The American Conservative sat down with the talk host after his turn at AmFest.
Harrison Berger: Recently, a recurring theme in your talks has been this MLK-inspired message. It surfaced during your interview with Nick Fuentes, where you emphasized evaluating people as individuals, as God would, rather than by group identity. You rejected identity politics and addressed the rise of Islamophobia, calling it “disgusting.” Why did you bring this up at TPUSA, speaking to that particular crowd?
Tucker Carlson: I didn’t consciously decide to focus on that topic; it just naturally came out. I don’t prep notes—I speak from what’s been on my mind. I find the whole thing deeply offensive. Often, I think: How is hating all Muslims any better than hating all Jews? The answer is clear—it’s not. Do we really need to hate their children, their descendants? It’s all repugnant.
Christians aren’t meant to harbor hatred, though I admit I’ve hated many people myself. I’m not here to judge. While we might disapprove of individuals, punishing their offspring for their deeds is unjustifiable and leads us down a dark path.
What sparked my thoughts on this were the endless mentions of “Western civilization” and the defense of the West. You hear people say, “I’m a defender of Western civilization,” but what exactly is that? After traveling widely, I see the core difference between the East and West is the belief in the individual human soul, rooted in Christianity. This belief forbids collective punishment, a principle worth preserving—not just as Americans but as a defining trait separating Western from non-Western societies.
I assumed this understanding was common, but when I called Hiroshima “disgusting and immoral,” I was immediately attacked by people like Ben Shapiro and other self-proclaimed conservatives. I wondered why that particular comment sparked their outrage amid all the other controversial things I’ve said over 30 years. My conclusion: because that criticism highlights the tragedy unfolding in Gaza. If killing children in Hiroshima was wrong, then so is the violence in Gaza. Shapiro and his Israel First allies defend everything Israel’s government does without question. I realized their comfort in supporting Gaza’s devastation stems from denying fundamental human equality. They insist their group is divinely chosen and see others as sub-human; otherwise, how can they justify their stance?
This mindset is deeply non-Western but quite common among our leadership. I didn’t consult anyone before forming these thoughts—they emerged over weeks of reflection. And this belief in individual dignity is the key standard worth defending.
What we’re witnessing is the transplantation of an ancient ethnic conflict onto American soil, and frankly, all involved should leave immediately. This includes not just Muslims and Jews, but also Sikhs and Hindus, Hindus and Muslims, and other historical rivalries brought here by immigrants carrying old grudges. These conflicts distort our society, and as a lifelong American, I resent that. Much of our foreign policy boils down to one group wealthy enough to bribe politicians into fighting tribal wars—that’s essentially what it is.
As someone unaffiliated with these ancient conflicts but paying for them as a taxpayer and 15th-generation American, I feel entitled to speak out. This is what results when people neither assimilate nor genuinely attempt to. Should I hate all Muslims just because you do? No.
Lastly, I know many Muslims who are genuinely compassionate and decent. I’ve traveled extensively and to be clear, I’ve never received money from any Muslim. So, it’s not like I have any financial ties. Someone unfamiliar with the world might stereotype all Muslims as Osama bin Laden, but that ignorance is why such hateful rhetoric exists—and why those pushing it should step back.
Harrison Berger: At AmFest, TPUSA surveyed attendees on what they viewed as the biggest threat to America, placing “radical Islam” at the top. Where do you think this perspective originates? You’ve previously said this is “an op” with an obvious foreign government behind it. Which government is responsible, and how does this operation infiltrate public discourse?
Tucker Carlson: This narrative is largely driven by the Israeli government and its ardent supporters and informal agents in the U.S. I don’t know the poll’s details or respondents, but I prefer an empirical view of reality. In the past two decades, I don’t know a single American killed by radical Islam, but I do know many who died from suicide, drug overdoses, and others who struggle to find employment. None of my daughter’s male classmates can find jobs; they’re destroyed by Adderall, video games, and pornography.
Millions of Americans suffer, but radical Islam is not responsible. Is radical Islam a bigger danger than OnlyFans, which turns countless American women into sex workers? Not even close. Anyone who believes the opposite is sadly deluded, and it doesn’t match the real experiences of Americans I know and observe closely as part of my work. This narrative is insane.
This entire game explains how the U.S. got tied to Gaza’s tragedy. Why are we accountable for Bibi’s mass killings? Because many Americans have been repeatedly told our fate is linked to Israel, deemed our “most important ally.” But Israel is not even a reliable ally; it’s a liability. Yet people swallow this line like gospel, just as they’re told I’m antisemitic—a claim made mere days after I condemned antisemitism as immoral. This shows that those spreading this propaganda are totally uninterested in the truth.
If you convince struggling young Americans—who cannot find jobs, afford homes, or build families—that radical Islam is their greatest threat, you have mastered propaganda. That’s an extraordinary achievement. I haven’t seen the poll myself but trust your word. It’s delusional. And keep in mind, I do not support radical Islam—in fact, I oppose all forms of extremism. I’m a moderate, a 56-year-old WASP. If people truly saw radical Islam as that menace, why isn’t Ben Shapiro demanding full declassification of the 9/11 files? They’re hiding critical facts because the truth isn’t what we were told.
Harrison Berger: You touched on an interesting point that reminded me of a recent clip featuring Bill Maher and Anna Kasparian. Bill Maher built his career as an atheist but now often cites the Bible and Torah to argue why Jewish people deserve Israel while Palestinians do not. In that interview, Maher questioned Anna about which Muslim country she’d feel comfortable living in while wearing revealing clothing—a standard oddly used to define freedom whenever Western forces bomb foreign lands: whether women can dress scantily in public. Why is this shallow measure repeatedly employed as a civilizational benchmark?
Tucker Carlson: Because it’s a distracting, superficial debate designed to divert people from facing the truth. For me, none of that matters. What matters is living in a society where individuals—not groups—are treated fairly. That’s why I voted against Kamala Harris. I reject identity politics as evil. Do I support white people? Yes; I’m white, as are my children, and I’m very much pro-white. White people are the primary victims of discrimination in the U.S.—not Jews—but I’m not exclusively pro-white. Whites aren’t inherently superior to any group. To be clear: you can be pro-white without embracing white supremacy. I oppose white supremacists.
There’s so much to unpack. Bill Maher is about 70, and it’s baffling how he hasn’t actually visited the Gulf region to see women in bikinis. Which country does he really mean? Yemen? But in the other Muslim nations—six GCC states and eight Islamic monarchies, including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, UAE, and Morocco—women drive, participate in society, go out alone, and yes, wear bikinis. The narrative he promotes simply isn’t accurate.
I don’t care if it’s true or not because countries have the right to live by their customs. Whether women vote or drive in a foreign country is none of my business. If a society chooses that, that’s their prerogative. I’m not a cultural imperialist; I appreciate cultural differences. Still, the argument is foolish.
The deeper question when this keeps coming up is: Jews have a right to a nation—that’s accepted. But which other groups do? Whites? I’ve been told they do not. So where does this “right to a country” come from? Holy scripture? Which scriptures? And are today’s Israelis truly descended from the people in books like Deuteronomy? Genetics could answer this, but 23andMe is banned in Israel, strangely enough.
Is modern Israeli religion the same as ancient Talmudic Judaism, developed after the temple’s destruction? Since you mentioned it, explain what you mean, because I don’t get it. They’re clueless, saying things like “You couldn’t wear a thong in Saudi,” when in reality you can. This conversation alienates people; pushing these simplistic stereotypes causes you to lose the argument.
Harrison Berger: I want to ask about antisemitism. Recently, as you noted, you were dubbed “antisemite of the year” by the pro-Israel group “Stop Antisemitism,” which often demands the firing of people wearing Palestinian scarves or showing Palestinian flags, driving them into homelessness. Megyn Kelly has argued that this surge in antisemitism is being fueled by groups like Stop Antisemitism and Israel First advocates such as Ben Shapiro, Bari Weiss, and the ADL, who push for censorship on behalf of Israel. This tends to provoke backlash. The ADL, after years of proclaiming their mission to eliminate antisemitism, now reports a rise in it—suggesting their approach may have backfired. These groups have long used aggressive tactics John Mearsheimer calls “smash-mouth politics.” Why do they persist if their actions seem to worsen antisemitism?
Tucker Carlson: The outcome of a system is its purpose. If you create antisemitism for decades, maybe that’s what you intend. Why? I can’t say for sure. There are probably several reasons, but I prefer not to speculate.
The challenge for the rest of us is not to fall into their trap: don’t become the label they assign you. It’s been painful for me, especially as someone who philosophically rejects lawsuits—I’ve never sued and never will. I anticipated being slandered when advocating against war in Iran in June, and it happened. I’m privileged and experienced enough to endure it, but many others aren’t, and they suffer. The goal clearly seems to be generating hate.
Ironically, this experience has been eye-opening for me. It’s forced me to ask whether I’ll take the bait and become what they say I am. It cost me friendships I valued. Still, I’ve resolved not to let hate consume me. Instead, I’ve grown calmer and less angry.
Maintaining this attitude is important because becoming hateful destroys you.
At the same time, they attempt to control the conversation. I’m not interested in making Israel the focus of my life—I’m not Jewish and don’t obsess over Jewishness. That’s fine. It doesn’t need to dominate my worldview—I decide what matters because I’m a free individual.
The only thing that antisemites and the ethno-narcissists—the neocon-ethno-narcissists—share is an excessive obsession with Jews. They are surprisingly alike in that regard.
Original article: theamericanconservative.com
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