He’s not getting punished for incitement for his speech on Jan 6, why would he get punished for this?

But, yes, if it led to violence it would be considered inciting violence which is technically a crime.

Hate speech in the United States

In a Supreme Court case on the issue, Matal v. Tam (2017), the justices unanimously reaffirmed that there is effectively no “hate speech” exception to the free speech rights protected by the First Amendment and that the U.S. government may not discriminate against speech on the basis of the speaker’s viewpoint.

It’s not a crime on its own in the US, but if it incites imminent lawless action that can be a crime.

Depends on what you mean. Is it hate speech from a court of public opinion standpoint? Probably. Is it from a legal one? The US doesn’t have a hate speech law on the books just “Obscenity law” which allows things to be censored.

Canadian law has hate speech but it might not fit that either as to legally be chargable as hate speech it needs to fit the criteria. In this instance it could be argued use of an N slur is Denying, minimizing or celebrating past persecution or tragedies that happened to group members… but it would ALSO need be performative in a public space, intended and performed for a large group. If it’s basically in the scope of him having a private conversation with individuals it isn’t a chargeable offence to public order. If he was shouting it in the street sure but consequences wise it’s analogous to someone shouting “The Duck army is coming!” over and over again outside your house 3am. It’s a public nuisance ordinance. If you call the cops will come over and stop it only if someone complains and at worst they will escort you away and issue a fine but nobody is going to do hard time for heralding the Duck army’s arrival or hate speech.

So like is it hate speech? Maybe. Is he a racist dick who deserves condemnation for being a hateful racist dick? Yes.

The N word on its own is simply vulgarity. I think hate speech relies on the content of the message.

For instance.

What’s up my n****? - Not hate speech.

Spoiler contains an example of hate speech. It does not represent an actual view that I hold, and it’s one of the worst things I’ve ever written, and should not be read by anyone.

-Definitetly hate speech without using the N word.