Tucker Carlson's Scathing Critique of Christian Zionists

Tucker Carlson delivered a blistering assessment of Christian Zionists, declaring them a greater source of disdain for him than even the most reviled figures on the political fringes: leftist rioters, Islamic terrorists, Nazis, and Chinese Communists.

The statement underscores Carlson's deepening rift with the pro-Israel wing of the right, a tension that's simmered since his 2024 firing from Fox News and boiled over amid the Israel-Gaza conflict. Carlson, an outspoken Episcopalian convert who frequently invokes his faith on air, has positioned himself as a defender of "real" Christianity against what he sees as corrupted, politicized variants. This isn't mere rhetoric, it's part of a broader pattern where Carlson critiques U.S. aid to Israel (over $3 billion annually) as a drain on American resources, while elevating Palestinian Christian voices to challenge evangelical narratives.

Carlson responded to a prompt about threats to Christianity, saying, "I think the single biggest threat to Christianity in this country is Christian Zionism. I hate it more than I hate leftist rioters. I hate it more than I hate Islamic terrorists. I hate it more than I hate Nazis. I hate it more than I hate Chinese Communists."

He elaborates that Christian Zionists, evangelicals who view Israel's founding and security as a biblical imperative tied to end-times prophecy, have "infected" the faith with a "brain virus" that prioritizes foreign entanglements over domestic gospel work. "They're not Christians; they're heretics," Carlson added.

Carlson's animus toward Christian Zionists isn't new but has intensified since October 2023. He first aired it prominently in a 2024 interview with Palestinian Lutheran pastor Munther Isaac, where Isaac accused Israeli settlers of spitting on Christians in Jerusalem and defacing churches. Carlson amplified the claims, saying, "They're the most vicious people I've ever dealt with," and questioning why U.S. policy bends to "this one country." This drew fire from conservatives like radio host Erick Erickson, who branded Carlson "pro-Hamas" and an ally of "antisemites on college campuses."

In his post-Fox era, Carlson has hosted guests like Darryl Cooper (a Holocaust revisionist) and Glenn Greenwald, using them to probe what he calls the "Zionist hold" on conservatism, echoing Fuentes's talking points without fully endorsing them.

He's mocked figures like Sen. Ted Cruz and Mike Huckabee as "carriers" of this virus, arguing their support for Israel aid betrays America's "America First" ethos. In a September 2025 episode, Carlson lamented how evangelicals "worship the state of Israel" over scripture, tying it to broader cultural decay.This stance aligns with a populist right shift: A 2025 Vox analysis noted Carlson's influence in a "right-wing civil war over Jews," where isolationism clashes with neoconservatism.

Ynet and Haaretz have labeled it "country club antisemitism," subtle power libels blaming "Zionists" for U.S. woes, while defenders like Mondoweiss frame it as "indifference to Zionism," not hatred. Evangelical leaders, such as Paula White-Cardoza-Moore, slammed it as "Jew-hatred" unfit for Trump's circle.

Outrage came swift from pro-Israel corners. One X user vowed a "revolt" against Carlson as a "conspiracy nutbag," while another urged a meeting with Jonathan Cahn or Mike Huckabee: "There is no Christianity without Israel." Broader media, like Politico, linked it to conservatism's "long history of sanitizing Nazis," warning of taboo-breaking. Even allies pushed back, calling out perceived hypocrisy in attacking "Zionists" while claiming patriotism.

This outburst arrives amid Trump's 2025 return, where Carlson's influence tests GOP fault lines—pro-Israel evangelicals vs. isolationist MAGA. A Newsweek piece from April 2024 noted conservatives "turning on" Carlson for Palestinian sympathy, a trend accelerating with his Fuentes sit-down.

Jewish Insider dubbed his guests "high priests of antisemitic Christianity."

As midterms near, Carlson's words could alienate donors like Miriam Adelson (a mega-Zionist) while energizing the "groyper" base. For now, the clip stands as a gauntlet: In Tucker's America First theology, no sacred cow, including Christian ones, is safe.