Tucker Carlson Says Netanyahu Claims He ‘Controls Trump,’ Slams U.S. Loyalty to Israel as ‘Humiliating’
In a fiery appearance on Glenn Greenwald’s System Update podcast this week, Tucker Carlson issued one of his strongest critiques yet of the U.S.-Israel relationship—specifically accusing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of bragging about controlling former President Donald Trump, and calling the influence of Israeli leaders over American policy “humiliating.”
“I’m not guessing about this,” Carlson told Greenwald. “I talked to people he [Netanyahu] said it to. Bibi’s running around the Middle East saying, point blank, ‘I control the United States. I control Donald Trump.’”
The former Fox News host and longtime conservative commentator framed his critique not as anti-Israel, but as pro-American—focusing his ire on U.S. political leaders who, he argued, are failing to represent the interests of the American people by putting Israel’s priorities first.
Carlson, a vocal Trump supporter who publicly endorsed and campaigned for him in 2016, said Netanyahu’s alleged comments about controlling Trump struck a personal chord.
“Even if I didn’t vote for Trump, which I did—I campaigned for Trump—but even if I hadn’t, I’m still an American. You can’t treat us like this. It’s too humiliating,” Carlson said. “I can’t handle that, and I shouldn’t have to put up with it.”
He continued, “There’s an ongoing humiliation ritual designed to make us all crazy—designed to turn us into haters.”
Carlson made clear that his primary criticism wasn’t of Israel itself, but of American politicians—on both sides of the aisle—who he says have allowed a foreign government to steer U.S. policy, often to the detriment of American citizens.
“I’m attacking my leaders who are allowing my nation of 350 million people to be forced into doing things that are bad for me and my children because of some other country,” he said. “That is a violation of the most basic arrangement we have with our leaders, which is: represent us, please—at least most of the time.”
Carlson’s comments come as U.S. support for Israel continues unabated during its war with Hamas, with billions in military aid and unconditional diplomatic backing. He has become one of the few prominent voices on the political right to break from the bipartisan consensus surrounding Israel, especially amid rising civilian deaths in Gaza and increasing global concern over the scope of Israel’s military campaign.
Carlson also addressed critics who have accused him of antisemitism or bigotry for his stance, saying these accusations are used to silence meaningful criticism and distract from uncomfortable truths.
“They just scream at you and call you names,” Carlson said. “But calling me a bigot doesn’t [hurt me], because I know that I’m not. I’m not going to give them the satisfaction of becoming what they call me.”
He added, “I’m not a hater, and I’m never going to become one. But I will never accept this.”
Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr
