Newsmax was largely alone among the ConWeb in criticizing the right-wing Heritage Foundation for its embrace of Tucker Carlson after his interview with racist anti-Semite Nick Fuentes. That continued when Carlson complained that his staff members were harassed by Israeli officials. Newsmax called in one of its favorite people, Israel ambassator Mike Huckabee, to shut that down in a Feb. 19 article:
Tucker Carlson’s claims that he and his staff members were harassed by Israeli authorities after he interviewed U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee are “ridiculous,” the ambassador himself told Newsmax on Thursday.
“Something has surfaced that totally blows this out of the water,” Huckabee said on Newsmax’s “American Agenda.”
“Tucker Carlson is seen on surveillance video in the lounge, and he’s hugging and taking photos with the very airport employees that supposedly detained him and harassed him.”
[…]But Huckabee, calling Carlson’s claims “really unfortunate,” went on to mock his description of the events.
“I’ll tell you, they roughed him up with all kinds of special snacks. They took his picture, they hugged him,” he said.
“For this ridiculously untrue story about how he was detained, he was not,” the ambassador said.
Israeli officials and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett have publicly denied the allegation, with Bennett calling Carlson a “chicken [expletive].”
When Carlson raged against Trump’s war on Iran, Newsmax noted that too in an April 10 article by Michael Katz:
Tucker Carlson escalated his feud with President Donald Trump on Friday, a day after Trump lashed out at several prominent right-leaning commentators, including Carlson, who have criticized the conflict with Iran.
Newsmax chief Washington correspondent James Rosen wrote on X that Carlson responded to Trump’s Truth Social post Thursday, saying, “I’ve always liked Trump and still feel sorry for him, as I do for all slaves.”
Asked to elaborate, Carlson added: “He’s hemmed in by other forces. He can’t make his own decisions. It’s awful to watch.”
In the president’s crosshairs were Carlson and Megyn Kelly, two former Fox News hosts turned independent podcasters, as well as Candace Owens and Alex Jones, also podcasters who have promoted conspiracy theories.
“They’re stupid people, they know it, their families know it, and everyone else knows it, too!” Trump wrote in a nearly 500-word post.
All four have criticized Trump over the conflict, accusing him of abandoning his anti-war campaign promises and, to varying degrees, bowing to pressure from Israel.
Martin Oliner kept up the attacks on Carlson in a March 23 column:
So, this writer would argue that the most dangerous man for the U.S. now may also be the man who is among the most dangerous for Israel and the Jewish people: Podcaster Tucker Carlson.
There are unfortunately several influential influencers and podcasters who turned against Israel. But none has the power, the gravitas, or White House access Carlson has.
The New York Times reported that Carlson met with Trump three times in the Oval Office in an effort to persuade the president against going to war with Iran.According to the report, Carlson outlined the risks to American military personnel, energy prices and Arab partners.
[…]
Carlson falsely accused Trump to his face of considering a strike only because Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wanted it, the report said, adding that Carlson even encouraged the president to “restrain” Netanyahu.But the most dangerously false accusation Carlson delivered was about the American servicemen killed in the war, which was then three. Pulling at the heartstrings of Americans, he questioned why they died.
“Three Americans just died for Bibi in a war that nobody wants, in a war designed to hurt the United States, and that’s cost free?” he said mockingly.
In his recent interview with U.S. ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, Carlson took his maliciousness further, daring to suggest America went to war in Iraq after Sept. 11 because of Israel.Carlson came to Israel only for that interview and did not bother leaving the airport.
He falsely accused Israel of detaining him, even after solid video proof was provided that he had received VIP treatment.
[…]Carlson exerts a strong hold over his audience and regularly advances claims that critics say rely on antisemitic tropes and anti-American narratives.
The argument can be made that Carlson’s words only work against the interests and safety of Israel, Jews, and the United States.
It seems Newsmax remains annoyed that it couldn’t hire Carlson after Fox News fired him.