Tucker Carlson’s influence has never rested on spectacle for its own sake. For years, his appeal came from a willingness to question narratives and challenge consensus. That is precisely why his recent trajectory has left so many former allies unsettled.
This week, Carlson was named the 2025 “Antisemite of the Year” by StopAntisemitism, a designation the group reserves for what it calls “the most bigoted and hateful individual” based on public influence and conduct. The decision marks a stunning turn for a figure once widely regarded as a serious critic of institutional power rather than a participant in ideological extremism.
According to the watchdog group, Tucker Carlson “uses his platform of millions to normalize [antisemitism],” citing his repeated decision to elevate figures known for hostility toward Jews and the state of Israel. Chief among them is Nick Fuentes, a far-right provocateur infamous for praising Adolf Hitler and spreading antisemitic rhetoric. “Carlson has built a reputation for giving a platform to dangerous ideas, allowing guests to spread falsehoods and [antisemitic] narratives,” the group stated.
What has drawn the sharpest rebuke, however, is not merely the criticism from watchdog organizations, but the growing alarm from Christian and Jewish leaders who say Carlson’s words now run directly against biblical teaching.
During his interview with Fuentes, Carlson said he disliked Christian Zionists “more than anyone,” dismissing their beliefs as “Christian heresy.” After backlash, Carlson issued a partial apology for the phrasing, but he did not retract his core criticism. He continued to argue that Christian Zionism is a “Christian heresy” and described it as a “brain virus.”
That statement struck many believers as irreconcilable with Scripture, which affirms God’s covenant with Israel and warns against turning against the Jewish people.
Christian leaders such as Jack Hibbs have repeatedly warned that antisemitism, whether political or cultural, is incompatible with Christianity. Messianic Jewish voices like Jonathan Cahn have likewise cautioned that hostility toward Israel is not merely a geopolitical trend, but a prophetic sign Scripture says will intensify as the world hardens itself against God’s purposes.
This growing concern was echoed by Daily Wire host Ben Shapiro, who condemned Carlson’s decision to platform extremist figures, saying media hosts are responsible for the voices they elevate. “He knew that Nick Fuentes is an evil troll,” Shapiro said at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest conference. “And that is precisely what Tucker Carlson did.”
The issue is not disagreement over Israeli policy. Christians have long debated politics without abandoning Scripture. The concern is that Carlson now appears to be aligning himself with voices that reject God’s covenant with Israel altogether, while expressing open disdain for Christians who stand by it.
The Bible warned that a day would come when nations and influential voices would turn against Israel. Watching that pattern emerge is sobering enough. Seeing it echoed by someone who claims Christian conviction is something else entirely.
That is why the backlash Carlson is facing is not merely political. It is spiritual. And it is deeply troubling.
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a background in journalism from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine.
