But they have to be honest. They can't be, you know, because I'm setting you up. Because I want to change your mind.

But keep a dialogue open with them. And just love them!

Just love them!

Because if you do anything else, you're going to drive them away. And then they're really lost. So just love them.

CALLER: Oh, I know that. Glenn, when she was young -- when she was young, I considered her one of the elect. And the Scripture says, that in the last days, even the elect are going to be deceived. And that's what I'm seeing. But everything you've said, I -- I am doing. I'm doing it that way. Because I know --

GLENN: Okay. Good. Then you didn't need to -- I appreciate it. I'm so glad you called me. But you didn't need to -- my advice, you already have it down. You're a very wise man.