Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) called out conservative media pundit Tucker Carlson on Wednesday for suggesting the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk shared Carlson’s critical views on Israel.
“I’m getting really tired of Tucker & his cronies falsely claiming ‘Charlie agreed with me that Israel is terrible & the problem in America is all the damn Jews…,’” Cruz said in a post on the social platform X, purporting to paraphrase his opponent’s perspective.
“I knew Charlie well & indeed the very last conversation we had was how deeply concerned he was about the rising, toxic wave of antisemitism on the right,” Cruz continued.
The junior senator from Texas was responding to a clip posted Tuesday of Carlson saying Kirk “did not like” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and thought he “was a very destructive force,” noting Kirk “said that to me many times.”
“He was appalled by what was happening in Gaza. He was, above all, resentful that he believed Netanyahu was using the United States to prosecute his wars for the benefit of his country, and that it was shameful and embarrassing and bad for the United States,” Carlson said of Kirk, sharing a viewpoint that closely aligns with Carlson’s own position on Israel.
Carlson also said Kirk was “dependent to a great extent on his donors” and that some of his pro-Israel donors “tormented Charlie Kirk until the day he died.”
The Anti-Defamation League, a nonprofit that fights antisemitism and bias, has tracked “the rapid proliferation of antisemitic conspiracy theories spread by those who wish to exploit the moment of panic and uncertainty” in the wake of Kirk’s death.
Netanyahu on Thursday responded to theories being promoted by far-right figures including Candace Owens that Israel was somehow involved in Kirk’s death, calling those rumors “false” and “disgusting” and touting Kirk as a fierce supporter of Israel in a video statement.
“This is insane. It is false. It is outrageous,” Netanyahu said in his statement. “Charlie Kirk was a giant, a once-in-a-century talent, who defended freedom, defended America, defended our common Judeo-Christian civilization. Charlie loved Israel. He loved the Jewish people.”
The Israeli leader said he received a letter a few months ago from Kirk, who reportedly wrote, “One of my greatest joys as a Christian … is advocating for Israel and forming alliances with Jews to protect Judeo Christian civilization.”
The late Turning Point USA co-founder urged him “to make the case directly to the American people about how vital Israel is to U.S. national security,” the prime minister said.
Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday told his “friends on the political Right” that he understands “the feeling that people are putting words into Charlie Kirk’s mouth,” but urged them to avoid heated disagreements for the time being.
“Try to remember: a lot of people loved Charlie. It is natural for them to debate his views and his legacy. In fact, I think Charlie would welcome that,” Vance wrote in a post on X. “But for now, let’s celebrate our friend, remember his impact, and save the debate for after his funeral.”
Carlson and Cruz have clashed publicly in the past. In June, Carlson’s interview with the senator grew heated during a debate over the U.S. drone strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, which effectively ended the so-called 12-day war with Israel.
