Circling the Drain: Why Ted Cruz Says Tucker Carlson No Longer Matters
Republican heavyweights Ted Cruz and Mike Huckabee have launched a scathing counterattack against Tucker Carlson after he accused them of "supporting the murder of children."
A bitter war of words has erupted within the American right wing following a controversial New York Times interview featuring former Fox News host Tucker Carlson. In the interview, Carlson took aim at Senator Ted Cruz and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, accusing them of "waving away civilian deaths" and "supporting the murder of children and innocent civilians" in the context of the war in Gaza. Carlson even claimed that the two veteran Republicans were "far worse" than white nationalist Nick Fuentes, whom Carlson recently hosted on his podcast.
The response from both men was swift and filled with disdain. Senator Ted Cruz dismissed the comments entirely, telling the New York Times that its time would be better spent "actually covering people who still matter." Cruz’s refusal to engage deeply with the allegations signaled a desire to frame Carlson as a figure who has lost his political relevance. However, Ambassador Mike Huckabee was far more vocal, taking to social media to vent his frustration and describe Carlson’s current state as "truly tragic."
Huckabee wrote that "poor Tucker needs help," and argued that the podcaster is "clearly circling the drain" by making such outrageous claims. He defended his position by stating that no sane person advocates for the murder of children or civilians, calling the very allegation "sick and evil." Huckabee accused Carlson of limiting his compassion to those in Gaza while ignoring the atrocities committed by Hamas terrorists, including the massacre and mutilation of 1,200 people on October 7 and the ongoing torture of hostages.
The Ambassador went on to state that Carlson’s "irrational hatred of Jews in general and Israel in particular" has blinded him to the horrific savagery inflicted by terrorists. He listed the crimes of October 7, including the rape of women in front of their children and the beheading of babies, as events Carlson fails to lament. "I am heartbroken by the slaughter of innocent civilians wherever they are and whoever they are," Huckabee declared, emphasizing that his support for Israel does not mean he is indifferent to human suffering.
Huckabee concluded his remarks by reflecting on his past friendship with the media firebrand, stating that the Tucker Carlson he once knew has become "someone unrecognizable." He described Carlson as a "very angry and bitter man" and expressed hope that he would eventually find himself again. The exchange marks a significant fracturing in the conservative media landscape, as long-standing alliances are torn apart by the ongoing war and the differing moral interpretations of the events in the Middle East.