WASHINGTON — US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee scoffed Tuesday at a verbal assault from Tucker Carlson, wherein the right-wing pundit accused him of affected by the “mind virus” of Christian Zionism.
Throughout a sitdown with white nationalist Nick Fuentes,Carlson had name-dropped Huckabee, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), former Nationwide Safety Adviser John Bolton, longtime GOP strategist Karl Rove, and former President George W. Bush as examples of individuals he dislikes “greater than anyone” for his or her staunch assist of Israel.
“Wasn’t conscious that Tucker despises me. I do get that lots from individuals not aware of the Bible or historical past,” Huckabee, the previous governor of Arkansas, responded on X. “Someway, I’ll survive the animosity.”
Carlson, 56, and Huckabee, 70, are former colleagues at Fox Information, with each internet hosting eponymous packages on the cable information large.
On Monday, Carlson dropped an episode of his podcast that includes Fuentes, a far-right 27-year-old who has groused that “the GOP is run by Jews, atheists, and homosexuals.”
In the course of the interview, Fuentes pitched his weird concept that neoconservatism arose from “Jewish leftists who have been mugged by actuality after they noticed the shock assault within the Yom Kippur Conflict [in 1973].”
“How do you clarify Mike Huckabee, Ted Cruz … who I’ve seen be seized by this mind virus, they usually’re not Jewish. Most of them are self-described Christians. They usually’re Christian Zionists,” Carlson requested Fuentes in response.
“Like what’s that? I can simply say that for myself, I dislike them greater than anyone as a result of … it’s Christian heresy and I’m offended by that as a Christian.”
Fuentes beforehand declared in 2023 that “I believe the Holocaust is exaggerated,” a sentiment he has echoed a number of occasions.
“I don’t hate Hitler. I believe there’s a Jewish conspiracy. I imagine in race realism,” he added, in response to the Anti-Defamation League.
Carlson’s interview with Fuentes got here after years of him souring on US assist for Israel, accusing the American ally of meddling in home politics and elevating considerations in regards to the plight of Christians within the war-torn Gaza Strip.
Earlier this yr, Carlson bought right into a spat with Cruz over his assist of Israel throughout a heated interview with the Texas senator. The previous “Tucker Carlson Tonight” host has additionally invited company equivalent to historian Darryl Cooper, who has argued that Winston Churchill, not Adolf Hitler, was the principle “villain” of World Conflict II.
“Mike Huckabee is a pastor and a patriot who loves America, loves Israel, and loves Jesus. I’m proud to be in his firm!” Cruz posted on X in response to Carlson’s dig at him and Huckabee.
“Thanks @tedcruz for the good phrases,” the ambassador answered. “You positive deal with me higher than Tucker and Fuentes! Could the icing in your cake be piled excessive!”
Fuentes and Carlson had beforehand been at loggerheads previous to Monday’s interview, with Fuentes publicly mocking Carlson for claiming he solely found his late father’s work for the CIA after his passing.
Throughout an interview with Candace Owens earlier this yr, Carlson alleged — with out proof — that Fuentes was a federal agent of some kind.
The previous Fox Information host additionally complained that Fuentes had taken public photographs at Vice President JD Vance, for whom Carlson’s son works, and bashed him as a “bizarre little homosexual child in his basement.”
“I’m sorry I known as you homosexual, by the way in which, however I’m all the time, I believe I’m simply too outdated or one thing. I’m like, ‘Why [isn’t] anybody married?’” Carlson stated throughout his sitdown with Fuentes.
The 2 additionally bonded about how they thought the opposite was a fed.
