Pat Sajak Accused of 'Posing With Nazis' After Photo With Rep. Greene

Long-time Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sajak became the subject of online scrutiny this weekend after a photo of him with GOP Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene began to circulate.

It is unclear when and where the photo was originally shared. The Twitter account PatriotTakes, which describes itself as "dedicated researchers monitoring and exposing right-wing extremism," shared the photo on Saturday evening, seemingly sparking a wave of negative reactions to Sajak.

"Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sajak with Marjorie Taylor Greene and [Right Side Broadcasting Network] reporter Bryan Glenn," the account wrote in the tweet that included the photo.

In his tweets criticizing Sajak, documentary filmmaker Jeremy Newberger said that Greene had, in late February, appeared at the America First Political Action Conference in Orlando, Florida, an event organized by white nationalist Nick Fuentes. Fuentes previously took part in the 2017 Unite the Right event in Charlottesville, Virginia, which led to a neo-Nazi killing a woman with his car.

Due to this association, Newberger accused Sajak of "posing with Nazis," even sharing a photo of the iconic Wheel of Fortune letter board with the phrase on it.

"It's only been 8 months since Marjorie Taylor Greene gave the keynote at a Nazi rally where the organizer praised Adolf Hitler," Newberger tweeted. "So by all means, Pat Sajak, take some selfies with her. Looks like the Wheel of Fortune is morally bankrupt."

"The company you keep is quite unfortunate [Pat Sajak]," retired journalist Diana Gonzalez tweeted in response to the PatriotTakes post. "Will be changing the channel when you spin the wheel."

Meanwhile, BET News host Marc Lamont Hill compared Sajak to his predecessor on Wheel of Fortune, Chuck Woolery, an avowed conservative who, at one point in 2020, denounced the COVID-19 pandemic, though he later walked back those views.

"First Chuck Woolery. Now Pat Sajak," Hill tweeted. "Are all game show hosts trash?"

Sajak took over hosting duties on Wheel of Fortune in 1981 and has remained on the show for a historic run of over 40 years, alongside co-host and presenter Vanna White. During his tenure, he has received 19 Primetime Emmy nominations for Best Game Show Host and won on three occasions.

While not as outspoken about his political beliefs as some modern right-wing figures, Sajak is a Republican and has in the past expressed some views that could be considered divisive by many. Notably, he has referred to himself as a skeptic of climate change and served on the board of a conservative publishing company that released titles from the likes of Rush Limbaugh and Anne Coulter.

Newsweek attempted to reach Sajak's representation for comment. Newsweek also reached out to Greene's office for comment.