In a shocking and inflammatory interview on Shawn Ryan’s podcast, former Fox News host Tucker Carlson escalated his attacks against Israel and its leadership, claiming that Zionism is “an attack on Western civilization” and going so far as to call Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the “main enemy” of the West. Carlson even drew offensive parallels between Netanyahu and the Nazis, rhetoric that immediately ignited backlash for its historical distortion and reckless moral equivalence.

Carlson argued that Zionism represents a form of tribal identity politics similar to DEI programs in the United States, claiming it undermines individual rights and Western values. This narrative ignores the reality that Israel’s founding principles and modern society are built on democratic governance, individual freedoms, and legal equality—core pillars of Western civilization. Israel remains the only true democracy in the Middle East, defending these values daily in the face of existential threats.

Supporters of Israel quickly pushed back, noting that Carlson’s characterization of Netanyahu’s views was misleading and stripped of context. Netanyahu has repeatedly stated that Israel’s fight is against terrorism and extremist organizations, not against people based on ethnicity or birth. Comparing a Jewish leader defending his nation from genocidal terror to the very regime that murdered six million Jews is not only false—it is deeply irresponsible and deeply insulting.

Under President Trump, America strengthened its alliance with Israel, expanded the Abraham Accords, and reinforced the shared commitment to security, democracy, and Western ideals. Carlson’s rhetoric stands in stark contrast to this partnership, undermining unity at a time when Israel is confronting violent enemies that openly seek its destruction.

Rather than promoting Western values, Carlson’s sweeping accusations and historical distortions risk fueling division and empowering those who seek to delegitimize Israel and justify violence against it. If defending a democratic ally that upholds freedom, innovation, and individual rights is “an attack on Western civilization,” then Carlson has completely lost the plot.

Israel remains a cornerstone of Western strength, resilience, and moral clarity. Attempts to vilify it with divisive and inflammatory comparisons only weaken the very civilization Carlson claims to defend.